2024 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid: What's It Like to Live With?
We're putting the redesigned Hyundai Santa Fe to a 12-month, 20,000-mile test
| Miles Driven | Average MPG |
| 10,905 | 26.7 |
Latest Highlights
- We're testing the redesigned Hyundai Santa Fe
- It's the South Korean automaker's smaller three-row SUV
- Will its boxy design win hearts and minds?
- We've got a year to find out
What do you want to know about?
What We Got And Why
• Our test vehicle: 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Calligraphy
• Base MSRP: $38,365
• MSRP as tested: $51,425
With the introduction of the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe, the South Korean automaker wholly reimagined its its family-hauling SUV. The styling intentionally evokes high-end luxury off-roaders, and while the exterior dimensions remain tidy, interior room has grown dramatically, and the new Calligraphy trim feels downright luxurious.
It adds up to an interesting proposition: Does the new Santa Fe's expanded size, eye-catching style and near-luxury levels of equipment make it the ideal city-dwelling three-row SUV? There's only one way to find out, so we've added a 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy AWD Hybrid to our fleet of long-term test cars. Over the next year and 20,000 miles, we're going to find out the answers to those questions, and many more.
What Did We Get?
You can get the new Santa Fe in five different trims, two of which are new this year. One is the off-road-oriented XRT, which adds a bit more ground clearance and knobby-looking off-road tires to help you go a little beyond the beaten path if you prefer. But our long-term fleet is already littered with bona fide off-roaders like our Ford Bronco and Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road to name a couple. So we decided to be bougie and ordered the new Calligraphy trim. First introduced on the Palisade, the Calligraphy adds premium-feeling leather, a host of upgrade features like a faux-suede headliner, a power-adjustable second-row seats, 21-inch wheels and some upscale-looking exterior trim.
We also ordered the hybrid powertrain, hoping the horsepower sacrifice nets us a noticeable fuel economy improvement. The EPA estimates a full 11 mpg more on the combined cycle for the hybrid (34 mpg) versus the non-hybrid (23 mpg). On top of that, we ordered the Earthy Brass paint job, one of two matte-finish paint schemes available for the Santa Fe. As it turns out, that $1,000 paint job and $210 worth of carpeted floor mats were the only stand-alone options of our long-termer, bringing the grand total to $51,425 including the $1,415 destination charge.
Why Did We Get It?
Vehicles sized like the Santa Fe are an interesting prospect. Bigger than your typical compact SUV like the Hyundai Tucson and Honda CR-V, they're still quite a bit smaller than regular midsize SUVs like the Toyota Highlander and Kia Telluride. This "tweener" size has often meant serious compromises, such as third rows that were relegated to occasional use at most and cargo areas that often trailed their compact cousins.
This new Santa Fe seems to buck that trend, though, with a third row that's surprisingly livable for adults, good cargo space behind that third row and plenty more with it folded, all while keeping exterior bulk in check. Add in the fuel savings from a hybrid powertrain and this Santa Fe makes a strong case for three-row driving in a crowded city.
We're also curious if the new Calligraphy trim upholds its luxury-on-a-budget promise. Will the white leather become stained over time? Will all the various luxury doodads maintain their appeal? Will the power-adjustable second-row captain's chairs be comfy enough that we don't miss the extra passenger capacity? We don't know yet, but we have plenty of time to find out.
Then there's the paint. Matte finishes can look great, and this one is no exception; in the right light it looks like the copper bottom of a high-end saucepan. But they're also notoriously difficult to clean, and our Santa Fe came with a bucket of specialized cleaners and cloths. Time will tell if we like the finish enough to recommend it, or if maintenance proves to be too much.
There's a lot of competition in the midsize three-row SUV market, and over the next year we'll get a better idea if Hyundai's ideas for the smaller end of the segment make sense or if bigger really does mean better.
The manufacturer provided this vehicle for the purpose of evaluation.
Fuel economy is anything but economical
"My most recent trip to Las Vegas from Los Angeles put the gas mileage to the test. Upon fill-up, the projected range read 512 miles. Given that a one-way trip to Sin City is 288 miles, I thought we would have plenty of fuel to get my hubby and me there, plus enough to drive around town for two days.
"Either my math wasn't mathing, or the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid's range projector is a liar. On an open road (no traffic) at a steady 75 mph for three hours and 50 minutes, we only averaged 23 mpg and wound up with 186 miles of projected range left upon our arrival.
"The Santa Fe Hybrid has a 17.7-gallon tank, which should average about 36 mpg, according to the EPA.
"Now, I am a liberal arts major, so math is not my strong suit. But something is definitely amiss, and it's not my driving." — Jodi Tourkow, executive director, written content
Good, not great, MPG
"This vehicle is coming under fire for not meeting its EPA estimated fuel economy, which is a totally fair criticism. It should definitely be closer overall, and during the two weeks and 400-ish miles I drove it, the indicated fuel economy came out to around 31 mpg, well below the EPA's 35 mpg combined score.
"However, as a mild counterpoint, I feel like it's important to note that 31 mpg in mixed driving for a big-ish three-row, roomy, heavy, boxy-looking and undoubtedly not very aero-friendly SUV isn't bad at all. I've also noticed that under certain circumstances, it handily exceeds those estimates. On freeway commutes when I'm stuck in traffic the 'current trip' fuel economy meter easily surpassses 35, 36, even 37 miles per gallon. That's not bad. Should it be better overall? Absolutely. Is it terrible? Not when I was driving." — Keith Buglewicz, managing editor
Maintenance Summary
| Total routine maintenance costs | $164.47 |
| Additional maintenance costs | |
| Warranty repairs | |
| Non-warranty repairs | |
| Scheduled dealer visits | 1 |
| Unscheduled dealer visits | |
| Days out of service | |
| Breakdowns stranding driver | |
| Total body repair costs |
We took our Santa Fe in for its first oil change
"I took our long-term Santa Fe to Hyundai of Downtown LA for a routine oil service. We paid out of pocket. We got an oil and filter change for $111.38. We agreed to a tire rotation for $49.95. Our total was $164.47. The service took about two hours." — Albert Hernandez, editorial assistant
Comfortable seating for seven
"Besides the horrendous fuel economy and minor tech issues, I like the Santa Fe. It is very spacious and comfortably seats seven adults. On a recent trip to Las Vegas, I was able to load six of my friends into this SUV.
"Granted, I did put the smaller adults in the third row, but it still seated everyone like a charm.
"Additionally, the third row is easy to access. The second-row captain's chairs automatically move forward and fold just enough to let passengers in, and the third-row captain's chair seats can be accessed by pressing a button.
"Getting out of the third row isn't as smooth. But that could be chalked up to our age and the difficulty of getting up and down nowadays." — Jodi Tourkow, executive director, written content
Comfortable over varied terrain, too
"I drove our long-term Santa Fe up to Yosemite, and the drive was very pleasant. The cushy seats in every row made the long drive easy. The suspension also was a factor here as it was very smooth and never felt unsettled through the different surfaces and winding roads." — Albert Hernandez, editorial assistant
A flaw in the driver attention monitoring system
"I am guilty of using the 1-and-3 grip (left hand at 1:00, right hand at 3:00), but we're not here to talk about me. We are here to talk about the Santa Fe, which definitely doesn't want me to do that since it blocks the little infrared camera that's supposed to make sure I'm paying attention to the road. Every time my wrist covers its view, the car dings at me and flashes a warning that the driver attention monitoring system is disabled because the camera is obstructed. I really want a way to turn the chime off." — Will Kaufman, manager, video
The infotainment screen could be more economical
"The Santa Fe Hybrid has easy-to-use and easy-to-access wireless mobile phone chargers. And they actually work. Simply plop your device on one of the chargers in the center console, check if the green light on the panel above it is lit, and you are done.
"However, the infotainment display could use a refresh. Not because it doesn't work well, but rather because there is so much wasted space on the screen. The map view takes up a lot of real estate on the left side (even if I am not in navigation mode), and then on the right side, a 'leaf' and the word 'hybrid' are unnecessarily projected on the screen.
"Umm, I think I know I am driving a hybrid. I would rather know what song is on the radio and who is playing that song. Surprisingly, that feature is not easy to come by on the screen." — Jodi Tourkow, executive director, written content
"I love that our Santa Fe has two wireless charging pads up front whereas other cars only have one. On my trip to Yosemite, we were able to charge two phones at a time without the need for charging cables, and at one point, I was even able to use the charging pad to charge my Apple AirPods." — Albert Hernandez, editorial assistant
How are the driver aids?
"I've used the ADAS on this car quite a bit during my time with it, and overall I'm impressed. The adaptive cruise has a somewhat lazy reaction to a slower car moving out of your lane, but that's pretty common in all systems these days. … I blame lawyers. But in low-speed traffic it's almost hands-free driving. The attention monitor keeps an eye on you, as Will pointed out, but at lower speeds it doesn't seem to be as intent. So I wasn't constantly being bothered to turn my head forward if I did something like look for a podcast on the touchscreen when going 5 mph. The lane keeping is noticeable but not irritating; the automatic speed control is also good. Overall, I'm just impressed. This feels like a half step toward full autonomy, and I'm curious to see what Hyundai will come up with when it advances to Level 3 and higher systems." — Keith Buglewicz, managing editor
The center console box is big
"No, the center console box is a portal to another dimension. It's a bag of holding with another bag of holding in the bottom. Seriously, there's a false bottom you can lift out, and once that's gone I can get my arm up past my elbow into the recesses of the box. And at the bottom, the box extends forward even farther the console. I can't imagine what I'd need to bury that deep in the Stygian depths my car ... I half expected to find Montresor's skull." — Will Kaufman, manager, video
How does the interior compare to the Kia EV9?
"There's some interior stuff I like more and that looks nicer in the front seat of our Santa Fe compared to our $75,000 EV9. Some of it's really little stuff, like the bit on the gearshift stalk that you twist is a faux metal finish in the Santa Fe and just a standard black plastic in the EV9. The steering wheel in the Santa Fe is nicer, and the cupholders are better. I appreciate the flexibility of the Kia's fold-away cupholders, but if you've got a big water bottle the Santa Fe is way more useful.
"Also? The Hyundai has a volume knob on the center stack, while the Kia has the volume roller there, and I know which one I'd rather use." — Will Kaufman, manager, video
It's a great place to spend time
"What a lovely place to spend a little (or a lot) of time. I spent around about two weeks with this thing at the end of 2024, and I gotta say, there was very little I didn't like about it. Almost none of that had to do with this interior space.
"It is so thoughtfully designed. Two wireless chargers, many USB-C ports, good storage pretty much everywhere, a funky second glovebox with a UV light in it to kill germs. All cool stuff that's not always commonplace, even on family-oriented SUVs that it should be on.
"I like the seating position as well. It's pretty spot on when you set it all the way down, still gives a good view out in most directions, and you feel nice and cocooned in the car." — Nick Yekikian, senior news editor
"I'm a fan of this thing's interior. It's quiet and comfortable, and Hyundai has put in the work to make sure that it's tight and rattle-free. The front seats are quite comfortable, and even with these bigger wheels and tires, the ride comfort remains good. The materials all feel a cut above, even the fake open-pore wood on the dash. I'd obviously prefer physical buttons instead of touch controls for the climate, but I leave it in automatic mode most of the time so it's not that big of an issue. — Keith Buglewicz, managing editor
"I also like the big, wide center console. In our Calligraphy trim it includes two wireless charging pads exactly where I'd be putting my phone anyhow, and I was able to charge my phone and AirPods at the same time. Nice. They're a bit elevated as well, which helps keep what you're charging cool and ensures that the sticky-outy camera on modern phones won't interfere with the connection. — Keith Buglewicz, managing editor
"The heated seats and steering wheel deserve a shoutout despite using a touch-sensitive control. They warm up FAST, and on their highest setting are borderline too warm; if there was a fourth tier, you could probably cook an egg on them. The same goes for the heated steering wheel. The heating element goes all the way around the rim and gets quite warm. It feels good on my hands even if it's not a cold day. A lot of manufacturers limit the heating element only to where you're 'supposed' to grip, 10 and 2 o'clock, for example, but I like that Hyundai doesn't force the issue. — Keith Buglewicz, managing editor
"Like any car there's a bit of a learning curve to the interior, and for me it was getting used to the gear selector that sticks out from the steering column. It's weirdly large, to the point of being gimmicky. I've also bumped my knee on it several times, and once I accidentally knocked it into neutral. It also takes an extra heartbeat to actually go into gear when you select D or R. It's not the end of the world, and I got used to it, but it's an area Hyundai should look at when it's refresh time for this car.
"The touchscreen is a little far away, but I'm probably noticing that more because my shoulder is still in recovery after surgery. But that, and the gear selector, are the only two noticeable faults in it otherwise well-thought-out and designed interior." — Keith Buglewicz, managing editor
2024 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid: Miscellaneous
Thoughts on the Santa Fe that don't fit anywhere else
We aren't wild about the key fob
"This key fob is way too big and disconcertingly light. The Hyundai H design in the negative space between the buttons is rad, but especially for something that looks metallic I want it to be heavier. Tell me I'm picking nits. I just like a heavy key fob." — Duncan Brady, script writer
The matte paint on our Santa Fe is an effective Rorschach Test
"My 4-year-old was entranced by the matte paint on our Santa Fe. Every time we walked outside he'd comment on how it glows and how pretty it is. All I see is 'HANDWASH ONLY' when I look at the paint, so I can't enjoy it as much. So maybe whether or not you make this choice is about whether you can sustain the wonder and optimism of a child for the length of your ownership, or if the jaded cynicism of age will eventually eclipse that golden-copper glow." — Will Kaufman, manager, video
"This is undoubtedly a pretty color, but the hand-wash restriction is a pain in the neck. I wanted to wash off the associated crud after a week of heavy rains, but I didn't have time to drop it off to get hand-washed, nor did I have the ability to do it myself. I get why people might want this finish, but for me, I'd want something I can drive through a quickie car wash when I need to get all the bird poop off." — Keith Buglewicz, managing editor