Hyundai Santa Fe (2018 – 2024) Review

Back in the day the Hyundai Santa Fe was the big family SUV you bought because you were on a budget, and that was about the only reason. Oh how things have changed. Sure, the latest model is hardly cheap these days, but it's also one of the most comfortable, high-tech and spacious SUVs this side of the premium German models. Our Hyundai Santa Fe review shows why it's such a compelling choice.

Hyundai has done a terrific job of altering its reputation in recent years. In just over a decade it's gone from a maker of cheap yet cheerless cars to a maker or competitive, sensible and reliable models. 

The push upmarket is well under way, though. Models like the Ioniq 5 electric car show Hyundai can do desirable and high-tech, while the brand's N division cars challenge the best hot hatches out there. But what about long-standing sensible stuff like the Santa Fe? 

Well, the Hyundai Santa Fe isn't the cheapest seven-seater that money can buy these days. But you can't dismiss it for that. It comes loads to the gills with standard equipment - even base models get front and rear parking sensors, a rear-view camera, heated electric front seats, a heated steering wheel and even an electric tailgate. 

What's more, the Santa Fe looks and feels more premium than you might expect. Sure, its sister car, the Kia Sorento, is a bit fresher, but the Hyundai is still smart with a high-quality cabin.

And - importantly - there's loads of space, with all models getting seven seats as standard. Adults can comfortably fit in the middle-seats for long journeys, while even the rearmost seats are fine for occasional journeys. It's roomier in the rearmost rows than models such as the Skoda Kodiaq and Land Rover Discovery Sport, that's for sure. 

For a while there was just one engine: an upgraded version of the old 2.2-litre CRDi diesel producing 200PS. No rather lethargic petrol engines to provide a headline-grabbing entry-level price here - unlike the Kodiaq. 

Said diesel engine is a reasonably quiet and refined unit, providing plenty of torque and decent performance There's an eight-speed automatic gearbox which is okay, if a bit hesitant to respond quickly. If you really feel the need, you can take control via the paddles mounted behind the steering wheel.

In 2021 Hyundai updated the Santa Fe with a tweaked design, new tech and - crucially - two hybrid engine options. Both make use of the same 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine, but one is a 'self-charging' hybrid (making it more affordable and efficient on longer runs) while the other is a pricier plug-in hybrid capable of much longer electric-only running. 

The latest Hyundai Santa Fe represents a huge amount of progress over its predecessor. No longer is it just good 'for the money', it's now a top-drawer SUV in its own right, easily worthy of taking on the competition. 

Looking for a second opinion? Check out heycar's review of the Hyundai Santa Fe.

Want the previous model? You'll need our Hyundai Santa Fe 2012-2018 review

There's plenty of handy storage in the Hyundai Santa Fe, with usefully large door bins and a pair of big cup holders in the centre console.

The Santa Fe's cabin is pretty wide, meaning it feels light and airy, while there's plenty of space for even the tallest adults to get comfortable. There's plenty of adjustment to the imposing driving position, too. 

There's loads of space in the rear rows and even the third row of seats are big enough for adults - not something that can be had for all seven-seat SUVs. The middle row of seats seats slide backwards and forwards, allowing you to prioritise space where you want it. You even get air-con controls in the third row of seats, and some much pricier rivals can't claim that. 

Our top-spec Premium SE test car was fitted with the standard panoramic sunroof, which did an excellent job of lighting up the cabin, although tall adults sat in the rear might complain that it hinders headroom slightly.

When you're not using the third row of seats, they drop easily via buttons or levers, leaving a completely flat floor and a decent boot. The Hyundai Santa Fe's boot space of 571 litres with those seats down is smaller than some rivals, but it's a good shape, while the hybrid and plug-in hybrid models quote the same figure which is rare. 

The Hyundai Santa Fe's dimensions make it 4785mm long, 1900mm wide and 1710mm tall. 

Gone are the days of Hyundais being full of nasty, scratchy plastics and flimsy trim. It's all pretty solid and classy in the Santa Fe, with enough soft-touch materials, chrome effect switchgear and nice two-tone quilted leather and aluminium trim if you opt for the Luxury pack.  

You'll hunt out cheaper-feeling plastics if you look for them, but the same applies to similarly-priced rivals. Everything feels chunky and well-made, though, as if it'll happily stand up to the rigours of family life.

Earlier versions of the Hyundai Santa Fe in entry-level form came with a seven-inch touchscreen display in the centre of the dash, providing access to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. There's no navigation, but you can use apps on your phone for directions.

Premium and Premium SE models came with a slick eight-inch display, including navigation. It's easy to operate and its position, high up on the dashboard, means it's not too distracting to glance at during driving.

From 2021 the Santa Fe's tech was upgraded further, with every version getting a 10.25-inch touchscreen with sat-nav and the usual smartphone connectivity. Impressively, all versions also get a 10-speaker Krell sound system, wireless phone charging and (except the hybrids) a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. Opting for Ultimate trim also brings a head-up display.

Prices for the 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe start at £41,445 for the entry-level 2WD Hybrid Premium. The diesel (now four-wheel drive only) is a little pricier, starting at £42,210.

Those starting prices are more than rivals such as the Peugeot 5008 and Skoda Kodiaq. But both of those models are available with less powerful engines and come with a fair bit less standard kit on base trims, so spec-for-spec pricing is similar. 

You'll need another £1,600 for the four-wheel drive Hybrid, while Ultimate trim adds around £3,300 to the base price. The plug-in hybrid is about £3,200 more than the 4WD hybrid. 

If you're looking for a used Hyundai Santa Fe prices for this generation start at around £25,000 for a diesel SE with 30,000 miles on the clock. £28,000 gets you a high-spec four-wheel drive version. 

Officially the hybrid model manages decent fuel economy given it's essentially a large petrol SUV with a bit of electric assistance. You'll get 44.1mpg combined on the WLTP cycle from the 2WD model, with the 4WD penalty taking it down to 40.4mpg.  

The plug-in hybrid Santa Fe manages 173mpg combined, which is a useless figure unless you're comparing it with other plug-ins. Basically, you may well achieve that if you charge up at home and your journeys are within the electric range, but expect about 35-40mpg on a longer run without charging. 

Officially the 4WD diesel manages an unremarkable but acceptable 41.5mpg combined. It makes the petrol hybrid look like the better choice in case you regularly tow or fill up the car with loads of stuff. 

Insurance groups range from 22 for the base hybrid to 26 for the diesel, while tax is reasonably affordable given the car's size. 

The Santa Fe is unashamedly relaxed in the way that it drives. As such, it rides very well, even on 19-inch alloy wheels. The steering's light and it will lean in the bends, but you'd be better looking at something other than a seven-seat SUV if you want an enjoyable drive.

It feels its size in town, but forward visibility is very good, with that desirable high-up SUV seating position. Threading it through a tight gap requires careful judgement and reversing into a space can be tricky - especially when the car's full of people. Fortunately, a rear camera is standard on all models.

We've not yet driven the Hyundai Santa Fe in plug-in hybrid form, but it's around 200kg heavier than the diesel. You'll likely not notice this in an SUV that's 1.8 tonnes even in its lightest form, but expect it to feel a touch less agile. Whichever version you go for, though, a Skoda Kodiaq feels keener to change direction. 

Don't expect a strong choice of engines if you're considering a used Hyundai Santa Fe - or at least one before 2021. There's just one, a 2.2-litre turbodiesel with 200PS and 440Nm of torque on tap. 

Fortunately, it's a pretty good engine - a bit grumbly on start up, but no more so than diesel rivals. It settles into a hushed, refined drive when on the move, with road and wind noise also well contained.

You could choose from a six-speed manual transmission or eight-speed automatic gearbox. The auto suits the car really well, providing a relaxed drive with well-timed gear changes. It'll come as no surprise that Hyundai dropped the manual option by 2021 as so few people bought it. 

From 2021 the two hybrid models were added. The Hyundai Santa Fe HEV (Hyundai's term for non plug-in hybrids) mates a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine to a 60PS electric motor and six-speed automatic gearbox. It can be had in front-wheel drive or four-wheel drive form, with both versions putting out 230PS. 

That might sound pretty powerful, but with quite a heavy car to shift performance is more adequate than sprightly, with a 0-62mph time as low as 8.9 seconds. It's enough to confidently overtake, but it's less effortless than the diesel because the petrol engine needs revving. Keeping the Santa Fe in electric only mode isn't easy on the open road given its modest output, but at a gentle cruise or during town driving it'll be smooth and silent. 

The Hyundai Santa Fe PHEV (Plug-in hybrid) gets a bigger battery and more powerful electric motor, bringing the output up to 265PS. It's four-wheel drive only, using the same six-speed automatic, but because that 13.8kWh battery adds weight performance is about the same as the hybrid. But you'll get up to 36 miles in electric-only mode on a full charge.

There's a heap of driver assistance technology also on hand, such as adaptive cruise control (standard on all automatic models) and automatic emergency braking. There's also a blindspot detection system on Premium and Premium SE models.

The Hyundai Santa Fe achieved the maximum five star Euro NCAP safety rating in 2018. Its scores aren't quite class-leading, but it'll still be a very safe option for families. 

The 2021-on Hyundai Santa Fe Ultimate comes with a very clever blind spot monitoring system that uses camera to feed views onto the dial display when you indicate. It's a useful idea and not distracting as you quickly glance at it before pulling out into the next lane. 

The standard automatic gearbox (good luck finding a used manual model) takes some of the effort out if you plan to use the Santa Fe as a tow car, but it's worth noting that the automatic's towing capacity is 500kg down on the manual - 2000kg versus 2500kg.

The hybrid models also lose out a little, having a braked towing capacity of 1650kg - or 1350kg for the plug-in hybrid. 

Earlier Hyundai Santa Fes could be had in SE or Premium SE forms as well, but as of 2021 there are two trim levels; Premium and Ultimate. 

The Hyundai Santa Fe Premium comes equipped with either 17, 18 or 19-inch wheels depending on engine, roof rails, leather heated seats front and rear, front electric seat adjustment, a heated wheel, dual-zone climate control, full LED headlights, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, front and rear parking sensors, a rear-view camera, self-levelling rear suspension, sat-nav, digital dials and an electric tailgate.

Upgrading to the Hyundai Santa Fe Ultimate brings 19 or 20-inch wheels depending on engine, a camera-based blind spot view monitor, Highway Driving Assist, rear-cross traffic alert and parking collision avoidance, a surround-view parking camera, remote smart parking assist, a panoramic sunroof, rear door blinds, ventilated front seats and a driver's seat memory function.