South Korea’s largest automaker continues expanding products complete with bold styling choices and quicker next-generation turnaround times than many competitors. Case in point, Hyundai’s freshly reimagined Santa Fe five-door crossover.
A fifth-generation effort arrives for the 2024 model year bringing forth a menagerie of updates and eye-popping styling. The first model year dates back to 2001, making Santa Fe one of Hyundai’s longest running crossovers. It’s grown in stature and sales during the past quarter century and one of two mid-size crossovers within Hyundai’s lineup, the other: the slightly larger three-row mid-size Palisade also classified as a mid-sizer.
The radical 2024 Santa Fe redesign trades in a smooth exterior for an edgier look with an outdoors ambiance. Roof racks accommodating 220 pounds of gear come standard highlighting the outdoor connection. Plus, this latest generation is the first to include three seating rows standard. It’s two inches longer overall length with a stretched wheelbase (distance between front and rear axle) also adding two inches then Gen Four. Width remains unchanged at 74.8 inches. One popular returning nuance; a gas-electric hybrid version with a minimal upcharge of only $750 compared to trim specific conventional all-gas versions. Also known as a Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV), these self-charging designs never need wall socket tethers to keep electric systems functioning while fuel economy numbers rise significantly compared to its conventional Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) counterpart. Both versions remain visibly similar with major differences found out of sight and under hood.
For budget conscious yet eco-aware shoppers, HEVs bridge the gap between gas engines and higher tech electrified vehicles. Both a-wall-socket bound Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) and full electric vehicles (EVs) also known as Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) add significantly more bottom-line costs than traditional HEVs.
However, if tastes and wants diverge into electric vehicles (EVs) or Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs), Hyundai offers many opportunities for both within its growing lineup of sedans and crossovers.
The sole Santa Fe HEV engine, a 1.6-liter turbo charged four-cylinder produces 178 horses and teams with a 1.49-kilowatt hour lithium-ion battery system inducing a healthy 270 volts helping an electric motor output 44.2 kilowatts (or approximately 60 horsepower). Total combined horsepower from the two technologies reaches a punchy 232. Push the circular, dashboard-located electronic start button and wait for the sound of silence as the gas engine delays immediate activity during temperate settings. When thermometers read close to freezing or below, the gas engine revs up earlier to keep the battery warm and happy.
The 2024 Santa Fe crossover gas-electric hybrid arrives in three trim levels: SEL, Limited and very posh Calligraphy (ICE Santa Fe versions add a Base SE and mid-grade XRT). All trims offer the choice of front drive, or all-wheel drive for an extra $1,800. Our top-trim Calligraphy tester provided a subtle, quiet ride with reduced noise levels not recalled from previous Santa Fe generations.
Hyundai continues evolving headlights and taillights into artistry in motion and Santa Fe circa 2024 is no exception. Headlight tapestry includes an H like design featuring an extended middle crossbar. Bejeweled LEDs reside above and below the crossbar. The H illuminates with amber lighting during turn signal maneuvers, otherwise, expect a frosted white pattern. A white light bar connects both the right and left side H. In back below the liftgate door, expect two more smaller H patterns in a red taillight format. All three hybrid trims employ their own unique grille design with top tier Calligraphy diverging small, diamond-like black patterns.
The rear end includes a 90-degree top angle rather than the former swooping styling creating a taller stance. Windows gradually taper down in size when traveling from the 45-degree angled A pillar apex to behind the rear D pillar while bottom window frames remain a constant level. Thick, body-colored, rectangular-like door grab handles resemble styles usually reserved for full-size pickup trucks.
The 2024 Calligraphy is the sole trim featuring six-person seating capacity, all other trims command seven riders. Calligraphy boasts two second row Captain’s chairs with all positions draped with Nappa Leather trimmed seating. Both power-operated chairs include backrests folding flat with the push of a side button. All 50/50 split third rows accommodate two riders and manually fold flat/sink to maximize cargo volume when not needed for seating. Back-mounted pull straps help bring third-row backrests prone.
Traveling into the third row is made easier by captain’s chairs that power forward once seat backs tilt forward. A rather narrow aisle into the back third gets aided by ceiling-mounted grab handles. Wisely, Santa Fe chose a two-person capacity third row rather than trying to shoehorn an additional body. Headroom remains very acceptable although leg room is minimal with knees and feet resting on the same plane as the seats, acceptable for pre-teens but last resort for six-footers.
The four-spoke, manually motivated tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel gets wrapped in leather with Calligraphy the sole trim with a two-tone color scheme. Calligraphy and Limited offer three interior color combinations while SEL opts for two. Our Calligraphy tester boasted a bright gray interior.
The electronic six-speed transmission shifter operates via a push-twist style of a long appendage located on the steering column’s right side. This stalk’s end features a push-in function when selecting Park. A twist of the squared end clockwise or counterclockwise moves a red selector up or down to choose Drive, Reverse and Neutral. The relocation to the steering column opens up new possibilities between front buckets, an area where many crossover transmission shifters usually call home.
Now, in between front bucket seats one finds not one, but two wireless Smartphone charging ports that lay flat and side by side. To their rear, two side-by-side beverage holders and an arm/rest storage bin hinged at the rear. Also, a new touch-sensitive control center (smartly incorporating old-school twist knobs) rests at a comfortable 45-degree angle and connects the lower dash with the charging pads and welcomes a multitude of well-marked commands. A push bar quickly selects one of four drive modes (Eco, Sport, Custom, Snow). Each selection jibes with a unique art elements to the large, 12.3-inch instrument panel’s two digital circular gauges. A mid-section offers multiple panel selections chosen via a steering wheel button, including an animated description of power flow generated by the engine, electric motor, or both.
Two large dials in this region control dual font-zone temperature settings while smaller chrome knobs atop handle audio volume and station selections. Between the large dials a touch-sensitive plate for summoning fan speed, direction, front/rear defrosters and ventilated/heated seat commands.
This large HVAC region completely separates from the long, wide IMAX style curved glass dominating the dashboard’s left-central region with a left-sided 12.3-inch digital IP and 12.3-inch center screen displaying additional hybrid energy graphics, maps and audio station selections. The wide screen and HVAC system below work in concert together in an easy-to-follow manner.
Shot gun riders, or drivers with long wing spans will enjoy a dual glove box set up (upper and lower birth) with a handy shelf in between that accommodate small items. The shelf bottom incorporates narrow, rectangular air vents traveling along the center dash and morphing with similar colored/styled molding. At night, thin pen lighting underscores this functional artistry end to end.
Top-trim Calligraphy features a blind spot view monitor assisting pilots to what’s going on visually on the side with colorful visual cues. When engaging the turn signal stalk, real-time full color video feeds of side activities pump directly into the digital instrument panel within circular parameters temporarily overriding the left-side speedometer and right-side power/charge/eco hybrid system information. Once the turn or lane change completes, the instrument panel returns to its home screen.
Both HEV and ICE Santa Fe fuel tanks hold a healthy 17.7 gallons of regular, 87-octane fuel. The key difference remains the fuel economy generated by the two technologies. The standard ICE Santa Fe Calligraphy all-wheel drive averages 20 miles per gallon city and 28 mpg highway while our gas-electric all-wheel drive hybrid pumped up the volume to 35 mpg city and 34 mpg highway. If selecting front-wheel drive, add one mile extra to each category.
Electric Vehicles, PHEVs and HEVs all benefit from regenerative braking, where kinetic energy created during the braking process gets captured and saved in the battery for later reuse. It’s one reason for the HEV’s superior mileage readouts when compared to its ICE counterpart.
For clarification’s sake, Santa Fe cross qualifies as a ‘full’ hybrid rather than a ‘mild’ hybrid variant, an important distinction since full hybrids promise superior fuel economy and higher level of sophistication. Too often the word ‘hybrid’ gets stamped onto a vehicle without complete explanation. Full hybrids travel in pure electric mode for short distances at low speeds with no assistance from the gas engine. This design sometimes refers to FHEV with the F representing ‘Full’. Lower priced mild gas-electric hybrids (MHEVs) only assist the engine, which constantly drives the axles, and delivers less impressive miles per gallon.
The lowest priced Santa Fe HEV, a front-drive SEL starts at $37,200 with the lowest price ICE, a front-drive SE checking in at $34,200. Our fully equipped Calligraphy HEV with all bells and whistles standard started at $48,800. With the only option being port-installed floor mats ($210), the bottom line reached $50,425 after the $1,415 destination charge. Consider Calligraphy a bargain as content, ambiance and ride quality tilt toward the luxury end of a spectrum. Unique to Calligraphy trims other than six-person seating and Nappa leather surfaces: heads-up windshield display, Eco-Suede headliner, premium 12-speaker stereo, 20-inch alloy wheels and digitized rear-view mirror.
This mirror design, popular in newer model luxury-badged vehicles, utilizes color cameras to bypass second and third row heads and shoulders for a clear feed of traffic behind the rear glass. If traveling solo or just not needed, a quick flick of a tab along the bottom frame of the rear-view mirror returns to the conventional beveled feed.
The power lift-gate opening is considerably larger this year with a lower cargo floor entry point. The design works when carting recreational outdoor equipment or mundane items, including a small book case which was relocated during our time together. The lift-gate opening provides more than enough head clearance for those six-feet four-inches and shorter and includes a single wiper swooping down from the top. Wheel wells opt for a flared, squared structure rather than a flat half-moon circle. Black protective cladding protects wheel wells along with lower door frames and front/rear bumpers.
For the entire 2023 calendar year, Hyundai sold 801,195 vehicles in the U.S., an all-time record and up 11 percent from the 2022 calendar period. Santa Fe sales reached a healthy 131,574 units (combined ICE and HEV sales) resulting in a 10-percent kick upward representing Hyundai’s second most popular vehicle behind the compact Tucson crossover, strong numbers considering its aging fourth-generation status. The Hyundai Motor Group; consisting of Hyundai, Kia and Genesis brands, catapulted into fourth place in U.S. sales for the first time in 2023. It overtook Stellantis to finish behind General Motors, Toyota and Ford. The previous year, the Hyundai Group jumped passed Honda as the fifth best-selling brand.
All Hyundai Motor Group participants include one of the longest powertrain warranties available, 10-years or 1000,000 miles (whichever arrives first). Many rivals settle for time horizons and mileage specifications of five years or 50,000 miles. As an added perk for gas-electric hybrid buyers, the hybrid/electric battery system is also covered for 10-years or 100,000 miles.
2024 Santa Fe Hybrid Price as Tested: $50,425 Gas engine: Turbocharged 1.6-liter inline four-cylinder Horsepower: 178 Combined Horsepower: 232 Wheelbase: 110.8 inches Overall Length: 190.2 inches Overall Width: 74.8 inches Overall Height: 67.7 inches Powertrain warranty: 10-years/100,000 miles Hybrid/Electric Battery warranty: 10-years/100,000 miles Fuel Economy: 35 mpg city/34 mpg highway Curb Weight: 4,575 pounds Assembly: Montgomery, Alabama
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