Growing up in the late 1990s through the early 2000s, my impression of Hyundai was not great. The most notable of which being our Little Red Excel blowing its engine on the way to pick up my mother from work; from then on, my father went with Hondas and Toyotas and never looked back. At the time, Hyundais were not just cheap to buy, but cheap-feeling to the point of making one feel they were inside a penalty box. Almost 30 years later, this 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid blows all those negative perceptions out of the water. I finally see why many people have been swayed over the years, especially with this chiselled makeover.
This new, fifth-generation Santa Fe is offered with a carryover hybrid powertrain from the previous model, a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a six-speed automatic transmission. This powertrain, combined with a 44 kW (60 hp) electric motor, makes a combined 231 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque — healthy numbers for a seven-seat family hauler. Higher trims, such as the XRT, Luxury, and Ultimate Calligraphy are equipped with another carryover powertrain, a 2.5L turbo-four paired to an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic. However, our Preferred tester optioned with the Trend package is the sweet spot, offering a number of higher-trim features with the added benefit of hybrid fuel economy.
The powertrains may be familiar, but the fifth-generation Santa Fe’s styling is a radical departure from previous models. It’s Hip to be Square these days, and the Santa Fe has gone boxy, drawing styling cues from the much more expensive Land Rover Defender. The squared-off fenders, blacked-out B- and C-pillars, and the boxy side profile take inspiration from the Defender, but Hyundai has added their own distinctive touches, such as the H-pattern daytime running lights and tail lights, and a front fascia that resembles an elogated H. The tail lights wrapping around the lower half of the Santa Fe’s rear end seem to be a point of contention among most people, but I personally like the design as it makes the Santa Fe more distinctive and unique. And although I initially likened this Ocado Green paint option to expired guacamole, it garnered a lot of attention and even a few thumbs-up. It eventually grew on me, especially as a palate cleanser from the sea of greyscale colours on our roads. In certain lighting conditions, the colour nicely adds depth to the slab-sided profile and overall boxy aesthetic.
The boxy and squared-off theme continues inside the new Santa Fe. It trades the swooping lines and shapes of the outgoing model for more hard lines and even more H-patterns and references throughout. With a 50-millimetre increase in wheelbase to 2,815 mm, along with increased headroom afforded by the boxy silhouette, the Santa Fe now welcomes third-row seating. It’s a nice addition for those who need to haul extra passengers in a pinch without having to step up to the much larger Palisade. The third row is also home to mounting points for child car seats, a helpful serving of cupholders and power outlets, and even its own climate controls — but not for the middle row, an odd omission considering most passengers will spend the most time here. Total cargo space with all the seats folded down is 2,267 litres, 1,148 with the second row up, and then 413 L with the third row deployed. On paper, it is not the roomiest in this segment, but still a generous amount of cargo space.
The dashboard now has a horizontally integrated digital gauge cluster and infotainment display, with dual 12.3-inch screens housed within a singular curved screen that achieves a much cleaner and premium-feeling look. Both displays are crisp, the infotainment is a lot more responsive and intuitive, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is now standard on all trim levels. Below the infotainment is the not-so-intuitive digitized climate control arrangement. The icons to access main functions can be slightly cumbersome to interact with, even more so if you have sausage fingers. It also attracts dust and fingerprints, but it’s not as noticeable and offensive as other vehicles with piano black trim. Thankfully, the rest of the Santa Fe retains physical controls, especially on the steering wheel.
Although the steering wheel could be mistaken for one straight out of a Range Rover, one unmistakable attribute to the Santa Fe’s interior is the useability throughout the cabin. Dual glove boxes, a floating centre console with charging pads and storage underneath, USB-C ports everywhere, and lots of cupholders make it a very compelling option. Other notable features you get with the $4,000 Trend package equipped on our tester are the simple- yet sharp-looking 20-inch five-spoke wheels, very comfortable leatherette seats, and a dual-pane sunroof to appease those little terrors in the back.
On the road, the Santa Fe Hybrid is pleasant and refined, even with the smaller 1.6L turbo-four. The electric motor helps with acceleration and feels more than adequate for most driving situations; even loaded up with people and cargo, it never felt lacking in power. On the other hand, those looking to tow will be better suited by the gas-powered models. The Santa Fe Hybrid is rated up to 2,000 pounds; it is a way’s off the XRT trim’s 4,500-pound towing capacity. The six-speed automatic works well with the hybrid powertrain and seamlessly transitions from gas to electric power. The driving experience feels more traditional, with power delivery feeling progressive compared to the rubber-band-feel of CVTs in competitors such as the Toyota Highlander.
During my time with the Santa Fe Hybrid, the fuel economy I observed was very eye-opening. Despite being shaped like a refrigerator, Hyundai reduced the Santa Fe’s drag coefficient to 0.29 compared to 0.33 on the outgoing model, thanks to additional flat underbody panels and active grille shutters. During one 10-kilometre jaunt around town, the indicated fuel consumption for that trip was a shocking 4.1 L/100 km, mostly due to the electric motors doing the bulk of the work. Over the course of the full week, I observed 6.3 L/100 km combined — better than Hyundai’s claimed 6.9 L/100 km combined.
The Santa Fe Hybrid, which is only available on the base Preferred trim, starts at $40,999. Opt for our tester’s Trend package, and the price tag increases to $44,999 as-tested — an amazing value proposition considering the most comparable Highlander Hybrid will run you about $53,000. The more rugged Santa Fe XRT trim is listed at $46,999, while the range-topping Ultimate Calligraphy starts at $53,227. That is still a great value, since most other three-row SUVs break the $60,000 price point for their comparable top trims.
The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid lets you have your cake and eat it, too. With better-than-advertised fuel economy, great interior useability, and styling that mimics a more expensive and aspirational vehicle, the fifth-generation Santa Fe has evolved into a very compelling value proposition in this segment. When everyone else plays it safe with lay-ups, the Santa Fe is a slam-dunk. Let’s just hope this generation leaves Hyundai’s past reliability woes where they belong.
