REVIEW | Hyundai Santa Fe - Reliable, Comfortable and Spacious
The Space Cruiser Touches Down
So I recently saw that those boffins at Cambridge University look as though they’ve found a planet in the great depths of the universe that appears to support some sort of life. I haven’t a clue how this works, but they’ve looked through a telescope and found some chemicals which, here on Earth anyway, are only made by living organisms. There’s even a hint that the planet, given the catchy name of K2-18b, could be covered in oceans teeming with life. I wonder if it’s got a beach, too.
And if you enjoy a few drinks on New Year’s Eve, you’re in for a treat on K2-18b because apparently, a year there only lasts 33 days. You’ll hardly have a chance to sober up before it’s party time again.
Anyway, as it’s 124 light years away, which translates to just over seven trillion miles, I don’t think we’ll be visiting K2-18b in the near future.
Not for off-roading
It’s a shame though, because if you were in a Hyundai Santa Fe, you’d have sufficient space for seven intrepid travellers and all of their baggage. And Adults will be fine in the third row, it’s not just for the local Hobbits.
Yep, it really is that spacious. Drop the rear row and you can just about climb in and go for a walk.
If you’re fancying this sort of vehicle and want to use it for some serious off-roading, look elsewhere. There’s no low-ratio gearbox, for example. The Hyundai Santa Fe is aimed at families who want to cover vast distances in comfort but also want that edgy styling.
In other words, it’s not trying to be something which it isn’t…even though it looks as though it is. Are you following?
No more diesel
Two versions are available: hybrid and plug-in hybrid (PHEV). Both come as 7-seaters, but you can also opt for a 6-seat layout with the middle row being replaced by two individual seats. Prices start at £47,890 (Apr ’25), with the PHEV adding roughly four grand to the entry-level price.
No matter which one you go for, you’ll find the same 4-pot engine under the bonnet. It’s a 1.6-litre petrol unit which churns out 212bhp when aided by the hybrid battery or, in the case of the PHEV model, which benefits from a larger battery, your combined power ups to 249bhp. Diesels have been binned.
The only mechanical difference is that the entry-level hybrid is available with 2 or 4-wheel drive, while the PHEV model is AWD only. If you’d like to add 4-wheel drive to the hybrid model, find an extra £2k. All models get a 6-speed automatic gearbox. In terms of speed (or lack of), accelerating from 0-60mph takes 9.4 seconds and pushing your foot to the floor will get you to 112mph.
Electric only range
The advantage of the PHEV model is that you can travel for around 34 miles on battery power. There’s a button on the dashboard which allows you to select electric only. Once the battery runs low on juice, the engine joins the party, but if you have a round commute of say, 30 miles, you won’t be far away from doing it without using any petrol. Pretty handy. You should be able to achieve 37.6 mpg on a long journey. The hybrid model does slightly better at 41mpg thanks to a lighter battery and, in entry level form, no AWD transmission.
Driving Experience
Out on the road, the Hyundai Santa Fe is really nice to drive. The 1.6-litre engine has a lot of metal to haul around, so it’s hardly surprising that it’s no flying machine, but it never feels underpowered and offers refined cruising. The only time that things become a little flustered is when you floor the throttle to climb a hill, join a motorway or overtake something. The revs rise and sound a tad thrashy, but everything soon settles down to a distant thrum. From then on, the power switches between a battery-powered motor and a 1.6-litre engine. You never know when it happens. Slick.
This is a big car which is plainly set up for comfort, but it still handles tidily and doesn’t roll around. The steering is nicely weighted and you can still have some fun on a twisty back road. However, the Santa Fe is at its best when on a long-legged journey. It’s surprisingly easy to punt around town. Those square angles help you place the Santa Fe in tight traffic.
Driving modes
You have several driving options. Use Eco mode, and the steering wheel paddles adjust the regenerative braking. Switch to Sport mode, and the paddles help the gearbox swap cogs.
You also have various terrain modes, and although it’ll help with slippery conditions in wintery weather, the road-biased tyres won’t let you venture too far off road. If you need to cross a soggy field, you’ll be fine.
Interior
Inside is extremely smart. Hyundai and sister company Kia have moved upmarket in a big way. There’s a premium look and feel to everything. The seats are comfy, neatly trimmed in a tasteful, stylish way, and everything has a solid feel. The driver gets a 12.3-inch instrument cluster - clear and precise - while there’s also a central touchscreen for phone, sat nav, audio, etc. There’s a row of icons below the screen which help with climate, but they’re a bit fiddly. Thankfully the temperature controls are traditional knobs.
Trim Levels
Three trims are available - Premium, Ultimate and Calligraphy. I’d stick with Premium trim because it includes a high level of standard kit such as sat nav, DAB radio, front and rear parking sensors, reversing camera, cruise control, rear door blinds (nice touch) LED lights, 20-inch alloys, heated and powered front seats and leather trim, There’s also a full suite of safety gizmos. There’s not much else you really need.
Concluding Thoughts
So, which one would I recommend? Hybrid or plug-in hybrid?
If you have a home charger or access to one at the end of your journey and only have a round trip of about 30 miles, the PHEV will make sense. Even better if you’ve got solar panels. It makes sense for business users too. Otherwise, I’d pocket the £4k and stick with the hybrid model because it has improved overall mpg. Performance figures are almost identical with the PHEV version.
The Hyundai Santa Fe is cracking value. It’s well designed, loaded with kit, practical, comfy, stylish and decent to drive. The interior is downright plush and has seven seats. Chuck in Hyundai’s excellent reliability record and a 5-year unlimited mileage warranty, and it’s easy to see why the Santa Fe is a 5-star product.
words: Graham Courtney
pictures: Hyundai
