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Rather less than a yr in the past, I had the chance to rise up shut and private with the fifth-generation 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe in its namesake metropolis in New Mexico. Sadly, I wasn’t capable of drive it on the time, however now that has modified — I simply bought again from driving Hyundai’s newest “compact” crossover in Tennessee, experiencing the way it conducts itself each on and off the highway in addition to how all of its options work in the actual world. And I’ve gotta say, rattling this factor is sweet. It doesn’t matter what state of affairs you end up in with the brand new Santa Fe, it’s greater than as much as the duty, particularly if that job is delivering Land Rover Defender styling for about half the value.
Few autos actually ship on what their seems and spec sheets promise, however the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe is completely a type of automobiles.
Full Disclosure: Hyundai flew me out to Franklin, Tennessee, put me up in a really good lodge and fed me scrumptious meals all so I might check out their latest automobile that was already on sale.
If I had been a special sort of man — somebody who didn’t know his viewers — I’d in all probability bury how the Santa Fe drives on the finish of this story. In any case, who the hell cares how a crossover with a turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-four engine and 6 comfortable seats truly drives? Effectively, nerds, I do know all of us do.
Beginning with the boilerplate details, the brand new Santa Fe’s customary engine is the aforementioned turbo 4, which is sweet for 277 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. All that torque is routed by an especially responsive 8-speed dual-clutch automated transmission. Should you’re seeking to go electrical (kind of), you can even go for a turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-four hybrid paired up with a 6-speed automated transmission. Each powerplants may be had with both front- or all-wheel drive (an $1,800 choice) on each trim stage within the lineup aside from the off-road-focused XRT trim.
I drove two Santa Fes throughout my testing, a top-of-the-line Calligraphy ($50,375 as examined) on-road and a middle-of-the-range XRT ($43,205 as examined) off-road. Each autos had been fitted with the two.5-liter engine, and it proved to be a brilliant robust energy unit irrespective of the terrain. I wouldn’t precisely name it quick, as a result of it isn’t, however it’ll get the job performed for anybody who’s shopping for any such automobile.
On pavement, the Santa Fe is extraordinarily quiet and enjoyable. You hear the grumble of the two.5-liter engine sometimes — it’s the character of a four-popper, in spite of everything — however it’s not precisely intrusive. Wind and highway noise is stored to a minimal, even when the floor is less-than-ideal. The eight-speed dual-clutch was surprisingly snappy for any such utility. It fired off up- and down-shifts as shortly as you might ever really need them to be, even when utilizing the steering wheel–mounted paddle shifters.
The Santa Fe’s cornering isn’t something to write down residence about, however what precisely did you anticipate? It is a 4,500-pound crossover in spite of everything. It isn’t offensive by any means, however a nook carver the Santa Fe isn’t. I suppose you are feeling one thing by the leather-wrapped steering wheel, however it isn’t the highway. There’s a Sport mode you’ll be able to choose, however it’s principally simply there for vibes. I suppose the steering will get just a little bit heavier and the throttle response is a bit snappier, however that’s about it. Once more, what did you anticipate? Go away it within the “Regular” and also you’ll be positive.
On the subject of leaving the pavement, the Santa Fe actually surprises. Hyundai constructed the XRT trim to have the ability to maintain its personal off-road, and it did — I’m not going to sit down right here and let you know the XRT is best than one thing like a Jeep Wrangler, Ford Bronco or Defender off-road, however it’s strong, and I did a far more intense off-road course than any Hyundai Santa Fe proprietor would ever dare to do.
All the Santa Fe’s off-roading is completed with out fancy modes. There are solely two issues you’ll be able to change to make the Santa Fe extra off-road prepared: locking the all-wheel-drive system and enabling hill descent management. Every little thing else is achieved by the Santa Fe’s pure willpower.
The XRT does get plenty of precise modifications to raised assault the paths. It’s fitted with 18-inch wheels and chunkier all-terrain tires, and its total journey top is raised to eight.3 inches, a 1.3-inch bump over the usual Santa Fes. Hyundai additionally says the XRT can tow as much as 4,500 kilos, whereas common Santa Fes can solely muster 3,500 kilos.
On the surface, the Santa Fe has gone by one of many largest generational glow-ups I’ve ever seen. The previous-gen crossover wasn’t bad-looking, however the brand new automotive simply seems distinctive. Gone are the curved strains and smooth edges of the earlier Santa Fe. Of their locations are boxy shapes, laborious strains and proper angles. Rattling, does it look good, and the actual fact it’s so strong off-road is a reduction — I’d hate if this factor didn’t ship on what its seems promised.
Other than the styling, the Santa Fe’s dimension is the most important (I’m so sorry) change. It has grown in each dimension over the fourth-generation automotive, and it’s now solely six inches shorter than its Palisade stablemate, however Hyundai is adamant the 2 SUVs don’t compete with one another. Please disregard the actual fact they’ve related costs, seat the identical quantity of individuals and at the moment are principally the identical dimension. Okay, to be honest to Hyundai, the next-generation Palisade is rumored to be getting each greater and boxier to make room for the brand new Santa Fe. Nonetheless, Hyundai doesn’t even contemplate the Santa Fe to be a mid-size crossover. It nonetheless classifies the automobile as a “compact crossover.” Certain, Jan.
Ultimately yr’s occasion, Hyundai’s Design Chief SangYup Lee advised us the design course of for the brand new Santa Fe began with its extremely huge tailgate on the again, and every part else concerning the automotive was designed with that function in thoughts. Should you’re considering the taillights are kind of low, nicely, you’re not incorrect. They’re, however that positioning serves a goal. With the taillights mounted decrease on the physique, it permits for a thinner tailgate strut, which makes the housing for the tailgate thinner as nicely. All that allowed the designers and engineers to make that vast rear hatch opening. It’s additionally meant to harken again to SUVs of years passed by that had low taillights. Like it or hate it, it’s definitely distinctive.
The remainder of the outside design is tremendous cohesive, and it doesn’t seem like a lot else on the highway (when you ignore Defenders). There are little “H” easter eggs in every single place, together with the headlights, taillights, bumpers and grille, simply to call just a few. They’re just a little corny, however it’s cute. There’s one little function of the outside that actually caught my consideration: the bizarre little rectangle on the C-pillar. Because it seems, it’s a deal with, which Hyundai explains makes it simpler for folk to climb up onto the roof to entry their energetic life-style gear strapped upon it.
The themes of the outside proceed when you step contained in the Santa Fe particularly the “H” motif and clear strains. Hyundai is providing 5 inside colours to select from; the one attention-grabbing coloration choices are Pecan Brown and Forest Inexperienced. It will be cool if these two might be mashed collectively, however alas. That’s proper, you’ll be able to spec an “Earthy Brass Matte” or “Terracotta Orange” Santa Fe with a inexperienced inside, which has shortly made this one in all my favourite autos ever. Regardless of its utilitarian nature, all of the supplies contained in the Santa Fe really feel fairly premium and every part appears nicely put collectively.
Anybody who has hung out inside Hyundai or Kia’s EVs will really feel proper at residence within the Santa Fe. Similarities embrace Hyundai’s trick “Leisure Seat” with a leg relaxation for front-row occupants. I simply at all times assumed they had been only for EV drivers ready for his or her autos to cost. The “H” theme continues by the cabin with the dashboard air vents, however take discover that there isn’t any lettering or Hyundai emblem on the steering wheel. As an alternative, there are simply 4 dots that designers famous symbolize the letter “H” in Morse code. How cute.
Hyundai additionally moved the gear shifter from the middle console to the steering column, which freed up a ton of area that the designers crammed with a number of different issues. For instance, there at the moment are two wi-fi charging pads that’ll each get your telephone decently scorching, although it does cost them shortly. Beneath that space is a big cubby gap to throw your junk in.
Above that heart console is a 6.6-inch touchscreen local weather management show that does embrace some bodily buttons. I suppose it’s good which you could management temperature by a dial, however I want the entire thing could be actual buttons somewhat than a display, because it did require me to take my eyes off the highway to function.
The principle focus of the inside are the twin 12.3-inch curved shows that function the gauge cluster and heart infotainment display. Each shows are pretty customizable and straightforward to make use of, and so they’re customary on the Restricted and Calligraphy fashions. Decrease trims just like the SE, SEL and XRT preserve the 12.3-inch heart show however lose the digital gauge cluster in favor of a small 4.3-inch display flanked by two gauges. On the tech facet of issues, Hyundai was very proud to share that its designers and engineers included a UV sanitizing tray within the inside, which was apparently a call introduced on by the pandemic. It’s undoubtedly distinctive and never one thing I’ve come throughout in a automotive earlier than, although I’m undecided precisely how helpful it’s. There’s additionally a digital rear-view mirror with a digital camera to raised assist drivers, particularly when there may be an excessive amount of junk within the trunk.
It won’t come as an excessive amount of of a shock to be taught that the Santa Fe comes with each driver help and security function at present available on the market — lane-keeping help, ahead collision avoidance, and adaptive cruise management are all right here and accounted for. Additionally, as is a rising pattern within the trade, you’ll be able to use your telephone as a automotive key within the new Santa Fe. Hyundai may also present over-the-air updates to verify the automotive is as much as snuff for patrons.
Roominess is the secret on the subject of the Santa Fe’s inside, and that makes a complete of sense — it’s a household automobile on the finish of the day. Hyundai says the Santa Fe now has class-leading inside area due to its 110.8-inch wheelbase and 190.2-inch total size. That roominess is obvious the second you fold the rear seats flat. There’s practically 80 cubic ft of inside cargo quantity behind the entrance seats, and that quantity shrinks to a still-respectable 14.6 cubes of cargo room with all of the seats up.
The Santa Fe additionally has class-leading second- and third-row legroom, in keeping with the Korean producer. Second-row residents within the gas-powered crossover are handled to 42.3 inches of legroom. Should you’re piloting a hybrid, although, second-row passengers should make do with a barely smaller 41.5 inches. As for these caught within the third row, don’t fear. You’ve bought loads of area with 29.9 inches of legroom, and you’ll even recline the third-row seats by 10 levels. All that’s to say my 6’1” self matches extraordinarily comfortably within the second row, and the third row is bearable.
After spending a complete lot of time — and a pair hundred miles — with this new “compact” crossover, I can say indisputably in my thoughts that Hyundai has a winner on its palms with the 2024 Santa Fe It doesn’t matter the way you spec your Santa Fe or what trim you go together with, the Santa Fe is as strong at its $35,455 (together with $1,395 for transport) base worth as it’s totally loaded at $50,695.
No matter you propose to do with the brand new Santa Fe, whether or not it’s carrying all your mates and their stuff or blasting up what looks as if an impossibly steep and muddy highway, it delivers. It is a good automobile by and thru — simply don’t name it a compact crossover.