Hyundai Santa Fe In-Depth UK Review - A Classy & Well-Built Seven-Seater

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Hyundai's Santa Fe has come a long way from the times when it was a budget brand SUV pick. These days, this model is the flagship of the Hyundai range, offering seven seats and European brand standards of technology and quality. This improved version of the fourth generation model ditches diesel in favour of electrified power powerplants. And it might well surprise you.
Background
Look at a car like this, Hyundai's improved MK4 model Santa Fe SUV, and you get some idea of just how far this South Korean brand has come in recent years. This, after all, is the kind of quality product that has driven the improvements in its recent fortunes.
The Santa Fe has had a big role to play here. Looking back, it was the launch of the MK2 version of this car in 2006 that really put Hyundai on the map. Not only was it beautifully built - it also had beautiful market positioning, this the first relatively affordable SUV to blur the boundaries between the mid-sized class and the large Crossover segment better suited to bigger families. Santa Fe buyers paid compact sector prices but got the kind of 7-seat capacity they'd previously needed a much larger SUV for. No wonder this car became such a strong seller for the UK importers. This time round, its smartened up its act, but the basic proposition remains much the same.
Driving Experience
How an SUV drives is usually pretty far down the priority list after how it looks, what it costs and how much room there is inside. We used to take it as read that an SUV would be about as sharp as a serving of refried beans to drive but in recent years, we've seen the pendulum swing back the other way with 'sporty' 4x4s that cornered better but at the expense of decidedly brittle ride quality. There has to be a happy medium between these two extremes and Hyundai claims that this car rather neatly strikes it.
To help with that objective, this fourth generation model was originally launched with an all-new platform, stiffer and more sophisticated than before, which helps to keep body roll in check. That's not enough to make the Santa Fe a particularly engaging drive though. With this updated model, the big news is that Hyundai has at last summoned up the courage to be able to ditch diesel. In place of the previous 2.2-litre CRDi unit, there's a choice of two petrol powerplants both based around a 1.6 T-GDi petrol powerplant starting point. Either a 245PS full hybrid unit offered with either 2DW or 4WD. Or a 265PS Plug-in version, which only comes with 4WD and can go up to 36 miles between charges. Either way, you get a 6-speed auto gearbox.
The 4WD system in question is Hyundai's 'HTRAC' set-up, which apportions torque in varying quantities between the axles depending on the traction available, at the same time as braking individual wheels in search of better grip.
Design and Build
The latest Santa Fe isn't quite the sort of car that will have pedestrians bumbling slack-jawed into pavement furniture but it's undoubtedly a good looking thing. It has that inherent rightness to its proportioning that'll make it tricky not to throw a glance over your shoulder when you lock it and walk away. Most importantly, choose an upscale version and it looks - and there's not really a better word for it - expensive. That's exactly the desired result, as Hyundai is trying to push the Santa Fe upmarket. For this revised model, a number of exterior and interior enhancements have been introduced including a redesigned front end with a new cascading grille, T shaped headlamps and a sculpted front bumper. Rear design changes include new connected tail lamps, full length lower reflector and a redesigned bumper.
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[@OsvUkVehicleSupply]

Which is better - Hyundai Santa Fe or Kia Sorento?

[@jimbo969]

What an unbelievably informative car review! Never seen anything like it, answered every possible question I had. Thanks a million

[@OsvUkVehicleSupply]

Appreciate the great feedback! Make sure to subscribe if you haven't done so already: bit.ly/319ZKoT​

[@MrAquinas1]

I've surveyed a lot of reviews, print and video, yours is the best I've come across.

[@OsvUkVehicleSupply]

Thanks Ed! We aim to be as comprehensive and informative as possible. Make sure to subscribe for the latest in-depth reviews - bit.ly/319ZKoT​

[@0farmerjohn0]

Reviews like this are becoming very rare. Very informative! Great job as always.

[@OsvUkVehicleSupply]

Very kind of you to say!

[@Beachbumextraordinaire]

About 7 months ago, we set forth to purchase a new car, as the lease on our BMW 3 series tourer (320d) was about to expire. Over the past 3 years, we have been observing an acceleration in the electrification of the market (as well as rapid deployment of hydrogen infrastructure) and felt that whichever government (in Germany, where we are based) assumed office would only expedite this trend further. We felt, therefore reluctant to get caught in a gas or diesel car (at least a full internal combustion vehicle). As a side note: I also sense that oil prices will only increase over the next 2 decades as oil has proven oil reserves are used up (the remainder will be more challenging to extract). This makes the shift to greener solutions sine qua non to safeguard the environment but also an inescapable aspect of our foreseeable future. As EVs have proven to be very civilized in the driving experience they offer, there is one problem as of yet: that the technology is still in its relative infancy, notwithstanding the great strides which have been recorded (eg charging times, range). As it stands the range of full EVs at 80% charge (the number typically quoted by manufacturers to emphasize quick charging times) remains underwhelming. This implies that gargantuan depreciation is an imperative of any such purchase done today. Think 3 or 4 years into the future when cars offer 800km to 1000km in range. So the question is (in simple terms): should one buy a large upmarket electrified (eg BMW) that would cost EUR80,000 - EUR120,000 (with all the bells and whistles) and end up forfeiting half that money down the line as depreciation. Or buy into a mid-market brand that would lose the same in percentage terms during this time, but much less in absolute terms? Our answer was the latter, and in favor of a PHEV, which would offer the same kind of economy as the diesel (the popular benchmark), a reasonable amount of government grants and tax breaks, and no issue on the range when traveling long distances. And our choice is the 5 seater Santa Fe PHEV (Prime Package - which offers all available options barring the suede headliner). Why? Because it is among the handful of PHEV large SUVs out there that has seen a rework of its architecture so as to safeguard baggage space. Note: We opted for the 5 seater option because in addition to the 634 liters of baggage volume, the compartment where the 3rd row would normally be seated also serves as storage and adds another 200 or so liters. How is it in terms of performance? It's more of a flying carpet than the likes of a BMW, but performance is another term that stands to become obsolete as governments reduce speed limits. The Netherlands has done this (100kph on national highways between 6am and 7pm) and we sense that Germany will follow suit, sooner or later. Note: We record a 6.5l per 100km fuel economy for the Santa Fe PHEV in Full Hydrid Mode, the same as our BMW 320d (the BMW being more streamlined and weighing several hundred kilos less).

[@swizzler68]

Brilliant review, I have to say i really like the look of the new Sante Fe! I would go for the hybrid version. The looks (and tech) are growing on me, it looks like a purposeful SUV!

[@OsterleyCC]

fantastic review. You provide so much information, so would you consider providing a text box when providing statistics?

[@OsvUkVehicleSupply]

Thanks for watching, we'll pass this suggestion onto the team 👍 If you enjoyed the video, make sure to subscribe: bit.ly/319ZKoT​

[@slugger7440]

We've just ordered the phev ultimate trim. Can't wait to get it in March

[@OsvUkVehicleSupply]

Exciting stuff, Hector! Hope you enjoy your new car. What made you choose this trim in particular?

[@slugger7440]

@@OsvUkVehicleSupply well my wife picked the car but I felt like it was good value and upmarket inside. You are right that it being similar price to a base premium brand model but I'd certainly rather have all the tech than a badge with no options for the money. Only niggles are lack of spare wheel, Android auto/ car play being wired only and if I am correct, the smart high beam is just 'full or dipped' beams. Just hope it's reliable enough to not get flashed by incoming drivers. My Skoda Octavia vrs iv I'm driving just now never has that issue with the Matrix LEDs. For country roads it's such an underrated feature!

[@phoenixonfire83]

Same here, I went for the 2wd self charging variant in the ultimate trim. Getting it in march which is a bummer but oh well. I almost went for the luxury pack but after talking to people and watching reviews the luxury pack is kind of overkill. Mine is abyss black, which colour did u go for.

[@slugger7440]

@@phoenixonfire83 nice once. I think ours is the metallic grey. Can't recall exact name! Yeah I thought better of the luxury pack as my kids will just ruin the interior anyway

[@phoenixonfire83]

@@slugger7440 haha my thought exactly. But frankly the luxury pack doesn't add too much except the lighter leather napa seats which I didn't want anyway, I wanted the black leather interior, keeps clean better in the long run. Plus I think ir adds body coloured cladding which is meh as far as I am concerned. Let's hope the car is amazing. This will be my first real big car so am a bit nervous, was a little impulsive getting it but I was getting sick of smaller cars although they are more practical I suppose. Had the c3 aircross which served me well, and almost went for the c5 aircross variant but then I really liked the look and interior of this car. Everyone I know goes for German cars, mostly BMW or Mercedes, but the larger cars with them are far too overpriced in my opinion. And they look too boxy, very conservative on the outside. Expecially bmw

[@henrikkoukku2896]

2022 Hyundai Santa Fe HTRAC AWD (with rear diff center lock). Off-Road test, please!.🤔

[@Mikeyp1054]

The luxury pack also includes painted wheel arches and body bits not that naff black plastic look and makes it look a million times better

[@nicusaramet8707]

Superb 👍😍

[@OsvUkVehicleSupply]

Thanks Nicu 👍 Make sure to subscribe for more of the latest vehicle reviews: bit.ly/319ZKoT​

[@NigelMayhew1]

Thank you!

[@OsvUkVehicleSupply]

Cheers Nigel, glad you found the review helpful! Make sure to subscribe for the latest in-depth vehicle reviews - bit.ly/319ZKoT​

[@darkmatter6714]

Fantastic review! We are a two car family with a wall charger. Our strategy is to have a full electric as a second car for school runs and shopping (we have a Zoe for that) and a plug-in hybrid as the main car, so we can have something for unrestricted long road trips without range or lack of charging station anxiety. We have to change our current main car in May and we have the plug-in version of the Santa Fe in our sights. Why? Because we need to tick two boxes: (1) we need 7 seats and (2) one of the kids goes to a different school, about 10 miles away, so we hope to do that second school run in full electric power only as well - hence the need for a plug-in as the main car. This way, between the Zoe and the Santa Fe, we get to do both school runs (80-90% of our journeys) fully electric. Is there anything else under £50K - either now or coming soon by May - that could challenge the Santa Fe?

[@OsvUkVehicleSupply]

Thanks for watching! We supply every make and model in the UK so one of our experts will be happy to answer any questions and explore pricing options 👍 Get in touch on 01903 538835 or book a date/time to chat on our website: bit.ly/3soFVbF

[@petarcholakov5269]

we have 4 Kodiak's as company cars, 2 of them had engine failure at 75K Km. Good thing is Skoda replaced the engines in 3 months time. But i won't recommend Skoda, as freely as you do.

[@nickb8321]

Actually, the diesel hasn't been ditched.

[@simongreenidge6454]

Remove the non-essential electronics and get the cash price down to £35,000 and the Santa Fe would be a much more attractive proposition. I suppose the high-spec electronic 'bells & whistles' will attract those who might have otherwise bought a lower spec Audi / VW / Merc etc. For those of us who are looking for traditional Hyundai value and want to keep a car for more than, say, 8 years; the electronics are a concern; how much of it will still be working properly? What will be the state of the battery after 10 years? There is allot to go wrong.

[@OsvUkVehicleSupply]

Hi Simon, are you looking for a new car at the moment?

[@simongreenidge6454]

@@OsvUkVehicleSupply I like the idea, but I'll leave it to the early(ish) adopters and eek out a couple more years from my trusty diesel Nissan X-Trail. Too much in flux or in question at the moment; chip shortages, the immature UK EV charge-point network and also concerns that the the EV drivetrain (particularly the battery) do not hold their value well long term. I'm also concerned that the electronic gadgets are going to cause long-term owners headaches.

[@MX9000YT]

How is it like to park in multi-storey car parks?

[@OsvUkVehicleSupply]

Parking the Hyundai Santa Fe in multi-storey car parks can be manageable. It's important to be cautious in tight spaces and consider the dimensions of the car park. With practice, it becomes easier.

[@user-ur5zl3ig5h]

Can't decide Santa Fe or Highlander

[@OsvUkVehicleSupply]

Hi there, our vehicle experts will be happy to answer any questions and explore your options to help you decide on the best model for you 👍 Get in touch on 01903 538835 or click here to book a call at a convenient time - bit.ly/39YHCml

[@Mikeyp1054]

Santa fe for tech and reliability and customer service all day long

[@MrG.42]

Yet another car that can no longer tow a large caravan.

[@darrenmarshall4454]

Me personally would go for the ssangyong rexton ultimate cheaper and a 7 yr warranty and with all the toys .

[@OsvUkVehicleSupply]

Hi Darren, we supply every make and model in the UK and can secure a new SsangYong Rexton for you 👍 Get in touch with our team on 01903 538835 or book a free consultation: bit.ly/39YHCml