Tested: 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe Blends Form and Function

The definition of an SUV has changed a lot in recent times, but the classic two-box profile still hasn’t gone out of style. If anything, boxy is more in than ever. It’s hard to argue with a box for carrying people and stuff, and the aesthetic appeal of a rectilinear, square-jawed vehicle like the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe also jibes well with other current trends toward a rugged and outdoorsy image.

Radical New Look

Hyundai designers, for their part, say that they arrived at the new Santa Fe’s radically rectangular new look by penning this mid-size SUV from the rear forward. Much of the design focus for this new model went toward the tailgate and cargo area, which largely explains why it’s such a wholesale departure from its swoopier predecessor. And the eye-catching new shape, which has more than a few hints of Ford Flex, pays off handsomely: The new model is far more spacious than before in terms of both passenger and cargo space, even though its footprint only stretches by a couple inches here and there.

It’s not just a simple two-box look, either. Interesting lighting elements, sharp creases along the body sides, and detailing around the wheel arches make the Santa Fe look more upscale and distinctive than many luxury-badged SUVs—especially in our test example’s $1000 Earthy Brass matte paint. The most controversial styling elements are the low-mounted taillights, which Hyundai says were necessary due to the larger struts needed to hold up the heavier tailgate.

Inside Story

Open up that tailgate and you’ll find a nice, wide opening and a relatively low cargo floor. The standard third row of seats—which the previous-gen Santa Fe didn’t have—folds flat, and the second-row captain’s chairs are power operated and fold at the touch of a button (a three-passenger bench is also offered on lower trims). Second-row space is good for adults, but the third row is best left for children; its bottom cushion forces your knees into your chest, and to get any kind of meaningful legroom back there requires you to slide the second-row seats forward considerably.

Not only is the new cabin roomier than before, it’s also fitted with high-quality materials and class-above design and features. Our loaded Calligraphy trim level came with enough kit to make the more expensive Palisade jealous, including nappa leather seats, a UVC sanitization compartment, dual wireless phone chargers, and an extendable footrest for the driver’s seat that makes rest-stop napping a breeze. Soft leather, grained wood trim with an interesting-looking pattern, a steering wheel that looks like it’s straight out of a Range Rover, and crisply rendered display screens are among other visual delights. Importantly, there are enough hard buttons and knobs to keep the screen-heavy setup from being an ergonomic hassle.

Power and Performance

All this new stuff inside does have consequences, the biggest being the Santa Fe’s prodigious weight gain. Our 2024 Santa Fe Calligraphy weighed in at 4416 pounds, nearly 400 pounds more than the last Santa Fe Calligraphy we tested. As such, Hyundai ditched the old base powertrain, a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter inline-four, and made the previously optional turbo 2.5-liter four standard equipment. Output is down by a few horses, to 277 horsepower, but this engine still has plenty of power to motivate even this porkier Santa Fe. Our test car got to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds, which is 0.3 behind the previous model but still plenty competitive for its class.

We question Hyundai’s choice, however, to offer this turbo four only with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. This gearbox, the same wet-clutch unit that gave us numerous problems in our long-term Kia Sorento, doesn’t feel like the right fit for a big, heavy SUV like this. While it shifts quickly once underway, its laggy low-speed behavior is frustrating in normal driving, such as when pulling away from a stop. The way it engages the clutch feels like a new driver learning stick-shift for the first time. We can’t imagine this will improve when exploiting the Santa Fe’s towing capacity, rated at 3500 pounds here and up to 4500 pounds in the off-road-oriented XRT trim.

Fuel economy takes a slight hit compared to the old model—the new model is rated at 23 mpg combined—but there’s a Santa Fe Hybrid in the queue that will offer well above 30 mpg combined when it arrives later this year. The hybrid might be a better choice in terms of drivability too, as we found the previous-gen Santa Fe Hybrid to be a smooth and quiet runner with a well-integrated powertrain.

Despite the additional heft, the new Santa Fe rides and handles quite well for a three-row family SUV. The suspension is tuned softly, with a clear priority toward ride quality, and only the sharpest impacts penetrate the cabin, even on the Calligraphy’s large 21-inch wheels. We liked the steering weighting, and although there’s a lot of body roll, the Santa Fe holds on for 0.84 g of grip on the skidpad and stops from 70 mph in a short 167 feet. There are mid-size SUVs that offer a bit more driver involvement, but the Santa Fe is near the top of its class for refinement. Sublimely quiet on the highway—68 decibels inside at a steady 70 mph—it’s noticeably more isolated than before, with little wind and road noise.

Money Factor

Our loaded Calligraphy stickered for just over $50,000, which is right in the sweet spot of the three-row-SUV market. It offers a far more luxurious interior than just about anything else at that price point, and even the less well-equipped lower trims—starting in the mid-$30,000 range—offer that same distinctive exterior design that will have onlookers thinking you paid considerably more.

Hyundai has done a good job evolving the Santa Fe to fit the desires of family-SUV buyers who care most about interior space, features, and comfort. Its clever design both inside and out expertly balances form and function, offering a distinctive look that also enhances practicality. While we still have questions about its dual-clutch transmission, the new Santa Fe is uncommonly refined and well equipped for a mainstream three-row SUV, and it’s a welcome new entrant in this crowded segment.

Source: Reviews - aranddriver.com