Hyundai Santa Fe review

Category: Large SUV

Section: Driving

Hyundai Santa Fe rear cornering
  • Hyundai Santa Fe front right tracking
  • Hyundai Santa Fe rear cornering
  • Hyundai Santa Fe interior dashboard
  • Hyundai Santa Fe interior back seats
  • Hyundai Santa Fe interior infotainment
  • Hyundai Santa Fe right tracking
  • Hyundai Santa Fe rear right tracking
  • Hyundai Santa Fe front tracking
  • Hyundai Santa Fe right tracking
  • Hyundai Santa Fe rear left static
  • Hyundai Santa Fe headlight detail
  • Hyundai Santa Fe grille detail
  • Hyundai Santa Fe interior front seats
  • Hyundai Santa Fe interior steering wheel
  • Hyundai Santa Fe interior detail
  • Hyundai Santa Fe interior detail
  • Hyundai Santa Fe boot open
  • Hyundai Santa Fe front right tracking
  • Hyundai Santa Fe rear cornering
  • Hyundai Santa Fe interior dashboard
  • Hyundai Santa Fe interior back seats
  • Hyundai Santa Fe interior infotainment
  • Hyundai Santa Fe right tracking
  • Hyundai Santa Fe rear right tracking
  • Hyundai Santa Fe front tracking
  • Hyundai Santa Fe right tracking
  • Hyundai Santa Fe rear left static
  • Hyundai Santa Fe headlight detail
  • Hyundai Santa Fe grille detail
  • Hyundai Santa Fe interior front seats
  • Hyundai Santa Fe interior steering wheel
  • Hyundai Santa Fe interior detail
  • Hyundai Santa Fe interior detail
  • Hyundai Santa Fe boot open
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Author Avatar
by
Max Adams
Updated19 January 2023
In this section:
  • Engine, 0-60mph and gearbox
  • Suspension and ride comfort
  • Handling
  • Noise and vibration

Performance & drive

What it’s like to drive, and how quiet it is

Engine, 0-60mph and gearbox

The 'self-charging' hybrid (HEV) version of the Hyundai Santa Fe is quick enough – 0-60mph took 8.4sec in our tests. True, there's a slight delay between you pressing the accelerator pedal and the car surging forwards, but it's not so pronounced that it irritates. 

The plug-in hybrid (PHEV) has a more powerful electric motor and a bigger battery to allow it to travel without using its petrol engine. While the official electric range is 36 miles, you're likely to get 20-25 miles in the real world. It’s quite a lot heavier than the HEV, but acceleration isn't much slower (0-62mph officially takes 8.8sec). If you want a faster PHEV, consider the Lexus NX or Land Rover Discovery Sport

On the whole, the ride of both versions is pretty comfortable – broadly comparable with the rival Sorento – but you are jostled around a bit along pockmarked urban roads.

If you want the maximum comfort the Santa Fe has to offer, you’ll want to go for the HEV version in Premium trim, which will give you smaller 17in wheels and improve the ride even more.

Hyundai Santa Fe rear cornering

Handling

There are multiple off-road modes, but unless you work in forestry, your Santa Fe will probably spend most of its time on Tarmac, so on-road driving manners are clearly the priority here.

On the whole, the Santa Fe handles tidily enough. There is, unsurprisingly, some body lean through tight turns, but despite being a tall, heavy car, it never lurches around in the uncontrolled fashion that the Toyota Highlander does. The steering doesn't give you a brilliant sense of connection with the road, but it's precise enough to allow you to place the car confidently at all speeds.

New car deals
Save up to £2,262
Target Price from £40,574
Save up to £2,262
or from £512pm
Swipe to see used and leasing deals
Nearly new deals
From £40,990
Leasing deals
From £446pm