While I was in California last week testing the 2025 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid, I also got about 20 minutes of seat time in the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid.
Since one lap of the area surrounding Los Olivos, California, isn’t really enough for a full first-drive review, consider this a quick spin. The Cliff Notes version, if you will.
(Full disclosure: Hyundai flew me out to the Santa Barbara, California area and paid for my hotel room and meals so that I could drive the Tucson Hybrid and Santa Fe Hybrid while also seeing the Ioniq 5 XRT and driving the updated Santa Cruz).
The Santa Fe Hybrid blends a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with an electric motor for 231 system horsepower and 271 lb-ft of torque — the gas engine itself puts out 178 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. There’s a six-speed automatic transmission and you can get your hybrid with either front-wheel or all-wheel drive.
Drivers can adjust the regenerative braking via paddles mounted on the steering column.
It’s available in SEL, Limited, or Calligraphy trims.
Very little differentiates the Santa Fe Hybrid from the gasser, save the powertrain, and that’s a good thing. I haven’t yet had an opportunity for a full test of the gas model, but I was impressed after driving one for 15 minutes at an event this spring. It’s smooth-riding and handles fairly well for its size, though body roll shows up when you push.
That was my takeaway from the gas model, and that doesn’t really change with the hybrid. As with the Tucson that was the main reason I was on the West Coast, the Santa Fe Hybrid offers up smooth transitions between modes — it was seamless.
Inside, the materials look and feel good, and controls are within easy reach of the driver. I didn’t have a chance to crawl in back, but head- and legroom were plentiful up front. You do sit a bit upright, however.
It’s also quite quiet inside. While most of my drive was on gently (and, occasionally, not so gently) winding two-lane at the edge of Santa Barbara wine country, I got the sense that this would make for a very good long-hauler. Road trippers, take note.
Hyundai has it set up so that $36,950 will get you in the door for a SEL Hybrid, with $1,800 netting you all-wheel drive. A loaded Calligraphy with AWD will set you back $48,800. That’s only $500 over a loaded ICE Calligraphy with AWD.
You’ll get in the mid-30s when it comes to fuel economy, according to the EPA, with a slight hit for the extra weight of all-wheel drive.
I need more time with the Santa Fe to really feel it out. In the meantime, my two initial impressions have been positive.
Hyundai has what might be one of the strongest competitors in the segment — again, I need a more in-depth test — and offers a hybrid version without a hefty price premium or major sacrifices in powertrain operation.
That’s a pretty good feat.
[Images © 2024 Tim Healey/TTAC.com]
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