2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid – the way to go

After spending the past two weeks driving around in two different electric vehicles (EVs), I was so happy to be back in a car that uses good ole fashion gasoline and an internal combustion engine. Hey, EVs are great – but charging them remains a hassle, especially if you don’t opt for the $3000 home charger and must depend on a long extension cord and a 120V outlet to charge it. Add in the fact that for most of the two weeks I was in these EVs, it felt like the monsoon season had arrived in the Dallas area – making me have to deal with charging an electric car as it was pouring down rain. That sure didn’t give me a good, safe feeling.

But just because I’m back in a gas-powered car doesn’t mean I’m going to be go using a lot of fuel. That’s because this week I’m in the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid – combining the best of both worlds – a gas powered engine along with an electric motor. While I may not be totally gas-free like a true EV, I no longer have range anxiety, or the worrisome feeling wondering if I have enough electricity to reach my destination (and return home). Best of all – no plugging it in.

Hybrids have been around since the 1990s, but they have seemed to lost some of their glamour as EVs have stolen most of the spotlight recently. But the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid reminds me of why hybrids are still the way to go.

Even though Hyundai has built the Santa Fe for over 20 years, it has only been offered as a hybrid since 2021, when the Santa Fe received a facelift and switched to a new platform. Today’s Santa Fe remains a mid-sized five-seater crossover that sits in the Hyundai SUV lineup above the compact Tucson and below the three-row Palisade.

As a hybrid, the Santa Fe can achieve 33 mpg in town and 30 mpg on the highway (about a 9-mpg improvement over the non-hybrid model). It’s able to do this by using a 1.6-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine paired with a hybrid system that makes a combined 226 horsepower by way of a six-speed transmission. Every Santa Fe Hybrid is equipped with all-wheel drive.

Externally, aside from badges, the Santa Fe Hybrid looks the same as the regular Santa Fe. It continues with Hyundai’s future-forward approach, utilizing the brand’s now-signature patterned grille, flanked by sharp LED headlamps. The side profile features a compelling character line joining the front headlights to the rear taillights. The rear end is tasteful, although somewhat generic. Overall, the Santa Fe Hybrid presents itself as an elegant, well-proportioned SUV.

Inside, the cabin is set out to serve the driver’s needs. Audio, HVAC, and drive mode controls are all neatly accessible on the busy center console, along with Hyundai’s push-button gear selector. Above the console is a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster while underneath, there’s a convenient storage area for keeping medium-sized objects out of sight but close at hand. Every seat in the Santa Fe is comfortable and well-proportioned and should seat five adults without complaint.

All feels right when driving the Santa Fe Hybrid. It’s one of those cars that demands nothing from its driver. Its steering is light and well-assisted, and its throttle and brake pedal are compliant all translating into an easy vehicle to navigate through parking lots, busy freeways, long road trips and school drop-offs – all with minimum fuss. The instant-on torque of the hybrid drivetrain is welcome, making acceleration adequate. For the passengers, they will appreciate how comfortable and quiet the Santa Fe Hybrid is, especially in low-speed situations, when it’s running solely on the electric motor.

Pricing for the Santa Fe Hybrid starts at $37,545 for the base Blue trim level, which is about $7500 more than the base price of a regular Santa Fe (but the Blue comes with more features). If you want items like leather-like interior, 19-inch wheels (vs 17-inch on the Blue), power passenger seat, panoramic moonroof and surround-view camera, the SEL Premium is available. At the top is the Limited, which includes everything from the SEL Premium along with power-folding mirrors, heated and vented front seats and heated rear seats, heated steering wheel and remote parking assist. The tester was a Limited and carried with it a price of $43,115.00.

As a commuter vehicle, it’s hard not to like the Santa Fe Hybrid. It’s spacious and comfortable and makes getting around as easy as possible. And it does so while being friendly at the pump. Personally, I’d like to see a little more power as I feel it’s a little low in that department, but I doubt most Santa Fe owners will ever notice. Otherwise – it’s a fantastic ride. After spending a lot of time in EVs recently, I was thrilled to be in the Santa Fe Hybrid – it reminded me how good hybrids are, and it also that we still have a way to go when it comes to EVs.
— Christopher A. Randazzo

By The Numbers:

2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Limited AWD

Base Price: $41,570.00
Price as Tested: $43,115.00
Layout: front-engine/ all-wheel drive
Engine: 1.6 liter turbocharged four-cylinder with electric motor
Transmission: six-speed automatic
Horsepower: 226 hp
Torque: 195 ft-lbs
EPA Fuel Economy: 33 / 30 (city, highway mpg)

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