The all-new 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe

Talk about changing things up. For 2024, Hyundai has redesigned their Santa Fe SUV, and with the looks of it, it is clear that Hyundai designers didn’t look at the previous model for inspiration. As a result, the new Santa Fe is wildly different from the old model.

The all-new fifth-generation Santa Fe looks nothing like the model it replaces. It features a distinctive squared-off, rectilinear body that really makes a fresh statement. It has a longer wheelbase than the 2023 model and now has three rows of seating.

Inside, the all-new interior stays in tune with the boxy exterior – with the only thing round within it is the steering wheel and a few knobs.

Under the hood of every new Santa Fe is a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine (basically the optional engine in last year’s model). In the 2024 Santa Fe, it makes 277 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque with that power being sent to either the front wheels, or all-wheels if equipped with all-wheel drive. An eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission is standard.

Hyundai spared no options in Santa Fe that they sent to me – an all-wheel drive version of the Santa Fe in their plush Calligraphy trim. The MSRP that came with it showed a price tag of a very reasonable $50,905. Pricing for the 2024 Santa Fe starts at $35,365.

For those that don’t need or want all the fixins, the Santa Fe continues to be available in four other trim levels. The base is the SE which comes with 18-inch wheels, cloth interior, 12.3-inch infotainment and a power liftgate. Step up to the SEL and the cloth interior gets swapped for synthetic leather along with heated seats, a panoramic curved display that integrates the digital cluster with the infotainment system and a power driver’s seat. The XRT contains most of the SELs features but does so in a more rugged off-road theme. It dresses the anta Fe up in dark exterior trim and unique 18-inch wheels on all-terrain tires. If you prefer luxury, the Limited fits the Santa Fe with a panoramic sunroof, real leather interior, heated and vented front seats along with heated rear seats and heated steering wheel and ambient lighting. Then for the ultimate Santa Fe, there is the Calligraphy. This trim level, just as it’s found in the Hyundais, really takes the Santa Fe’s interior up a notch with premium leather seating with quilted stitching, suede headliner, digital rearview camera, a heads-up display and more.

Enter the new Santa Fe and you will encounter an interior that is spacious, comfortable – and beautifully finished. The vast display that is in front of the driver and spans to the middle of the dash is impressive. There are numerous buttons and controls, but for the most part everything is straight-forward and simple. Best of all, the buttons, along with the other items you touch, like the like door handles and dash vents, have a solid, positive feel, giving you the feel and impression that you are in a much more expensive vehicle. There are even features that the new Santa Fe has that I’ve never seen in any vehicle regardless of price, such as the built in UV sterilizer. With this, pop open what looks to be a small glove box on the passenger side, place whatever items you want to sterilze in there, such as a phone or pair of gloves, close the door, then press the UV-C button. Within 10 minutes, the items are sterilized.

The second-row seats are comfortable and offer more room than the previous Santa Fe thanks to the longer wheelbase. And while there is a third-row seat, it is best used for children as there is not a lot of space and getting back there can be a challenge on the body. Luckily both the second row and third row fold flat for extra cargo room.

On the road, the Santa Fe with its turbo engine, offers good acceleration – being able to leap to 60 mph in just over 6 seconds. Fuel economy isn’t bad either, with the tester rated at 20 mpg city, 28 mpg highway and 23 mpg combined.

As good as the Santa Fe drives, it also offers plenty of advanced driver aids. Along with automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist and a driver attention monitor, there is also blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. On the Limited and Calligraphy models additional goodies like Remote Parking Assist, lane centering and adaptive cruise control are available. The Remote Parking Assist has to be the best show-off feature as it allows drivers to navigate their vehicle into tight parking spaces from outside the vehicle.

Like most Hyundais before it, the all-new Santa Fe brings a lot of value for the money. Not only is it cheaper than the competition, it offers more features and has the best warranty in the business. Now, with its cool, unique styling, it is sure to attract the attention of many buyers who are tired of similarly styled crossover SUVs. The new Santa Fe looks to be an attractive option for families looking for something fresh.
— Christopher A. Randazzo

By The Numbers:

2024 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy 2.5T AWD

Base Price: $48,300.00
Price as Tested: $50,905.00
Layout: front-engine/ all-wheel drive
Engine: 2.5 liter turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: eight-speed dual clutch automatic
Horsepower: 277 hp
Torque: 311 ft-lbs
EPA Fuel Economy: 20 / 28 (city, highway mpg)

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