If you’re familiar with the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, you’ll understand what’s meant when we say the Hyundai Santa Fe is the right size.
During the story, Goldilocks found that most things she tried in the home were either too big or too small, but then she would find something just the right size. The same is true of the Santa Fe. This SUV slots in the lineup between the compact Tucson and the full-size Palisade to give you an SUV in the middle that can be ideal for you on the road.
The Right Price for Your SUV
The question of why you should purchase the Santa Fe instead of another midsize crossover SUV might come down to the price. The just-right price you’re looking for is found in this Hyundai. The base model starts at $27,700, with the top trim asking for $40,960 before you add any extras. When you see the package of features that come at the starting point for each trim, you’ll realize the affordable pricing makes this SUV the one you want to take home for your daily driving needs.
Pleasant Driving Characteristics
From the driver’s seat of the Hyundai Santa Fe, you’re going to have a ride that’s competent, well-balanced, and perfect for you. Enjoy the array of tech features, experience the comfortable seating, but most of all, admire the driving dynamics. You’ll have three drive modes to select from, which are Comfort, Sport, and Smart, to give you the feeling you’re looking for. You’ll likely want to use the Smart mode the most; this is a mode that decides for you which driving mode is best based on the way you’re driving and the feeling at the wheels.
What You Wouldn’t Expect to Find in the Santa Fe
As an affordable, right-sized SUV, you might not expect the Santa Fe to have high-end tech items that help you drive better. The Remote Smart Parking Assist and Highway Driving Assist items seem to be out of place when you consider the price of this vehicle. The parking feature helps you remotely pout the Santa Fe into a parking spot by simply using your smartphone. The driving assist item uses adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist to make the drive on a highway much easier for you.
Let’s See Those Features
For years, the Hyundai Santa Fe has boasted more standard features than the competition. Here’s where we show you how true that is.
Standard Items
- Smart Sense Safety Package
- 8-inch infotainment screen
- Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
- Adaptive Cruise Control
- 60/40 split-folding rear seats
- Dual front and rear USB ports
- Trailer sway control
- Rearview camera
- Alloy Wheels
- LED headlights
- Automatic headlights with high beam assist
- Stain-resistant cloth seats
- Optional AWD
The Smart Sense Safety package gives you automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and a driver attention alert system in the Santa Fe, making it easy for you to have a safe vehicle to enjoy on the road.
Moving Up to Higher Trims
Move to the SEL trim from the base SE model and you’ll find:
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Heated front seats
- Wireless device charging
- Push-button starting
- Optional Convenience Package
- Optional Premium Package
The Convenience Package gives you a hands-free power liftgate, dual-zone automatic climate controls, the Hyundai Digital Key, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, rear side sunshades, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, power-folding rear seats, a rear occupant alert, and puddle lamps.
Add the Premium Package to your Hyundai Santa Fe, and you have a 10.25-inch infotainment screen, a navigation system, a Harman/Kardon premium audio system, leather upholstery, Highway Driving Assist, a panoramic sunroof, LED taillights and LED interior lights.
Head to the new XRT trim, and you’ll have the addition of a rugged appearance package with special wheels, side moldings, side steps, black exterior trim, and roof cross rails to the SEL trim with the Convenience Package.
Stepping to the Limited Trim
If you want the Limited trim, you’ll find a lot of features that make driving right for you. This trim includes:
- Turbocharged engine
- 19-inch alloy wheels
- Front and rear parking sensors
- Power-folding mirrors
- Memory driver’s seat
- Ventilated front seats
- Heated steering wheel
- Heated rear seats
- Melange headliner
- 360-degree camera
- Blind-spot monitor
- 110-volt power outlet
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Remote Smart Parking Assist
What Comes at the Top Trim?
The top model of the Hyundai Santa Fe is Called Calligraphy. Let’s see what this model offers.
- Special appearance package
- 20-inch alloy wheels
- Premium finish grille
- Nappa leather upholstery
- Additional interior lighting
- Eco-suede headliner
- Color Head-Up Display
- Auto up/down rear windows
When you go for this model, you’re going to have a full package of amazing features to give you the comfort, drive, and convenience you want on the road.
Choose the Right Power for Your Drive
The Santa Fe SE, SEL, and XRT models use a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 191 horsepower and 181 lb.-ft. Of torque. This engine is adequate for your driving experiences, giving you 25 city/28 hwy mpg in FWD models and 22 city/25 hwy mpg when you have AWD for your vehicle.
Move to the Limited or Calligraphy version of this Hyundai SUV, and you’ve got a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine under the hood. This engine makes 277 horsepower and 311 lb.-ft. Of torque. You’ll still have good fuel mileage with 22 city/28 hwy mpg in FWD versions and 21 city/28 hwy mpg when you equip your Santa Fe with AWD.
Check Out the Comfort and Build at Your Local Dealership
With so many incredible features to cover, we didn’t get a chance to talk about the Hyundai Santa Fe‘s comfort or style. This is an SUV that you’ll want to experience in person, which can be done when you visit your local Santa Fe dealer. Once you take this SUV out for a drive, you’ll realize that it’s not too small, it’s not too big, it’s just the right size for your drive.
This post may contain affiliate links. Meaning a commission is given should you decide to make a purchase through these links, at no cost to you. All products shown are researched and tested to give an accurate review for you.
