2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Expert Review
Reviewed by Alex Leanse
Hyundai has built the Santa Fe for over 20 years, but this midsize SUV was offered with a hybrid powertrain for the first time starting in model year 2021. That arrival coincided with the Santa Fe's major refresh , in which it gained updated styling and features and an entirely new platform. The Santa Fe is also available with standard gasoline engines and a plug-in hybrid powertrain.
What's New
- Highway Driving Assist becomes standard on all trims
- 10.3-inch infotainment touchscreen on all trims
- Camera-based blind-spot monitoring and surround-view camera system added to SEL Premium trim
- New gray, white, red, and blue paint colors become available
What We Think
Among the various 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe models, we'd probably recommend the Hybrid. Although not as powerful as models with the 2.5-liter turbocharged engine, the hybrid powertrain is smoother, which nicely suits the Santa Fe's easygoing driving manners. And it's much more fuel efficient, too, even compared to the basic 2.5-liter non-turbo engine. However, the Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid's all-electric driving capability is worth consideration if you don't mind the additional price premium.
Regardless of what's under the hood, the Santa Fe offers an attractive, nicely arranged cabin with plenty of space for passengers and cargo. High-end trims are equipped with features and materials that verge on luxury. Buttons and switches abound on the center console, but it doesn't take long to get used to the arrangement.
With its long list of standard features, good fuel economy, roomy cabin, and solid warranty, the Santa Fe Hybrid appeals as an everyday midsize crossover. It's not the prettiest or most soul-stirring SUV out there, but it makes a lot of sense.
Performance and Fuel Economy
The Santa Fe Hybrid's powertrain is centered around a 1.6-liter turbocharged I-4 that's supplemented by an electric motor. Altogether, the system is good for a combined 226 hp. All 2023 Santa Fe Hybrids have a six-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD. In our testing, the Santa Fe Hybrid accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 8.2 seconds. Fuel economy rates at 36/31 mpg in the efficiency-focused Blue trim and 33/30 mpg in the others. Additionally, the Blue trim can cover over 600 miles between fill-ups, while the others have a still-impressive range of more than 560 miles.
Safety Ratings and Features
The Santa Fe Hybrid was most recently safety tested for 2022, when it received the NHTSA's highest five-star overall rating. Although the Hybrid was not specifically evaluated by the IIHS, the standard Santa Fe earned a 2022 Top Safety Pick+ designation.
Driver assist and active safety features on the Santa Fe Hybrid include Highway Driving Assist, a semi-autonomous driving aid based on the adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist systems. Front automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and front, side, and rear cross-traffic alert are also standard. The SEL Premium and Limited trims get a camera-based blind-spot monitoring feature.
Cargo Space and Interior Room
There's a lot of space inside the Santa Fe Hybrid for both passengers and cargo. Its interior measurements are larger than some other hybrid SUVs and EVs.
Technology
Every Santa Fe Hybrid has a 12.3-inch digital gauge display and a 10.3-inch infotainment touchscreen. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on all, with wireless functionality enabled on the smaller screen. Every trim has two USB charge ports in each row of seats, and there's a wireless charging pad up front. Phone-as-key functionality is standard. Premium technology options include a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, surround-view camera system, and camera-based blind-spot monitors.
The Fuel-Saving Santa Fe Blue
Blue isn't only the least expensive Santa Fe Hybrid trim—it's also the most fuel efficient. That score comes in at 36/31 mpg city/highway, slightly better than the SEL Premium and Limited trims' 33/30 mpg rating. Key to that is the Santa Fe Hybrid Blue's 17-inch wheels, as opposed to the 19-inch rollers found on its counterparts. It's not as upscale as the others, missing out on leather upholstery, the larger infotainment touchscreen, and a premium sound system. But at approximately $35,600 to start, the Santa Fe Hybrid Blue is also about $4,000 less expensive than the next-up SEL Premium. The Blue comes in paint colors besides its namesake; various white, black, and gray paints are also available.
Santa Fe Hybrid or PHEV?
Hyundai offers the Santa Fe in two hybrid flavors: the regular parallel hybrid setup, and a plug-in hybrid. Both use a 1.6-liter turbocharged I-4, six-speed automatic, and AWD, but the Santa Fe PHEV has a larger 13.8-kWh battery pack that elevates total output to 261 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. Perhaps more important, that battery provides for all-electric driving range: 31 miles, to be exact. The PHEV costs a few thousand dollars more than a comparable Santa Fe Hybrid, but drivers who commit to plugging in can save on gas by driving on electricity.
