Hyundai Santa Fe Pros and Cons: What To Know When Weighing Your Decision


in Car Comparisons
Red Hyundai Santa Fe

Source: Flickr

The Hyundai Santa Fe is one of the best, most popular mid-size SUV selections from Hyundai. It’s undergone many changes over the years, for better and worse. In 2021, Hyundai refreshed the car, and it’s been a hit ever since. However, it’s not perfect - thus, it’s valuable to look at the Hyundai Santa Fe pros and cons before buying it.

If you’re interested in learning more about the benefits and disadvantages of the Hyundai Santa Fe, you’re in the right place. From the appealing design to the gas-draining performance, it’s practical to invest in a well-rounded idea of the car before deciding if it’s right for you. Let’s dive into the Hyundai Santa Fe to help you make the right choice.

What We Love: Hyundai Santa Fe Pros

The design additions and practical cargo space stand out in the Hyundai Santa Fe pros and cons. Let’s jump into some of the standout benefits of the Hyundai Santa Fe.


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Appealing Design Additions

The first thing we love about the Hyundai Santa Fe is its choice to add appealing design additions to the interior and exterior. Its redesign from the 2018 version includes an update to the appearance, making it prestigious with sleek lines, a unique grate design, and unique trims around the base and the windows to help it stand out.

The interior improves with appealing design touches. From soft-touch materials to fine leather, there’s a unique combination of additions hidden within the Santa Fe. These natural materials combine well with the implanted technology and sleek floating center console to make drivers feel like they’re entering a spaceship.

The Hyundai Santa Fe doesn’t cost too much, but it appears the price point is much higher on the interior and exterior. It’s easy to be a proud driver with the Santa Fe on hand.

Comfortable Interior

Next, the Hyundai Santa Fe provides a comfortable interior for passengers and drivers. It’s attractive to look inside, yet it also offers ample legroom for those in the back of the vehicle. The generous passenger space beats out many of its competitors and permits comfortable, long road trips without any issues from those in the back.

The comfy interior is reinforced through ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and more. The Hyundai Santa Fe is even more luxurious than its biggest competitor - the Palisade SUV. Overall, you can expect a comfortable experience with the Hyundai Santa Fe on your side.

Plenty of Practical Cargo Space

Not only is there plenty of room for passengers in the front and back of the car but there is also ample room for cargo. In the back of the Hyundai Santa Fe, you will fit up to 36.4 cubic feet of room behind the third row. That’s more than enough room for several suitcases to rest comfortably in the back of the SUV.

You’ll get even more room if you decide to fold down the third and second rows. If it’s just you and a passenger in the front row, you can practically fit an entire small bedroom in the back. There’s also room in the cupholders and side pockets and plenty of space to fit a car seat for smaller children.

What We Dislike: Hyundai Santa Fe Cons

A boring appearance and limited cupholders prove to be significant troubles in the Hyundai Santa Fe pros and cons. Let’s provide information about the less-than-ideal side of the car.

Gas-Draining Performance

The Hyundai Santa Fe comes with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, offering 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. It can also book it from 0-60 mph in an astounding 6.6 seconds. While this means some decent performance, it also means the Hyundai Santa Fe is naturally a gas-guzzling machine. 

Typically, the Hyundai Santa Fe will get around 22 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. Unfortunately, it often falls flat according to many customer reports. Many drivers reported getting closer to 14-17 mpg, which is nearly 10 mpg lower than the predicted amount for the vehicle. 

You’ll need to fill up more with the Hyundai Santa Fe. Unfortunately, this constant need for gas will become expensive in time.


HOW LONG DO HYUNDAI SANTA FES LAST?

Buyers who may want to look into this midsize SUV might be asking: how long do Hyundai Santa Fes last? Understanding the longevity and durability of the Santa Fe can provide you with insights.


Boring Appearance

The Hyundai Santa Fe isn’t the most exciting-looking vehicle on the market. While it has come with impressive design additions, overall, there isn’t anything about it that makes it stand out. You won’t get too many people to turn their heads and look at your Santa Fe as you book it down the road. 

Now, the Hyundai Santa Fe has undergone some beneficial redos over the past few years. It isn’t quite at a point where someone would buy it based on appearance - unless you have a very particular taste in cars.

Limited Cup Holders 

This issue might seem minor, but there aren’t enough cup holders in the Santa Fe to accommodate all passengers. There are two narrow ones in the central console, some on the side of the door, and none in the second row. Sometimes there are two in the back.

While cupholders might not seem like a big deal, the issue will become apparent if you take your family out for a drive-thru dinner and everyone is forced to hold their beverage. Cup holder space is significant in our society today.


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Final Thoughts

There are many Hyundai Santa Fe pros and cons to consider. The vehicle provides appealing design additions, a comfortable interior, and plenty of practical cargo space. However, it also has a gas-draining performance, a boring appearance, and a limited number of cup holders for passengers and drivers.

We hope this information was helpful! It’s always a good idea to consider the good and the bad, as you don’t want to stake yourself in the best features and then find yourself falling apart financially because of the worst. Ultimately, it’s your decision. The Hyundai Santa Fe might be for you, or it might be better to look elsewhere.



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