Nice Drives: 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT 2.5T AWD

Hyundai’s confidence in its market position is evident in the design of the new Santa Fe. Rectilinear in shape, with bold lighting front and rear that echoes the letter H, it stands out in a sea of more rounded, innocuous crossovers. Some details, such as the body-colored panels set into the side glass, seem to be cribbed from the Land Rover Defender. The intent here is to drive home the outdoorsy image that is part of the appeal of SUVs.

There are practical benefits to the new shape. Though only a few inches longer than its swoopy predecessor, this Santa Fe is far more spacious inside; a usable third row is now standard, too, The cockpit’s look is harmonious with the shell; horizontal elements are emphasized and material quality is quite good. In two-tone colors it looks especially upscale; the XRT test vehicle’s all-black interior was more practical than stylish and echoed the blacked-out exterior trim and wheels.

Twinned screens sweep across the blocky dash; the OS is fast and intuitive, and Hyundai has moved back to hard buttons for the climate controls, something customers across the industry are asking for. The center console has room for two phones to wirelessly charge simultaneously; this is made possible by switching to the stubby column shifter, which sits behind the leather-wrapped steering wheel, whose design is designed to evoke various Rover SUVs. Adaptive cruise and lane assist are standard and work better than many at this price point, which applies to most Hyundai vehicles.

The Santa Fe interior has numerous, easy-to-reach storage cubbies for all seating positions; this helps drive home the point that its utilitarian vibe is more than skin deep. That said, this is a pavement-focused SUV, not a beefy off-roader. The Hyundai wins one over with a supple ride and excellent rejection of road and wind noise. It doesn’t try to be a canyon-carving monster either, so passengers don’t suffer from head toss or the other giveaways of an overly stiff suspension.

Where there is room for improvement is under the Santa Fe’s hood. The 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder certainly has enough power and torque. With rated outputs of 227hp and 311lb-ft respectively, it is more than class competitive, but this is undermined by the 8-speed twin-clutch transmission, which struggles when moving off from rest. The tranny seems confused and takes a heartbeat or two before summing forward motion. At higher speeds, it is fine, with the smooth, snappy shifts that are typical of this type of gearbox. The fuel economy is decent, and the 0-60 time is quick at 6.3 seconds. Hopefully, Hyundai can improve low-speed behavior with software reflashes. The tow ratings are decent, peaking with the XRT’s 4500lb max.

Overall, the Santa Fe is the winner, with bold styling and a capacious cabin. Its refined ride and strong powertrain—except for the starting line lag—make it a good SUV for those wanting a rugged-looking rig that coddles passengers. Hyundai is to be applauded for not playing it safe on the design front. Combined with the company’s high rankings for initial quality and class-leading warranty, the Santa Fe is a standout.

EPA Ratings: 19/26/22mpg

0-60mph: 6.3 sec

Price as tested: $42,675

Rating: 4 Stars

Here is what Hyundai has to say.