2020 Hyundai Santa Fe Review

　　

2020 Hyundai Santa Fe Review

byDan FrioReviews Editor

　　Dan spent many years covering the go-fast, look-good, get-loud corners of the automotive universe. First, he served as editor of enthusiast magazines AutoSound and Honda Tuning, then as executive editor at SEMA News, the publishing arm of the trade group that produces the annual SEMA Show (yes, that show). As a contributor to zzdcar, he now likes to keep the volume low and the speed limit legal, providing expert car-shopping advice to drivers looking for the perfect match.

　　Fresh from a redesign of last year's model, the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe carries into the new model year with no significant changes. But that's just fine with us. This latest-generation Santa Fe has an improved cabin look and feel. And, as is Hyundai's custom, it comes loaded with standard features, many of which come at an extra cost on its competitors.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe SE 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$151/mo  for Santa Fe SE

　　Santa Fe SE

　　SE 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 8A) - $26,275 MSRPSE 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl 8A) - $27,975 MSRPSEL 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 8A) (Most Popular) - $28,025 MSRPSEL 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl 8A) - $29,725 MSRPSEL 2.0T 4dr SUV w/Convenience and Premium Packages (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $34,875 MSRPSEL 2.0T 4dr SUV AWD w/Convenience and Premium Packages (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $36,575 MSRPLimited 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 8A) - $36,025 MSRPLimited 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl 8A) - $37,725 MSRPLimited 2.0T 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $37,875 MSRPLimited 2.0T 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $39,575 MSRP

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　Avg. Midsize SUV

　　On the downside, the quiet and roomy cabin falls a little short in overall cargo capacity. We're also unmoved by the Santa Fe's base engine. It'll do the job around town and has enough passing power for the freeway. But when you need to summon all of the Santa Fe's reserves, you have to be assertive and lay on the pedal. There is an optional, more powerful turbo engine, but that requires jumping a few trim levels — and several thousand dollars — to get it.

　　But overall, the Santa Fe does an excellent job at balancing the priorities of most compact SUVs. The interior is roomy, the ride is comfortable, and there's enough technology for everyone to stay connected. If you need something larger, consider a three-row SUV such as the Hyundai Palisade or the related Kia Telluride. But if you're looking for good value among two-row SUVs, you'll want the Santa Fe on your short list. Notably, the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe is a featured vehicle in our Cheapest New Cars article.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　7.8

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.0/10

　　How does the Santa Fe drive? Despite its turbocharged engine, our Santa Fe Limited test vehicle was only a bit quicker than a previous Santa Fe we tested with the base engine. The turbo engine isn't responsive at low rpm, and you have to wait a bit before the turbo kicks in and provides extra thrust. In our testing it went from 0 to 60 mph in 8.1 seconds, which is slower than most of its direct rivals with upgraded engines. The transmission is quick to upshift as well, which means it can be in too high a gear if you want an immediate burst of speed.

　　Other aspects of the Santa Fe's driving experience are similarly underwhelming. The brake pedal is good for smooth stops around town, but the Santa Fe's emergency stopping distances were longer than average in our testing. Handling capability is fine, but the steering doesn't give you much feel for the road or an idea of where the wheels are pointed.

　　

Comfort

7.5/10

　　How comfortable is the Santa Fe? The Santa Fe is a fairly comfortable SUV overall, but a few missteps keep it from being the cushiest in the segment. Ride quality is firmer than you might expect, though we think most drivers would prefer it to an overly floaty ride. Interior noise is generally muted, though tire noise is particularly noticeable on grainy or coarse road surfaces. You'll hear the turbocharged engine at low speeds, but it fades into the background at about 35 mph or so.

　　The seats are a high point thanks to their comfortable padding and multitude of adjustments. The dual-zone climate control system is easy to use and features vents for rear passengers. The system's auto mode can occasionally be stingy with the air flow. We like that you can get ventilated front seats, which are a rarity at this price point.

　　

Interior

8.0/10

　　How’s the interior? The Santa Fe's cabin is logically laid out, with all major controls within easy reach of the driver. Operation is not overreliant on the touchscreen, and the cabin is all the better for it. The interior is also quite roomy, even when comparing the Santa Fe to larger midsize SUVs. But headroom is not expansive, so taller occupants might feel a little uncomfortable sitting upright.

　　Sitting in the driver's seat is generally unpleasant. The seat is mounted too high, while the steering wheel is too low. It makes it tricky to get in and out — requiring carefully navigating around the steering column — and creates a compromised seating position. On the plus side, the low dashboard allows for an unobstructed forward view. The rear view is obstructed by wide rear roof pillars.

　　

Technology

8.0/10

　　How’s the tech? The touchscreen infotainment system is easy to read and use. Key functions are readily accessible on the main page, and icons are sized well and spaced to avoid a cluttered look. Physical buttons surround the touchscreen, making it simple to access oft-used functions such as track skipping or navigation.

　　Device integration is one of the Santa Fe's strong points. Our Limited tester had four USB ports spread throughout the cabin, plus a wireless charging pad and a 115-volt outlet. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone projection is also standard.

　　Voice commands work with radio, phone and navigation, and they respond well to natural speech. As for driver aids, adaptive cruise is excellent in stop-and-go traffic, and the sensitivity of features such as lane departure and blind-spot warning is customizable.

　　

Storage

7.5/10

　　How’s the storage? At 35.9 cubic feet, the Santa Fe's cargo space is average for the class. But the sliding and reclining second-row seat improves flexibility for accommodating passengers and cargo.

　　Interior storage isn't exactly generous, but the center console is spacious enough for personal items. The door pockets can accommodate a water bottle, and a shelf on the passenger side dash can hold large phones. The Santa Fe makes it easy to fit child safety seats in any of the three rear seat positions thanks to clearly marked upper and lower car-seat anchor points.

　　

Fuel Economy

8.5/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? We tested the Santa Fe with the turbocharged four-cylinder and front-wheel drive. The EPA estimates it gets 23 mpg combined (20 city/27 highway). Other midsize SUVs have similar estimates, but the Santa Fe does better than rivals powered by V6s. Based on our testing, we expect that you'll easily be able to match these numbers in real-world driving.

　　

Value

9.0/10

　　Is the Santa Fe a good value? Even though it slots between the small and midsize SUV segments in terms of size, the Santa Fe hews to the former when it comes to price. That means you get a bigger car for the money — and the features you'd expect from a more expensive vehicle. Though the cabin looks a little plain, there's not much hard plastic, and panel creaks and rattles were nonexistent.

　　Hyundai (along with its corporate cousin, Kia) continues to offer the best warranty in the business. Bumper-to-bumper coverage is good for five years/60,000 miles, while the powertrain is covered for 10 years/100,000 miles. Hyundai also provides roadside assistance for five years/unlimited miles and covers scheduled maintenance for three years/36,000 miles.

　　

Wildcard

7.5/10

　　Even though the turbocharged four-cylinder exhibits some surge-y power delivery, it's vastly preferred to the weak standard engine. No matter which powertrain you get, the Santa Fe offers a comfortable ride and decent handling. Not bad, but the Santa Fe isn't a crossover you'd yearn to drive.

　　In the era of style-first crossovers such as the Blazer or even quietly handsome Passport, the Santa Fe's design comes off as a bit bland. Its biggest strengths lie in its competitive pricing, robust features list and "tweener size.

　　

Which Santa Fe does zzdcar recommend?

We'd recommend most shoppers consider the SEL trim. The SEL keeps the price of entry reasonable, yet it still offers surprising comfort and convenience features such as heated seats, upgraded touchscreen display, and driver aids (blind-spot monitoring, safe exit assist). Compared to the next-level-up Limited trim, the SEL isn't missing much. That said, you can add two robust option packages to the SEL if so inclined.

　　

2020 Hyundai Santa Fe models

The 2020 Santa Fe is a five-passenger crossover available in three trim levels: SE, SEL and Limited. The SE comes loaded with features ranging from essential to useful, including stain-resistant cloth upholstery, a noise-reducing windshield, reclining rear seats, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity, and driver aids such as automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control and automatic high beams.

　　The SEL adds more driver safety aids with blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warning and Safe Exit Assist (which prevents rear doors from opening into oncoming traffic). It also brings creature comforts such as push-button start, leather upholstery, heated front seats and side mirrors, a power-adjustable driver's seat, and Hyundai's Blue Link connectivity system.

　　The SEL also opens access to the Convenience and Premium packages, which offer features such as a panoramic sunroof, roof rails, a hands-free liftgate, and an upgraded sound system.

　　Moving up to the Limited puts all of the SE and SEL features, including options, on the table and adds ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, an upgraded 8-inch touchscreen display (with navigation), and an innovative Blind View Monitor that displays a real-time camera image of blind spots on both sides of the car.

　　All trims come standard with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine (185 horsepower, 178 lb-ft of torque), while the Limited is available with an optional turbocharged 2.0-liter engine (235 hp, 260 lb-ft). This engine is also optional for the SEL trim when equipped with both the Convenience and Premium packages. An eight-speed automatic transmission is standard across the board, and any model can be ordered with front- or all-wheel drive.

　　

2020 Santa Fe Highlights

Trim: SESELSEL 2.0TLimitedLimited 2.0TSE

　　

Base MSRP	$26,275
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	25 MPG
Cost to Drive	$151/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	35.9 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	5 years / 60,000 miles