2022 Hyundai Santa Fe

　　

2022 Hyundai Santa Fe Review

byKurt NiebuhrSenior Vehicle Test Editor

　　Kurt Niebuhr has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. A automotive photographer by trade, Kurt is now one of zzdcar' high-performance test drivers. He's driven and photographed hundreds, if not thousands, of vehicles all over the world, so Kurt's library of automotive experiences would certainly make for a good book. When not dreaming about getting his racing license or trying to buy out-of-date film for his cameras, Kurt can usually be found cursing at his 1966 Mustang.

　　The Hyundai Santa Fe fills the gap between the compact Tucson and the midsize Palisade in Hyundai's SUV lineup. It still seats five passengers, but it provides more room than the Tucson and it's more affordable and maneuverable than the larger Palisade. Hyundai also offers the Santa Fe with a few different engine choices, including a hybrid and, for 2022, a new plug-in hybrid.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe SE 4dr SUV w/Prod. End 10/21 (2.5L 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 $3.06 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$145/mo  for Santa Fe SE

　　Santa Fe SE

　　SE 4dr SUV w/Prod. End 10/21 (2.5L 4cyl 8A) - $27,400 MSRPSE 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 8A) - $27,700 MSRPSE 4dr SUV AWD w/Prod. End 10/21 (2.5L 4cyl 8A) - $29,100 MSRPSE 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A) - $29,400 MSRPSEL 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 8A) - $29,450 MSRPSEL 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A) (Most Popular) - $31,150 MSRPXRT 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 8A) - $32,750 MSRPXRT 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A) - $34,450 MSRPLimited 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 8AM) - $39,410 MSRPLimited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 8AM) - $41,110 MSRPCalligraphy 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 8AM) - $41,410 MSRPCalligraphy 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 8AM) - $43,110 MSRP

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　Avg. Midsize SUV

　　The 2022 Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid has a bigger battery pack than the regular Santa Fe Hybrid and that allows it to go about 30 miles on electric power alone. After that, it switches to regular gasoline-and-electric hybrid operation. As for the gasoline-only Santa Fe, there's a new XRT trim level that adds black exterior molding on the body, black bumper fascias, black roof rails and cross rails, and dark silver front and rear skidplates.

　　Value is key to the Santa Fe's appeal. You get a lot of features for the money and it's all backed by Hyundai's generous warranty. Be sure to read our Expert Rating below to find out what we think of the Santa Fe's other features. Alternatively, you might want to consider the well-rounded Honda Passport, the fuel-efficient Toyota Venza or the sporty Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport.

　　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

　　7.7

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.0/10

　　How does the Santa Fe drive? We tested the Santa Fe with the 277-horsepower turbocharged engine. It's pretty potent and our test vehicle covered 0-60 mph in just 6.6 seconds, which is quicker than most other small and midsize SUVs. However, if you aren't asking for maximum speed, its power delivery is a bit inconsistent and unrefined. Hyundai seems to have tuned the eight-speed automatic transmission to get up to its highest gears as quickly as possible, which can also be off-putting.

　　The Santa Fe leans a lot as you go around turns, so it's definitely not as planted as a Mazda CX-5. This is an SUV for highway cruising, not sporty driving. But the Santa Fe's steering is pleasantly tuned, making for easy low-speed maneuverability and decent highway stability.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Santa Fe? The Santa Fe's suspension soaks up most bumps and road impacts, but the ride can sometimes feel a little too soft and wallowy. But the front seats are very comfortable and have a broad range of adjustments and available heating and ventilation. The rear seats are also comfortable and have lots of recline adjustment, though we'd prefer thicker padding on the door armrests.

　　The Santa Fe has excellent cabin insulation thanks to dual-pane front windows and comprehensive sound deadening. Wind, road and ambient noise is very much kept at bay. The climate controls are easy to adjust and do a great job of keeping cabin temperatures pleasant.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below