The Mid-Size Alternative To Compact CUVs | 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid

If you're shopping for a RAV4, CR-V or Tucson and want a bit more room for the same price, you should check out the Santa Fe. Hyundai's latest mid-size CUV continues to deliver mid-size room for compact prices and now there's a hybrid model if you need more space and better fuel economy.

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[sjm]

I’ve had the 2022 Santa Fe Hybrid for a week and love it! The features are numerous and outstanding. I am getting over 35 mpg combined city and highway driving. No complaints so far!

[bobhirst]

Great review, Alex! I've owned a Santa Fe Hybrid in the Limited trim since June and drove it from northern Virginia to Phoenix and back last month. It is by far the best SUV I have ever owned. On the long hauls on I-40, with all the driver assist features activated, it almost drives itself...even around curves in the road. In sync with the nav system, it even automatically adjusts your speed when the speed limit changes. After the long trip, I can say it is also the most comfortable SUV I've ever driven. The driver seat extension in the front was great for the hamstrings. On the way out to AZ, I had a Thule cartop box mounted, and I sacrificed some mileage (~28 mpg overall), but the return trip without the box yielded 34-36 mpg overall. The infotainment system is also the best I have ever experienced in a vehicle at this price point. The nav system was spot on for all the destinations for the trip, so my portable Garmin stayed in my backpack.

Overall, I'm really pleased with the purchase, even though it was difficult to find one, and I ended up literally buying one off the boat somewhere between South Korea and the Port of Baltimore - the wait was about 4 weeks. The Limited trim is harder to find than the Blue or SEL trims.

[leonleonhan]

I've been waiting for Alex's review on this car for months! Thanks for the review!

[akshayd]

Best car reviewer on youtube, no fuss, no pom-poms and all INFO.

[billharris]

The lack of gloss black trim would put it top on my list!

[stymer]

I’m looking forward to a test of the Santa Fe PHEV

[mushfiqulislamabir]

Watching the video while seating on my santafe hybrid limited 😍😍

[petethehawk]

Just traded my Palisade in on a Santa Fe Limited. I love it and don’t miss the unused third row. The high trade in value on the Palisade made it a no brained for me. I really like the wheels too.

[ivandoneshefsky]

Great review Alex. I leased a Venza Limited at the end of May. Came from Kia products (Optima and Cadenza) needing a SUV/CUV for space in the hatch and MPG. Choice was between this and the Santa Fe as I ruled out the Sorento because the Santa Fe is a 2-seater and has more available equipment. For the price (almost 44K) I regret not getting the Santa Fe. I could have gone Santa Fe Limited (less expensive) or the Calligraphy (more luxurious) and would have been extremely happy. The Venza rides well and the MPG in town averages 41 but I miss the simplicity and ease of use of every function that the Korean models have and Toyota misses badly. The Venza has no glove compartment or console light, the glass is thin making it loud at highway speed, the carpet is thin and cheap feeling, the lighting inside is dim especially in the rear seat area, if you need a opening sunroof look elsewhere and last but not least, it’s rated to have a 14.5 gallon fuel tank yet after 4 fillips where I’ve run the tank down to 5 miles left to empty(according to the fuel gauge), I’ve yet to put more than 11.3 gallons in the tank to fill it to the first click as Toyota recommends as to not damage the hybrid system. I’ve taken it in for service and the technicians say everything checks out? I know this doesn’t happen with a Korean product and Toyota has had this issue and recalls with the newer RAV 4 hybrids. Bottom line, if you’re looking at a Venza, check out the things I mentioned (I won’t get into the touch capacitive infotainment and 12.3 screen, I thought I would get used to it but it’s a disaster. Buyers remorse on the Venza.

[zmirc]

Your review is of very high value because you keep comparing with alternatives, so we get a lot more help as potential buyers. Thank you for that

[karimodriscoll]

No brainer buying the hybrid Santa Fe. I’ve had mine 2 months and it’s great. If the plug-in hybrid was available I would have got that instead.

[jlwagon]

Childbearing hips!! Bahaha!!! You are too much. I love you and your reviews.

[PaulHo]

Honestly, seeing anyone actually buy a Ford Escape or Chevy Equinox over a Santa Fe is so tragic. Even with discounts and incentives, they pay for it with misery and agony. I saw a Santa Fe take an especially wide left turn and it felt like such a celestial moment.

[markgrotto]

I bought the calligraphy with AWD in April and was curious what this video said about the Santa Fe. I think they are spot on. Some positive extra points: the bigger engine version has super pep, the heads up display on the windshield works great, the AWD gives me uber confidence in many situations, the lane control steering is pretty good when you need short hands free driving, remote starting with the phone is cool, infotainment system sounds great and is nearly flawless.

Some negatives: the annoying fuel saving engine kill at stop signs must be turned off every time one starts the car, some of the extra electronics can be annoying. The 4wd lock button doesn’t seem to help much while off-roading.

[lowKut]

This is truly a nice vehicle. We just picked up a 2022 Santa Fe last night.
It was a close call between this and a Rav4 for us, but this one wins with a lot more standard features which other manufacturers do not offer.
Another great review, Alex.

[k]

Thanks Alex. I watch your reviews to consult buying cars. Not channels like Edmunds. You speak to the VAST majority of car buyers

[papayamango]

I am glad that you note that the Santa Fe is not the same size as the Venza/Rav4, but it could only be compared because of the price. I really love the Santa Fe. It isn't too big, nor too small, well priced, relatively fuel efficient, and comfortble. It's almost perfect.

[tatoo]

this review is on the spot, i have a 2021 santa fe hybrid Blue, and i am 100% agree with you.

[Yourleftismyright]

We needed a larger vehicle to replace our 2011 Corolla since our kids both are toddlers and use convertibles. Space was getting tight to say the least. I was looking at Rav4s, CRV's etc but just wasn't happy with how much mark up they had. We had looked at Minivans and even were looking at Kia Sorentos at one point when I just decided to look at Kias brother or sister Hyundai and started looking into the Santa Fe. Long story short we found a 19 Santa Fe SEL Plus package that had everything we wanted as a family (heated seats, dual zone, auto liftgate all the best safety tech etc. for a price that was better than I ever saw with any Rav4 or CRV, heck even the Sorento. We loved the space, style and pulled the trigger. It's been such a great vehicle and love the interior quality and our kids and us LOVE the extra space and cargo area too haha.

[TheOrangeMaster]

I have been shopping for an SUV and compared Edge, Rav 4, Santa FE, Rogue as well as the Sorento and always found it surprising that (with the exception of the Sorento) those are not direct competitors. Before Rav4 Prime came out, I was torn between Santafe and Rav4 and leaned into the Santa fe, tho I hated the turbo i liked the cargo and the better luxury feel. Then Prime came along and that changed everything, the range on that bad boy was just perfect. Now the Santa fe might get a PHEV in North America? YES!! I've been holding off for 2 years to buy a car and this might finally be it. I hope we learn more about the PHEV version soon and how exactly does it compare to Toyota's Rav4 Prime