Hyundai Santa Fe 2021 review - Have they updated the 7-seat SUV enough?

Hyundai has just updated the Santa Fe and it’s not a small revision, it’s a pretty significant overhaul which has added a new look, new features, new and refreshed engines and new safety tech. Richard Berry is here to tell you all about it.

Intro 00:00
Pricing 01:10
Design 03:32
Practicality 05:36
Safety 06:21
Engine specs 07:04
Fuel use 07:37
Ownership 08:13
Driving 09:01
Verdict 11:37

CarsGuide - Go beyond the test drive

#Hyundai #HyundaiSantaFe #2021Hyundai #2021HyundaiSantaFe

[TrekzoneMedia]

Give this man a raise. Then bring him round our studio to make videos for us!

[garynguyen]

A whole new perspective in car review. Hilarious, entertaining, lively & yet clearly informative. 👍 mate.

[mobash]

What an awesome review and not to mention the bloke 😅👍. Loved the return after the ad, I've never looked forward to the next set of ads before haha

[autonewstv]

So far seems I'm the only one who likes more the new design lol

[lewisjohnson]

This guy is brilliant! I had no interest in the Santa Fe but knew he’d crack me up and he delivered 🤣

[nathangreentree]

I see Richard Berry, I click. Can he do a video of the new facelifted i30??

[hedydd]

But it is completely new. Available new engines and powertrains fitted to a totally brand new monocoque chassis architecture/platform. The Diesel engine is totally new with alloy block instead of the previous vermicular thin wall cast block. This is mated to the brand new wet clutch dual clutch automatic transmission.Also available is the 1.6 turbo petrol engine with electric assistance, called the 'hybrid'. Also a plug-in hybrid is now being rolled out.
Australia seems to be one of very few countries that are offered the V6 petrol, probably because emissions regulations are so very lax compared with most of the First World. It isn't even offered in America and it can't be mixed with the 4x4 system either, so pretty useless and probably prone to severe front tyre wear and torque steer or wheel slip.
In Ireland, so far, the diesel seems to be a 2wd only. So the specification varies from area to area depending on what the importer wants.

All this "Australian roads" nonsense gets me every time. They are no different to roads anywhere. Roads vary greatly within counties, let alone within states and countries. Apart from washboard and dirt roads, metalled roads are much the same mix of surfaces everywhere and bends and cambers don't vary much either.

[enforcer]

I bought one because it didn't have the rough Australian suspension tune in it. This is the only criticism I have about our old ix35, suspension is too firm.

[Penfoldworld]

Really good review and so hilarious. Loved the humour, Richard. Keep up the good work.

I have recently bought Santa Fe 2021 (V6, 3.5 litre petrol, 7 seater) calligraphy version (about a month ago) and I absolutely love it. I had test driven both Kia Sorento 2021 (V6, 3.5 litre petrol) and Santa Fe a few times before choosing Santa Fe over Sorento. Main reasons:

1. Loved the interior of Santa Fe more than Sorento.
2. Felt very comfortable and smooth ride in Santa Fe compared to Sorento.
3. Sorento cabin feels bit rough and noisy, imo.
4. Glossy piano black in Sorento collects the dust easily, leave the finger marks all over on it and requires heavy cleaning.
5. Santa Fe's floating console is absolutely beautiful, easy to use and feels better than Sorento.

The only reason I would have chosen Sorento over Santa Fe was the exterior look of the former, but then with everything else, it was Santa Fe which ruled.

Any questions, please ask.


Cheers.

Merc

[tremannsingh]

can u please compare this Santa Fe with the new Kia Sorento 2021 GT line

[letsseeif]

The family SUV that COULD. (Hyundai. love 'em)

[ardyaprilianta]

Thanks for the review. Its hard to pass sorento with 7 years warranty and better looking exterior (in my eyes) for the same price though.

[runnyhunny]

At least he is being honest by saying its not as good as the last model to drive.. ( according to him..) and scoring it mostly 8 out of 10 in most areas...

[ben]

The thing with suspension tune almost universally they are set too hard biasing sport over comfort.
In a car such as this i expect comfort. My 2c

[xmerxmer]

why would you compare the 3rd row with Palisade!? compare it with others of its size.

[CathodeRayNipplez]

0 to 100 in 8.6s really isn't too bad for a little diesel in a heavy car I must admit. Thought it would be way more snail than that.

[limpunsing]

Awesome format Firm stand on the reviewer's expert opinion

[srinivasanramamoorthy]

Looks very interesting inside and out, and good review btw

[CathodeRayNipplez]

Is this on showroom floors yet? I can't find it for test drive anywhere.

[therealjeffg]

Great review as always. Is the Santa Fe better than the Kia Sorento? Which one would you buy?