First Drive: 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Redefines the 3-Row Crossover with Striking Design and Impressive Efficiency

Evaluation: 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid offers tranquility in a 3-row SUV

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe represents a bold new look for the well-established SUV from the Korean manufacturer. The midsize crossover now comes with three rows as a standard feature and is available with either a traditional gasoline engine or a hybrid option, with the latter costing just $500 extra.

In late August, we took a 2024 Santa Fe Hybrid for a spin through the hilly terrain near Santa Barbara, which is located a few hours north of Los Angeles. Our experience with the new Santa Fe Hybrid was overwhelmingly positive, highlighting its practicality and comfort. Compared to the other available powertrain, the hybrid version stands out for its smoother ride and better fuel efficiency.

Given its modest price increase, we anticipate that the Hybrid will appeal to families who recognize that an EPA combined rating in the mid-30s will offer substantial savings compared to ratings in the low- to mid-20s. As car manufacturers strive to comply with more stringent emission standards for vehicles from model years 2026 to 2035, Hyundai has evidently opted to offer hybrids at competitive prices as one strategy to achieve these requirements. Additionally, the company’s lineup of electric vehicles continues to expand—but hybrids are becoming an increasingly significant portion of its Tucson sales within the popular compact crossover market. This trend is likely to extend to its midsize Santa Fe model as well.

2025 Model of the Hyundai Santa

Is that a Land Rover?

The eye-catching design of the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe has begun to make its presence felt on city and suburban roads. This new model is a significant shift from its predecessors, characterized by its angular, boxy appearance that has drawn comparisons to Land Rovers and other rugged SUVs. Even in California, where unique cars are commonplace, it attracts attention on the road. Impressively, Hyundai boasts a drag coefficient of 0.294 for this model, which is quite notable given its tall and squared-off shape—especially when compared to the Subaru Outback's 0.34. This demonstrates that there are various methods to reduce fuel-consuming air resistance.

The interior is spacious and uncluttered, featuring Hyundai's latest dashboard setup which includes two 12.3-inch displays mounted on a broad, horizontal panel. This design debuted in the Ioniq 5 electric hatchback utility vehicle and is now being incorporated into an increasing range of Hyundai vehicles, such as the Ioniq 6 electric sedan and the updated 2025 Tucson compact SUV.

The latest hybrid system features a 1.6-liter inline-4 engine with direct fuel injection, connected to a traditional 6-speed automatic gearbox. Positioned between the engine and the transmission is an electric motor generating 47.7 kilowatts (64 horsepower), powered by a 1.5-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery. The combined powertrain yields a total of 231 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque. Unlike the more compact Tucson model, this hybrid does not offer a plug-in variant.

2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Model

Acceleration: more lively compared to the gasoline model

The Santa Fe Hybrid incorporates the same powertrain found in the 2025 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid, though it is a larger and heavier vehicle. While the Tucson Hybrid exhibits decent speed in various driving conditions, the Santa Fe Hybrid doesn’t quite match that level of quickness. It's about average for a three-row SUV, unlike the gasoline-only version which felt sluggish when I drove it in March. Hyundai has not released official acceleration data, and we were unable to perform accurate tests during our test drive.

The latest Santa Fe model features highly efficient noise reduction, making the engine sounds so subdued that passengers might not even realize they are in a hybrid vehicle. The engine starts up almost silently, and the shift between different power sources is smooth and barely noticeable. This level of refinement highlights the significant work Hyundai's engineers have put into perfecting their single-motor hybrid system over the past 12 years.

Experiencing the gear shifts in the large utility vehicle while the “EV” indicator remains on might be surprising for those accustomed to fully electric vehicles, which lack gears. Hyundai’s system requires aligning the motor speed with the road speed, a necessary trade-off. However, this feature allows the Santa Fe Hybrid to operate solely on electric power during mild high-speed or highway conditions. According to Hyundai, this approach optimizes the balance between performance and efficiency, particularly in the U.S., where highway driving is prevalent. We frequently found ourselves amazed to see the hybrid Santa Fe in “EV” mode, even at freeway speeds or on gentle inclines.

You can enhance regenerative braking by pulling the paddle on the right side of the steering wheel, and there's also an "Auto" mode available. This mode utilizes the Santa Fe's built-in sensors, like cameras and radar, to automatically modify the regeneration level depending on what's detected in front of the vehicle, such as a decelerating car. The busy traffic on California highways made full use of this feature.

Hyundai usually prioritizes comfort in their suspension systems rather than performance, and the Santa Fe follows this trend. During regular driving, both drivers and passengers will likely appreciate its quiet and comfortable ride. However, when driving through winding canyon roads with uneven surfaces, the vehicle exhibited more bounce than anticipated. Despite this, suburban families using the Santa Fe for daily school runs or trips to the mall are unlikely to notice or be impacted by this characteristic.

Hyundai Santa Fe 2025

EPA estimates a combined fuel efficiency of either 34 or 36 miles per gallon. The Santa Fe Hybrid we tested, which was manufactured in Montgomery, Alabama, was impressively assembled and provided a comfortable environment. For comprehensive information on interior space, seating configurations, safety scores, and the array of standard and optional features, refer to our detailed review of the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe lineup.

Regarding fuel economy, which is typically the primary motivation for choosing a hybrid, the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid boasts impressive EPA combined ratings of 36 miles per gallon for the front-wheel-drive model and 34 miles per gallon when equipped with all-wheel drive. These figures represent a significant improvement compared to the gasoline-only versions, which have combined ratings between 22 and 24 miles per gallon.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid is available in three different trims: SEL, Limited, and Calligraphy. The SEL trim is equipped with 18-inch alloy wheels and a driver's seat that can be adjusted electronically. The Limited trim steps up with 20-inch wheels, rain-sensing wipers, a dual-pane sunroof, a power-adjustable front passenger seat, heated rear seats, and ambient interior lighting, plus many other features. The highest-tier Calligraphy trim offers nappa leather seats with a massaging "relaxation" function, an ultraviolet sterilizing tray (a nod to pandemic-era design), a head-up display, and several design enhancements.

The base price for the Santa Fe Hybrid SEL is $38,615. If you choose the Limited model, it will cost an additional $6,900. The Hybrid Calligraphy variant is priced at $48,665, excluding optional features. Adding all-wheel drive to any trim level costs an extra $1,800. All these prices already include a $1,415 delivery charge.

Hyundai covered the costs for flights, accommodation, and food to facilitate Green Car Reports in delivering this test drive review.

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