2024 Hyundai Santa Fe
If you dare to be different and still want to haul your family around, this is your SUV.
The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe has simply rewrote the design language for the brand. More so, it introduced an upright and boxy SUV for those who cannot afford some of the vehicles it actually looks like.
There is more than just a look. It is a different approach to a popular form of transporting your family. Let’s dive further into the new Santa Fe…
The 2024 Santa Fe grew in size compared to last year’s model by just two inches in wheelbase, overall length and height. The boxy design starts up front with a narrower grille and a set of LED headlamp units. These lighting units include a daytime running light in the shape of an H. Below is a huge bumper with a lower grille.
The profile is upright. The doors have wide opening, especially the rear ones. The glass profile is large, broken up by a C-pillar with a flap for a grab handle. The wheel arches themselves are shaped using angles. The rear end is slightly angled down with the taillight units placed across the lower part of the liftgate area and extended back towards the rear wheel arches. The signature H lighting shows up as turn signals. Those units are broken by a piano black panel with the liftgate’s release and handle.
Our Calligraphy tester adds a distinctive sportier grille texture, black arches and deep tinted glass from the B-pillar rearward, and black badging. All of this against a bronze matte paint finish. This top-of-the-line model wears a set of black-finished 21-inch wheels on low-profile tires.
The interior has also been overhauled melding the latest Hyundai elements with some newer twists all around. A new curved flat digital screen set-up integrates the instrument cluster and infotainment touchscreen – both screens are 12.3-inches. This is augmented by a 10-inch head-up display. The transmission is actuated by a twist control at the end of a rigid stalk from the steering column. Climate controls are now accessed by another touchscreen at the base of the center console. Every switch and control are excellent to the touch and logical.
On the Calligraphy model, occupants enjoy three rows of seats, including second-row captain’s chairs. All seats are upholstered in a light-colored Nappa leather. The front seats are supportive and comfortable, as are the second row-seats. Access to the third row is done with a button on top of the second-row seatbacks.
The cargo space starts with 14.6 cubic feet with the third-frow seats up. Folding the third-row seats will expand the cargo hold to 40.5 cubic feet. Ultimately, cargo space will expand to 79.6 cubic feet with both the second- and third-row seats folded down.
Our tester was powered by a 277-horsepower turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 311 pound-feet of torque, connected to an 8-speed wet dual-clutch transmission and Hyundai’s HTrac all-wheel drive system.
Performance-wise, It is a very strong motor that does a great job cruising down the highway while exhibiting excellent passing maneuvers. In terms of fuel economy, we averaged 23.1 MPG.
Ride quality was excellent. The suspension system does a great job smoothing out road imperfections. The Santa Fe takes corners quite well, without much lean or roll.
The steering system offered a tight turning radius and solid response from the wheel. Braking is also good with great pedal feel and response. The Santa Fe offered solid stops in normal and panic situations.
Pricing for the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe lineup starts at $33,950. There are currently eight models to choose from, including three Hybrids. Our Calligraphy tester with all-wheel drive came with a sticker price of $50,905.
With this new model, Hyundai Santa Fe has now graduated into a three-row, mid-size SUV segment. That means new competitors, including the Ford Explorer, Kia Sorento, Chevrolet Traverse, Nissan Pathfinder, Volkswagen Atlas, Toyota Highlander, Mazda CX-90, Subaru Ascent, Dodge Durango, Mitsubishi Outlander, and Honda Pilot.
However, this is an all-new ballgame for Hyundai. Although larger than the previous model the upright Santa Fe has the look that invites you to take your family on an adventure. With three rows of seating and a more upright design, there is no question that the 2024 Santa Fe will change the way you look at family-friendly SUVs into the future.
Credits: CarSoup Editors
