2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Reviews, Pricing & Specs

The Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid is all-new for 2021. The overhaul brought a new front-end design with bolder styling and a more prominent...

The Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid is all-new for 2021. The overhaul brought a new front-end design with bolder styling and a more prominent grille, while the Santa Fe’s cabin picks up new tech and impressive infotainment units.

Hyundai offers the 2022 Santa Fe Hybrid in two trims: SEL Premium and Limited. To say that the Hybrid’s segment is crowded is an understatement, as it’s easily one of the busiest corners of the automotive world. The Santa Fe Hybrid competes against the Kia Sorento, Kia Telluride, Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, Nissan Pathfinder, Ford Explorer, and Chevrolet Traverse, among others.

All Santa Fe Hybrids come powered by a 195-horsepower turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a 95-horsepower electric motor. A six-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive are standard. The move to include a geared transmission here instead of a continuously variable transmission (CVT) may not deliver the best hybrid fuel economy, but it adds a layer of engagement and driving feel that a CVT can’t match.

With 226 combined horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, the Santa Fe Hybrid delivers strong acceleration and a mostly refined driving experience. Many hybrids display awkwardness when shifting between gas and electric powertrain components, but Hyundai has been able to mostly dial that out of the Santa Fe’s drivetrain. The engine and electric motors pair well with the six-speed transmission, and overall operation is quiet. That said, the Hyundai does not feel as agile or eager to move as many of its rivals, despite having solid numbers on paper. Fuel economy is decent, however, with an estimated 36 mpg in the city.

Santa Fe Hybrids are well-equipped from the factory, with 17- or 19-inch wheels, LED headlights and daytime running lights, and chrome exterior trim. Interior features include cloth upholstery, a 60/40 folding rear seat, and an under-floor cargo storage area. Tech features are strong, including an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM radio, HD Radio, and more. A larger 10.25-inch screen is available, but the increase in screen size brings wired CarPlay and Android Auto.

The Santa Fe earned a Top Safety Pick award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The rating includes “Good” scores in all crash test areas and “Superior” scores for both vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian crash prevention systems. The SUV’s headlights earned “Good,” “Poor,” or “Marginal” scores, depending on the trim and configuration. Standard safety tech includes blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts, rear-occupant alerts, forward-collision warnings with pedestrian/cyclist detection, junction-turning assist, lane-keeping assist, driver-attention warning, and safe-exit assist.

The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid is on sale now. The SEL Premium Hybrid trim starts at $38,785, and the top Limited Hybrid model starts at $41,135. Hyundai backs the Santa Fe Hybrid with a five-year/60,000-mile limited warranty and a ten-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. Complimentary maintenance is included for the first three years or 36,000 miles.