Displaying items by tag: Hyundai Santa Fe

Wednesday, 30 June 2021 05:41

2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Brings Upscale Efficiency

A smooth gas-electric powertrain, quiet cabin, and premium features give Hyundai's updated mid-size crossover an edge.

Unlike Toyota, Hyundai isn't really known for its hybrids. Although its Ioniq hatchback is a solid shot across the Prius's bow, Hyundai doesn't broadly tout the fuel-sipping virtues of its hybrid powertrains, instead focusing on its familiar narrative of value and accessible luxury. But perhaps that's changing. Over the past year, the company has rolled out hybrid versions of several of its popular models, including the Sonata family sedan, the Elantra compact car, and the Tucson and Santa Fe SUVs.

For the 2021 model year, the mid-size, two-row Santa Fe has been given a fresh face, more standard and optional equipment, and a new hybrid powertrain: a 178-hp turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder paired with a 59-hp electric motor and a conventional six-speed automatic transmission. Combined output is 226 horsepower. The Santa Fe is in a precarious position within Hyundai's lineup, positioned between the exceptional three-row Palisade and the boldly redesigned 2022 Tucson, the latter of which is also offered with the same hybrid powertrain. But the Santa Fe hybrid's high-end features, confidence-inspiring character on the road, and appealing design all justify its place alongside the brand's other SUVs.

2021 hyundai santa fe hybrid limited awd

HIGHS: Smooth handoff from electric to gas power, premium cabin, confident road manners.

At the test track, our all-wheel-drive Limited test ute got to 60 mph in a decent 7.5 seconds and sailed through the quarter-mile in 15.7 seconds at 90 mph. These numbers are close to the Santa Fe hybrid's only direct rival, the Toyota Venza, which was a bit slower in both metrics. Don't worry that the gas-electric Santa Fe is 1.5 seconds slower to 60 mph than the more-powerful turbocharged Calligraphy model we last tested. The immediate throttle response of the hybrid's electric motor at slower speeds makes it feel plenty eager in normal driving. Not only that, but the handoff between gasoline and electric power is virtually seamless. Only occasionally did we notice a slight thud as the four-cylinder deactivated while coasting to a stop, indicating that the power source had changed.

The Santa Fe Hybrid's cabin is impressively hushed. We measured a quiet 68 decibels at 70 mph, and the 69-decibel level it produces at full throttle is a substantial 7 decibels quieter than the non-hybrid turbocharged 2.5-liter version. But its ambiance is occasionally disturbed by Michigan's heavily pockmarked asphalt, which the suspension doesn't always dampen out. Otherwise, the handling of our test car on its 19-inch Continental CrossContact LX Sport all-season tires was similar to what we experienced in the regular model. The 0.82 g of grip we measured on the skidpad is adequate, although we'd prefer a shorter stop from 70 mph than the hybrid's 183 feet—some eight feet longer than the standard model. From behind the wheel, there's a feeling of solidity that reminds us of premium SUVs such as the BMW X5, and our test vehicle was decked out with features that bolster that impression.

LOWS: Not as fuel efficient as a Toyota Venza, unremarkable acceleration, occasional suspension shutters over rough roads.

Our Black Noir-painted example featured comfortable leather-trimmed seats with an upscale quilted pattern on the backrests. Dual digital displays serve as gauges, and infotainment and other luxuries—such as a Harman Kardon stereo and a large panoramic sunroof—added to the upscale vibe. Some cheaper plastics can be found on the lower, less-visible sections of the door panels and center console, but the top Limited trim easily meets the expectations set by its $41,135 base price. Even at the entry-level Blue model's $34,835 starting point, the Santa Fe hybrid is nicely finished.

But a hybrid also needs to deliver on fuel economy, and the Santa Fe's EPA estimates of 33 mpg city and 30 mpg highway are well below the Venza's 40/37 mpg ratings. We tested both vehicles on our 75-mph highway fuel-economy test and recorded 31 mpg for the Hyundai and 36 mpg for the Toyota. That said, the Santa Fe hybrid fares notably better than some nonhybrid alternatives, such as the Honda Passport and the aforementioned Santa Fe Calligraphy, both of which managed 27 mpg in the same test. We averaged 28 mpg during the course of our car's loan.

While the auto industry as a whole is moving toward electric-only driving, hybrids such as the Santa Fe offer a means for range-anxious buyers to test the waters. This Hyundai's biggest issue is that it shares showroom space with the 2022 Tucson hybrid, which is nearly as spacious, just as nicely outfitted, and slightly cheaper. A plug-in-hybrid Santa Fe will join the lineup for the 2022 model year, but it'll only be sold in select states. We'll also likely see an all-electric Santa Fe-sized SUV at some point as Hyundai expands its Ioniq range of electric vehicles, starting next year with the Ioniq 5. Until then, the updated Santa Fe hybrid is an attractive two-row crossover with a premium cabin, a well-integrated hybrid powertrain, and above-average fuel efficiency.

(caranddriver.com)

Published in Hyundai

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Friday, 02 April 2021 04:50

2021 Hyundai Santa Fe 2.5T Pushes Toward Luxury

In top Calligraphy trim, Hyundai's new Santa Fe two-row crossover has luxury aspirations and a strong, 277-hp turbo engine.

It is hard for a car lover to get excited about the two-row mid-sized crossover segment. And although we're not happy to admit it, unexciting and practical is exactly what a lot of car buyers want and need. Speaking of need, while we were on our way back from a Costco run in the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe, we spotted a BMW Z3 with the top down and a massive, framed poster riding shotgun. The driver probably has more stories to tell about that Z3 than most crossover owners, but while we were looking enviously at his roadster, he probably cast a wanting eye on our practical and spacious Santa Fe. It's also entirely possible he never saw the Santa Fe as his poster was blocking most of the view to his right.

While a five-passenger near-luxury crossover may never be what we daydream about, so far in 2021 the Santa Fe has been Hyundai's second-bestselling vehicle, only a few hundred units behind the Tucson, Hyundai's slightly smaller crossover. Hyundai's compact Elantra slightly outsold the Santa Fe in 2020, but its sales are down 26 percent compared to the first two months of 2020. If crossovers are to be Hyundai's future, the recently redesigned Santa Fe is a fine emissary.

The Santa Fe starts at $28,035 for the base SE with front-wheel drive; all-wheel drive adds $1700. From there the rungs climb through the SEL and Limited before reaching the top-shelf Calligraphy. The $43,440 Calligraphy model that made the rounds in the office came packed with standard features. The only extra was a $155 set of carpeted floor mats. Hyundai introduced the high-spec Calligraphy trim level in the Palisade, and now it is trickling down to the Santa Fe. Calligraphy adds quilted leather seats, a panoramic roof, all the driver-assistance technology inattentive drivers crave including lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and an adaptive cruise-control system.

The front seats are supportive, and there's plenty of space to store small items, including a dedicated slot for your phone. But the new push-button shifter will take some getting used to.

The rear seat isn't as pleasant a place. While the legroom is good, there's a lack of headroom for anyone approaching six feet. The second row is outfitted and trimmed just as nicely as the first row, but the panoramic roof removes 1.2 inches of headroom. There's ample cargo space, and the Santa Fe will easily support a trip to the picture-framing shop or the luggage of four road-tripping folks.

A 277-hp turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder is standard on Limited and Calligraphy models, lesser Santa Fes have a 191-hp naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four. The turbocharged engine has 42 more horsepower than the previous gen's turbocharged 2.0-liter four. The new turbo-four and the eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission work together seamlessly. Runs to 60 mph take a quick 6.0 seconds, and the transmission readily downshifts and helps the Santa Fe move from 50 to 70 mph in 4.1 seconds. That sprint to 60 mph is just behind the 280-hp Honda Passport's 5.8-second dash and noticeably quicker than the 6.8-second effort we recorded in a Ford Edge Titanium with a 250-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four.

At the track, we measured 0.81 g overall on the skidpad, which bests the Passport's 0.78 g of lateral stick but trails the Edge's 0.83. The Santa Fe's steering is heavier than the numb and lighter steering in many crossovers. On the highway, there are no dead spots or latency to speak of. It's no Alfa Romeo, but it's responsive and a victor in this segment. The ride can tend towards jittery depending on the road, and you may catch the rear seatbacks jiggling along in the rearview mirror. Our tester arrived with 19-inch wheels rather than the 20s that most Calligraphy models will have in the future, so the 20s might be even harsher. If you'd like your Santa Fe set up that way, too, act fast. Hyundai is selling 19-inch versions as a "limited availability" variant of the Calligraphy, and you'll get a $200 discount for forgoing the bigger wheels. Hyundai hasn't explained why the 20s aren't out yet, but our money is on supply-chain disruptions.

With the cruise set at 75 mph, the Santa Fe returned 27 mpg over a 200-mile highway drive, a single mpg shy of the EPA's estimate. And over almost 400 miles of real-world driving (much of it around town but some of it on uncongested highways), it returned 20 mpg, one short of the Santa Fe's EPA city rating. A Passport returns EPA numbers of 19 city and 24 highway, and an Edge with the 2.0-liter turbo comes in at 20 city and 28 highway.

The worst mid-size crossovers are dull and soulless enough to sap your soul. The Santa Fe is different. Its exterior design is original and attractive. Aside from the occasionally jittery ride, the Santa Fe drives and behaves in a refined and almost engaging manner. We've yet to sample the naturally aspirated Santa Fe or the new hybrid powertrain, but based on what we know of the rest of Hyundai's product portfolio, they're probably nicer inside than their price tags suggest. Every car in this segment asks buyers to make sacrifices in the name of convenience, but the Santa Fe demands less and gives more than many others in its class. If you're not ready for or don't need the Palisade and Telluride's three rows, the Santa Fe should get you home from the framing shop without drawing too much attention.

caranddriver.com

Published in Hyundai

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