- The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe is considered one of the best family SUVs on the market.
- Depending on chosen engine, the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe will get 40-44 mpg.
- The Euro NCAP gave the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe a five star rating.
2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Overview
The new 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe is a fierce competitor as well as a spacious, comfortable family SUV. It has a stylish exterior and a comfy, lavishly-equipped interior. It is a great alternative to the array of large SUVs on sale today and, as a result of its upgrades, premium rivals will be looking over their shoulders at the Santa Fe. The 2021 upgrade brings things up-to-date thanks to its hybrid technology.
Engines, Performance, & Drive
Rated 3.8/5 Stars by AutoExpress
This car is going to take care of its passengers when maneuvering over difficult roadways, surface imperfections, holes, and bumps. The standard self-leveling suspension makes every trip and adventure a relaxing experience. Low-speed trips are a bit lower quality when it comes to how fidgety the SUV can become, and there is the slightest bit of wind noise at motorways speeds.
The four-wheel drive system has a drive mode selector to help set up its drivers for most road conditions. In Eco and Sport modes, the Santa Fe modifies a range of drivetrain parameters to suit your adventure, and the Comfort mode creates a softer experience for the driver and passengers. There are also Snow, Mud, and Sand modes for those types of off-road terrain.
The only negative found is the heavy steering that stays that same regardless of driving mode.
Both of the Santa Fe hybrid models share their turbocharged 1.6-liter 4-cylinder petrol engine with the Ioniq hatchback. The four wheel drive will reach 62mph in 9.1 seconds in the mild-hybrid. In the PHEV version, it reaches 62 mph in 8.8 seconds, and the 2020m diesel models reaches 62mph in 9.5 seconds but has a higher top speed at 127mph.
MPG, CO2, & Running Costs
Rated 3.5/5 Stars by AutoExpress
Because of the high weight of the new Hyundai Santa Fe, it’s a lot to move around and impacts the overall economy. Buyers can expect an average of 40mpg and CO2 emissions in the 151-170g/km range.
With the 2WD mild-hybrid model, you are looking at around 44.1mpg and 40.4mpg for 4X4.
If we move up to the PHEV version, we can benefit from both exceptional fuel-efficiency AND extremely low CO2 figures. (that is if we keep the battery charged)
Insurance costs could be slightly higher than those of the Santa Fe’s closest rival. The potential for depreciation in this vehicle isn’t the best we’ve seen. The new hybrids are still to be confirmed, but we think they’re likely to be similar. After 36 months of ownership, a top-spec four-wheel-drive Premium SE model is predicted to lose just over 46% of its value when it comes time to trade in.
2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Interior, Design, & Technology
Rated 4.0/5 Stars by AutoExpress.
The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe has a much bolder appearance compared to previous models. A larger hexagonal grille, new LED headlamps, and a new lower bumper design sets it apart, along with the LED light bar connected to the tail-lamps and a redesigned rear bumper.
Wheels range from 17 to 19-inches and the colors have its usual array of silvers, greys, and blacks along with splashes of color with Lava Orange, Stormy Sea blue, Horizon Red, and Rain Forest. All paints have a metallic option as well and all models get chrome and dark chrome exterior trim.
The interior has a spacious cabin with new drive mode control and push button gear selector. There is also very comfortable seating and a 10.25-inch infotainment screen OR a 12-inch configurable digital instrument cluster for hybrid models. The switchboard can seem overwhelming at first, but it’s pretty easy to manage and most get the hang of it pretty quickly.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across the range and the touchscreen display features crisp graphics and tons of functions.
All of these things together give the 2021 Santa Fe a fashion-forward appeal.
Practicality & Comfort
Rated 4.0/5 Stars by AutoExpress.
All Santa Fe models come with the standard seven seats, but this model specifically seems to have a pretty tight back seat–most suited for children. Finding comfort behind the wheel is easy with the fullest range of electric adjustment, and visibility is not a problem with a larger glasshouse and the rear camera. The Premium SE has a 360-degree camera system if you’re needing even more.
There are many clever interior features including a spacious glovebox, useful cubby holes throughout the cabin, a storage compartment in the front, cup holders in both the front and rear, and two USB slots and a 12V power outlet in the rear as well.
The Santa Fe offers a ton of headspace and knee-space in the first two-rows and the middle can easily fit three adults side-by-side-by-side. The third row, though, seems to be the only space lacking. If you have children, though, this would be perfect for that space.
Reliability & Safety
Rated 4.0/5 Stars by AutoExpress
The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe was awarded a five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP. They scored 94% in the ‘Adult Occupant’ category and 88% for ‘Child Occupant Safety.’ Part of this rating is due to its selection of standard safety equipment. This includes Autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system, pedestrian detection capabilities, hill start and descent control systems, and lane departure warning. Ultimate models add rear-cross traffic alert and blind-spot detection systems to that list as well.
All Hyundai models come with an unlimited mileage, five-year warranty and the 2021 Santa Fe is no exception! This warranty is amongst the very best in class. Especially if you’re planning to keep your vehicle for more than the average 2-3 years.
Our Final Thought On The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe
We’ve said it once and we’ll say it again: This is THE family SUV. With all of its accessories, and the plethora of standard safety features, competitors don’t stand a chance.
At Tulsa Hyundai, we are passionate about providing the best car-buying experience possible. As Tulsa, Oklahoma’s premier Hyundai Dealership, we have all the cars for sale you could possibly want and need to get started, or continue along, on the car-buying adventure! Whether you’re searching for a Hyundai Tucson, Santa Fe, Venue, Kona, Sonata, Elantra, Palisade, Santa Cruz, and/or the Ioniq 6, Tulsa Hyundai has it all. We are PROUD to serve you.
Head on down to Tulsa Hyundai to test drive one of our new 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe’s and find out for yourself what this Hyundai SUV has to offer. We have used cars too!
