2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Calligraphy Overview: Type And Substance

American motorists who’re purchasing for a three-row SUV have an nearly overwhelming variety of choices to select from. Fashions just like the Chevrolet Traverse and Ford Explorer match the invoice properly, as do the Honda Pilot, Jeep Grand Cherokee, and Mazda CX-90. All these utility automobiles provide loads of consolation and inside area, however there’s one different mannequin that does much more: the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid.

Not solely does this car look completely distinctive because of its squared-off physique, however he electrified powertrain delivers respectable efficiency whereas sipping gasoline, too. The Santa Fe Hybrid is nice to drive, extremely economical, and extra comfy than you would possibly count on for a car of this dimension. However maybe better of all, this Hyundai is affordably priced. The bottom, 2025 SEL mannequin begins at lower than $40,000 with supply ($1,495), although even the range-topping Calligraphy trim evaluated right here continues to be surprisingly affordable, trying out for $51,675 with vacation spot.

To be able to give you an trustworthy and unbiased evaluate, the car reviewed on this article was pushed every day all through the course of day by day life for a interval of 1 week. For detailed perception into testing procedures and knowledge assortment, please evaluate our methodology coverage.

2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Calligraphy First Impressions

The very first thing you’ll in all probability discover concerning the Santa Fe’s exterior is the boxy, squared-off styling. Virtually like a car from the Eighties, this SUV has numerous angles and exhausting edges, a design theme that sounds outdated, however the general look is unexpectedly contemporary, making the Santa Fe appear like nearly no different new car obtainable at present. That is no less than partially enabled by engaging proportions, together with a comparatively lengthy hood, a gently tapering roof, and an nearly impossibly quick rear bumper.

Exterior Dimensions

Exploring among the particulars, this car’s headlamps and bumpers function an H-like motif, one thing that’s echoed within the taillights and even inside. The grille inserts are comprised of a singular mesh texture, “Santa Fe” is spelled out in giant, blocky letters throughout the rear hatch, and the matte paint job – a colour known as Earthy Brass – contrasts properly with varied gloss-black accents. The look received’t be to everybody’s liking, however general, this Hyundai makes a daring assertion whereas nonetheless managing to be extra engaging than many competing automobiles.

Driving Impressions And Efficiency

I believe the Santa Fe Hybrid seems to be nice, and its inside is even nicer, however does this SUV’s driving match its styling? Properly, the quick reply isn’t any. The car is refined and really environment friendly, however the dynamics want a bit of labor.

The Santa Fe wanders noticeably in its lane, requiring fixed corralling to maintain it on the straight and slim. This car’s steering isn’t terribly crisp, both, making you’re feeling fairly disconnected from the street. Even with the lane-centering function turned on, the Santa Fe wanders round because the street floor adjustments.

As for the experience high quality, it’s comfortable and a contact floaty, however the suspension does a pleasant job smothering roadway imperfections. This softness enhances consolation, however you do get a little bit of physique roll in corners. I respect how the Santa Fe brushes off potholes and different floor defects, however just a bit extra tuning would tackle the car’s tendency to wander.

Acceleration And Braking

Underneath that flattened hood, the Santa Fe Hybrid is powered by a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. This little engine delivers 178 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque by itself, although an electrical motor, juiced by a 1.49-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack, gives additional oomph. Altogether, this Hyundai has 231 hp and 271 pound-feet of twist.

Efficiency Specs

With a smooth-shifting six-speed computerized transmission, this car can scamper from 0 to 60 mph in round 7.8 seconds, roughly par for the section, although the Santa Fe feels faster than that determine suggests. Additionally, the engine is {smooth} and quiet, sounding prefer it’s working far off within the distance, not instantly forward of the firewall.

As for braking, the Santa Fe has no bother slowing down, hauling itself to a standstill from 70 mph in a Automobile and Driver-estimated 179 ft, however the pedal itself feels extremely comfortable and rubbery. As with the driving dynamics, a contact extra tuning work is required right here.

2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Gas Financial system

On the subject of efficiency, this Hyundai received’t outrun a Porsche 911 Turbo S… from a stoplight, no less than. The place the Santa Fe Hybrid will trounce that ridiculously fast sports activities automotive is on the gasoline pump. In accordance with the U.S. EPA, this car is rated at 35 miles per gallon within the metropolis and 34 on the freeway. Mixed, drivers ought to count on to common round 34 mpg, rattling spectacular determine.

In blended use, together with some freeway driving, however largely nation two-lane cruising, I’ve been averaging an excellent 35 mpg based on the journey pc, and there’s nothing to argue about with that efficiency.

Inside Design And Consolation

The Santa Fe’s inside is fantastically designed and loaded with high-quality supplies and controls. There are beautiful comfortable plastics on the doorways, dashboard and middle console, which have an revolutionary double-hinged lid that may be opened from the entrance or again. This car’s textured, wood-like trim seems to be nice, the colours and textures are wealthy, the meeting high quality is superb, and the duet of gloveboxes offers you loads of locations to stash smaller gadgets.

Inside Dimensions

Caring for passengers, the Santa Fe’s consolation is superb. The Calligraphy mannequin has heated and ventilated entrance seats (in addition to a heated steering wheel) which can be additionally supple and supportive. Past that, these chairs provide a particular Leisure Mode, the place they recline far again and deploy small leg rests, making them nice for kicking again and chilling whereas parked.

The Santa Fe Hybrid Calligraphy’s second-row buckets are additionally comfy, each power-adjusting and power-folding. These chairs are heated, too, have adjustable armrests, and supply passengers with ample legroom and noggin area.

Even this Hyundai’s third-row impresses, a rarity for a car of this class. Adults can entry this area comparatively simply, and as soon as seated, they are going to be properly cared for. Sure, the underside cushion is a bit low to the ground, however the seats themselves are comfy and there’s a stunning quantity of legroom and headroom, sufficient for six-foot-tall passengers, in reality.

Know-how And Ease Of Use

Like different trendy Hyundai Motor Group automobiles, the know-how within the Santa Fe is superb. A pair of 12.3-inch shows is perched on the dashboard, angled ever so barely towards the motive force. The digital instrument cluster is straightforward to learn, and the graphics are engaging, ditto for the infotainment system. The software program right here may be very intuitive, and the efficiency is nearly fast. Moreover, each wi-fi Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are supported, so you have got a well-known and easy-to-use multimedia array at your fingertips.

Other than all that, the Santa Fe additionally comes commonplace with a variety of different superior applied sciences. Facilities like adaptive cruise management, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping help, and a driver-attention monitor are all commonplace. You additionally get Secure Exit Help (which helps preserve folks from opening a door right into a passing automotive or people using a motorbike), lane-keeping help, and Ahead Collision-Avoidance Help, which might detect pedestrians and cyclists.

Cargo And Storage Area

On the subject of baggage area, the Santa Fe Hybrid doesn’t disappoint… for probably the most half. With the rear two rows of seats folded down – the second-row buckets could be lowered or raised once more on the push of a button from proper within the cargo space – this SUV affords a beneficiant 79.6 cubic ft of area. You get 40.5 cubes aft of these second-row chairs, and a meager 14.6 behind the third row. The area aft of the rearmost seat is fairly small, but it surely’s tremendous simple to fold the cut up backrest right down to open up a bit extra space.

The dual gloveboxes are a pleasant contact, however there are many different nooks and crannies for storage. The bin underneath the middle armrest is kind of giant, plus there’s a wholesome pass-through beneath the console. There are cupholders and air vents in all three rows, there are properly sized pockets within the door panels, and there’s even a slide-out bin on the rear of the middle console.

Cargo Dimensions

2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Vs. Its Rivals

Other than the fashions listed earlier, the Santa Fe Hybrid tussles with different three-row utility automobiles, fashions just like the Kia Sorento, Nissan Pathfinder, and Volkswagen Atlas. All of those automobiles are designed to haul numerous folks and baggage, and supply some gentle off-road functionality.

How The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Compares To The Toyota Highlander Hybrid

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  Base Trim Engine

  1.6L Smartstream I4 Hybrid

  Base Trim Transmission

  6-speed computerized

  Base Trim Drivetrain

  Entrance-Wheel Drive

  Base Trim Horsepower

  178 HP @5500 RPM

  Base Trim Torque

  195 lb.-ft. @ 1500 RPM

  Base Trim Battery Sort

  Lithium ion (Li-ion)

  
  

  
  

• 
  

  

  

  Base Trim Engine

  2.5L I4 Hybrid

  Base Trim Transmission

  CVT

  Base Trim Drivetrain

  All-Wheel Drive

  Base Trim Horsepower

  186 HP @6000 RPM

  Base Trim Torque

  175 lb.-ft. @ 4300 RPM

  Base Trim Gas Financial system (metropolis/freeway/mixed)

  35/35/35 MPG

  
  

  
  

Sadly, a lot of this Hyundai’s main rivals are not provided with hybrid powertrains. However one is, the easy-to-recommend Toyota Highlander. Whereas broadly comparable, each of those utility automobiles have their very own benefits and drawbacks.

Efficiency

On the subject of efficiency, each fashions ship good efficiency and nice effectivity, although the Toyota has a slight edge. The Highlander Hybrid has a complete system output of 243 horses, sufficient to propel this SUV to 60 mph in round 7.3 seconds, about half a second faster than the Santa Fe Hybrid.

The entry-level XLE trim of the Highlander Hybrid is rated at 35 mpg throughout the board, although higher-end fashions are a tiny bit much less economical. The highest-shelf grades are rated at 35 mpg metropolis, 34 freeway, and 35 mixed, primarily an identical to the Hyundai.

What’s attention-grabbing is that these two automobiles ship broadly comparable efficiency and gasoline financial system, although their powertrains are fairly completely different. The Santa Fe Hybrid has a downsized, turbocharged engine and a six-speed computerized gearbox, whereas the Highlander Hybrid encompasses a bigger, naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder in addition to an electronically managed constantly variable transmission. These are two routes to the identical vacation spot.

Consolation

However which of those SUVs takes higher care of passengers? Surprisingly, the Santa Fe Hybrid has a pair extra inches of legroom in all three rows of seats, plus (when each fashions are fitted with a sunroof) the Hyundai is graced with a skosh extra headroom, too, excellent news for passengers.

The Santa Fe’s obtainable Leisure Mode is one other benefit over the Toyota, although possibly not an enormous one. As for cargo area, although, the Highlander Hybrid has appreciably extra room. This car has 16 cubic ft behind the third row, 48.4 aft behind the second row, and 84.3 with all of these seats folded.

Know-how

Know-how is one other space the place these two automobiles are almost equal. Each provide two 12.3-inch shows, each comes commonplace with a variety of superior driver help applied sciences, plus wi-fi charging and smartphone mirroring are provided. On this division, neither of the SUVs has a major benefit.

Our Suggestion For Which Mannequin You Ought to Purchase

The Santa Fe Hybrid and Highlander Hybrid are just about perfect rivals that ought to serve clients very properly. The Toyota is a bit faster and affords a bit extra cargo area, however the Hyundai affords extra room for passengers and has extra-comfortable entrance seats. Moreover, the Santa Fe is extra trendy than the Highlander, and it has a nicer inside. Countering that, the Toyota might be extra dependable in the long term, given the corporate’s experience with hybrids, an vital consideration.

So, which SUV is healthier? Get the Santa Fe Hybrid if consolation and distinctive styling is extra vital, and seize the Highlander Hybrid if longevity is a high concern and also you want extra baggage area.