2019 Hyundai Santa Fe Review
zzdcar' Expert Review
byTravis LangnessReviews EditorTravis Langness has worked in the automotive industry since 2011. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career.
What's new
The 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe is redesignedNew interior and exterior lookNew two-row designPart of the fourth Hyundai Santa Fe generation introduced for 2019First, we need to start off with a public service announcement: The naming of the redesigned 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe might throw you off. The previous-generation Santa Fe (2013-2018) was a three-row crossover SUV, but the 2019 model is now a two-row and is essentially the redesign of last year's two-row Santa Fe Sport. Last year's three-row Santa Fe is now called the Santa Fe XL. Got it? Great. Now the question is: How good is this new Santa Fe?
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe SE 2.4 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.
Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota$151/mo for Santa Fe SE 2.4
Santa Fe SE 2.4
SE 2.4 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 8A) (Most Popular) - $25,750 MSRPSE 2.4 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl 8A) - $27,450 MSRPSEL 2.4 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 8A) - $27,600 MSRPSEL 2.4 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl 8A) - $29,300 MSRPSEL Plus 2.4 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 8A) - $29,800 MSRPSEL Plus 2.4 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl 8A) - $31,500 MSRPLimited 2.4 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 8A) - $32,600 MSRPLimited 2.4 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl 8A) - $34,300 MSRPLimited 2.0T 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $34,200 MSRPLimited 2.0T 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $35,900 MSRPUltimate 2.4 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 8A) - $35,450 MSRPUltimate 2.4 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl 8A) - $37,150 MSRPUltimate 2.0T 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $37,100 MSRPUltimate 2.0T 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $38,800 MSRP
vs
$183/mo
Avg. Midsize SUV
We like that the Santa Fe is a bit wider and longer than outgoing Santa Fe Sport. It's more spacious on the inside, an area where it already excelled. Hyundai also improved the look and feel of the cabin. For standard equipment, the new Santa Fe gets smartphone integration (Apple CarPlay and Android Auto) and Hyundai's attractive 7-inch touchscreen. What's more, safety features such as forward collision mitigation, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, a drowsy driving warning system, and Hyundai's Safe Exit Assist — which will temporarily prevent your door from opening if a vehicle is approaching from behind — all come as standard.
Alas, one thing we weren't overly keen on the Sport is still hanging around: the standard 2.4-liter engine. Power output is unchanged at 185 horsepower, and fuel economy is lackluster. Hyundai has paired it to an eight-speed automatic transmission for 2019, though, rather than last year's six-speed. The change mildly increases fuel economy and should improve acceleration, too. Hyundai is also offering a more powerful 2.0-liter four-cylinder (235 hp).
Despite the probable confusion with its name change, the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe has a lot of appeal. It's a well-equipped crossover with lots of modern tech and plenty of space for your family. If you're looking for a good value in the two-row crossover segment, it's a vehicle you'll want on your short list.
zzdcar' Expert Rating
7.8 / 10The 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe gets a complete overhaul. It's now a two-row crossover SUV, much like the previous Santa Fe Sport. A three-row Santa Fe XL version debuts later. Thanks to its spacious interior and plentiful standard features, the new Santa Fe is a smart pick.
Trim tested
Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Hyundai Santa Fe SEL Plus (2.4L inline-4 | 8-speed automatic | FWD).
Scorecard
Overall | 7.8 / 10 |
Driving | 7.0 |
Comfort | 8.0 |
Interior | 8.0 |
Utility | 7.5 |
Technology | 8.0 |
Driving
7.0With the 185-hp engine, the Santa Fe's acceleration is slightly below average, and the transmission is slow to shift. However, its taut suspension and excellent brakes let it handle and stop more like a sedan than a crossover.
Acceleration
6.0The Santa Fe's standard engine is uninspiring at low speed but has adequate passing power when pushed hard on the freeway. Sport mode increases throttle sensitivity and quickens shifts. In zzdcar testing, we recorded a 0-60 mph time of 9.1 seconds, which is slow for the segment.
Braking
8.0In routine braking, the pedal effort is light and confidence-inspiring. During hard braking, it stiffens up and has sharp response in a segment not known for it. The ABS can cause minor instability as it seeks traction but is stable on smooth roads. In our panic-stop test, the Santa Fe stopped from 60 mph in 122 feet, which is shorter than average for the segment.
Steering
7.0The steering is responsive and light at low speeds, which is ideal for parking lots and neighborhoods. There's mild feedback through the wheel at highway speeds, giving you information from the front wheels. The self-centering effect is vague on smooth roads.
Handling
7.0The Santa Fe suspension tuning is a little stiff, but it maintains its composure over midcorner bumps and is generally compliant. Small recurring bumps, such as those you'd encounter on a gravel road, can induce shimmies, but the Santa Fe never feels overwhelmed. The stability control system is sensitive and intervenes well before tire grip runs out.
Drivability
6.0The base engine and transmission pairing is sluggish and requires a healthy kick of the pedal to get it to respond. Downshifts for passes are served up reluctantly, but at least the transmission doesn't hunt around. Sport mode is frenetic when you're not flat-footing the gas, but it doesn't actually change max acceleration.
Comfort
8.0With comfortable cloth seats and an available sliding-and-reclining second row, the Santa Fe is a flexible platform for passengers or cargo. The ride is quiet and the engine note won't interrupt any conversations. The taut suspension is jarring on bumpy or broken surfaces.
Seat comfort
8.5The front seats are a high point. They offer a lot of adjustment range and are comfortable for long distances. Our tester's cloth seat material didn't absorb much body heat. The rear seats are stiffer but have a comfortable recline angle.
Ride comfort
7.0The Santa Fe's stiffer suspension tuning works great over smooth roads or rolling bumps. It's compliant, up to a point. It loses composure when driving over hard-edged bumps, and especially those that occur in rapid succession, like on a broken-up cement freeway.
Noise & vibration
8.0Interior noise levels are generally muted. Engine noise is imperceptible at idle, though not particularly pleasant at full power. Tire noise is noticeable on grainy or coarse road surfaces. Harsh, square-edged bumps can be heard as a booming sound. It's not loud, but it is noticeable.
Climate control
8.0The automatic dual-zone climate control system is clearly labeled and easy to use. Air vents are provided for rear passengers. The system is quiet and effective, but auto mode runs the fan slower than what you'd expect, which lengthens the time to resolve extreme temperature changes. The front-seat heaters are excellent and warm up quickly.
Interior
8.0The Santa Fe's strongest attribute is its interior. No matter what version you get, you'll find it comfortable, quiet and stylish. It's easy to get in and out of, and drivers and passengers alike will find it roomy.
Ease of use
9.0All controls are well laid out and within easy reach. There are no tricks or complex series of button pushes to access any features. Most of the frequently used controls are hard buttons or knobs. The less accessed functions are just one or two touches away.
Getting in/getting out
9.0Thanks to large door openings and narrow sills, getting in and out is simple. The front-seat hip height is average. The rear seat is positioned slightly higher but still easily accessible. When the Santa Fe is parked next to a curb or similar obstruction, the long, curved bottom edge of the door can impede the exit of passengers with larger feet.
Driving position
8.0The power seats have excellent adjustment range, and most drivers will quickly find a comfortable position. Steering wheel adjustability is lacking — it needs an additional inch or two of extension to serve taller drivers. Shorter drivers may wish the steering column was located an inch or two higher.
Roominess
8.0The Santa Fe is roomy overall, although taller drivers might find the headroom marginal. The back seat has better-than-average legroom and headroom and is great for two passengers. Shoulder and elbow room will be tight when adults or full-size children are seated three across.
Visibility
7.0Visibility out of the front and front side windows is adequate. Though blocked somewhat by the side mirror, your view out the extra front side triangle windows still helps spot pedestrians and cyclists at intersections. A large rear window gives great direct views to the rear, but the wide rear roof pillars severely block your over-the-shoulder views.
Quality
8.0There may not be any fancy metals or woods, but the Santa Fe's construction and materials consistently meet a high standard in this segment. Cloth seats and plastics are of acceptable quality but are implemented with excellent design. Flourishes such as the speaker grilles and satin-finished trim feel upmarket.
Utility
7.5Despite the Santa Fe's roomy and well-thought-out interior, cargo volume is solidly in the middle of the pack in this segment. The SEL Plus' sliding and reclining second row improves cargo and passenger flexibility and is a must-have for this crossover.
Small-item storage
8.0The front door pockets aren't particularly large, but they can hold a water bottle and personal effects with no problem. The center console bin is spacious, and there's space in front of and behind the shifter for more of your stuff. A shelf on the passenger side of the dash is deep enough to hold large phones.
Cargo space
7.5There's 35.9 cubic feet of storage behind the second row, which is good for the class, and you can get more by folding down the 60/40-split rear seats or lifting up the tri-fold cargo floor to reveal more space underneath. Tie-down points are recessed, so they stay out of your way when you don't need them.
Child safety seat accommodation
7.0The upper and lower LATCH point locations are clearly marked, and a child seat can be located in either of the three rear seat positions. Lower LATCH anchors are located between the upper and lower seat cushion, and larger child seats may obstruct a seat-belt latch or seatback pivot.
Towing
7.0The Santa Fe's 2,000 pounds of towing capability is fairly good for the segment. Upgrade to the 2.0-liter turbo engine in the Limited and Ultimate versions if you need to tow up to 3,500 pounds.
Technology
8.0Hyundai's standard 7-inch infotainment system is easy to read and use. Key functions are readily accessible on the main page, and the icons are well-sized and -spaced to avoid a cluttered look. The menu structure is also intuitive and not very deep, making it easier when you have to hunt through it.
Audio & navigation
7.5Built-in navigation is available on higher trims or as an option, but Google Maps or Apple Maps is available for those with smartphones. Sound quality on the premium 12-speaker audio system is light and lacks midrange, but it can be adjusted to be neutral. Features include AM/FM, HD and satellite reception, Bluetooth streaming, and USB input.
Smartphone integration
8.0The Santa Fe doesn't lack in ways to integrate your smartphone. It boasts Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, Bluetooth streaming and USB audio. Pairing a phone is painless, and switching between devices is simple. There's one data USB point up front and two charge-only USB ports in the rear.
Driver aids
8.0Adaptive cruise control works well even in stop-and-go traffic. The alerts for the lane-departure and blind-spot detection systems can be customized to the driver's preference. Front collision mitigation and rear cross-traffic alert round out the systems. All systems work well, and we experienced no false alerts.
Voice control
8.0Hyundai's voice control system works with radio, phone and navigation (for those models so equipped), and you don't need to rigidly follow a syntax to make it work. If you have a smartphone hooked up, the voice button will pass the commands directly to it.
Which Santa Fe does zzdcar recommend?
Most Santa Fe shoppers should be pleased with midlevel Santa Fe SEL Plus. Much like the base SE and the SEL, the SEL Plus comes with a nice set of convenience and safety features. Yet it also gets useful extras such as a hands-free liftgate, dual-zone climate control and an upgraded 12-speaker stereo system. We're not fond of the base 2.4-liter engine, but replacing it with the upgraded 2.0-liter turbocharged engine requires stepping up to the Limited or Ultimate trim level.
2019 Hyundai Santa Fe models
The 2019 Santa Fe is a five-passenger crossover, available in five trim levels: SE, SEL, SEL Plus, Limited and Ultimate. The SE and the SEL are reasonably well-equipped, while the SEL Plus and Limited add some useful convenience features. The Ultimate packs on the luxury-oriented features. For the most part, there are no significant options or packages to choose from.
All trim levels come with the base 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine (185 horsepower, 178 pound-feet of torque). The Limited and the Ultimate are available with a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine (235 hp, 260 lb-ft). An eight-speed automatic transmission is standard across the board, and any model can be specified with front- or all-wheel drive.
Hyundai Santa Fe SE
The base SE trim includes 17-inch alloy wheels, rear privacy glass, air conditioning, LED daytime running lights, a rearview camera, a 60/40-split folding rear seat, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, a 7-inch display screen, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay functionality, four USB ports (two front and two rear) and a six-speaker sound system with a CD player. Standard safety features include blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, a driver attention warning to prevent drowsy driving, forward collision mitigation, adaptive cruise control, and Hyundai's Safe Exit Assist, which will temporarily prevent your door from opening if a vehicle is approaching from behind.
Hyundai Santa Fe SEL
Along with the SE's standard equipment, the SEL gets foglights, heated mirrors, keyless entry and ignition, a power-adjustable driver's seat, heated front seats, an upgraded driver information display, Hyundai Blue Link services and satellite radio.
Hyundai Santa Fe SEL Plus
Next up on the trim-level ladder is the SEL Plus. On top of the SEL's equipment, it adds 18-inch wheels, a hands-free liftgate, roof rails, dual-zone automatic climate control, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter, slide functionality for the rear seats, and a 12-speaker Infinity stereo system.
Hyundai Santa Fe Limited
For a few more creature comforts, there's the Limited trim level. Here you get LED exterior lighting (headlights, taillights, foglights), a panoramic sunroof, leather upholstery and a power-adjustable passenger seat.
Hyundai Santa Fe Ultimate
At the top of the heap is the Santa Fe Ultimate. It has everything on the Limited plus a top-down parking camera system, rear parking sensors, driver-seat memory settings, adjustable lumbar support for the driver, a heated steering wheel, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, an 8-inch touchscreen, a driver head-up display, navigation and wireless smartphone charging.On the Limited and Ultimate trim levels, the 2.0-liter turbocharged engine option also comes with 19-inch wheels and a trailering package.
Jump to:Related 2019 Santa Fe articles
2019 Santa Fe Highlights
Trim: SE 2.4SEL 2.4SEL Plus 2.4Limited 2.4Limited 2.0TUltimate 2.4Ultimate 2.0TSE 2.4
Base MSRP | $25,750 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 25 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $151/month |
Seating | 5 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 35.9 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
Warranty | 5 years / 60,000 miles |
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