2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Review

Name: 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Review
Brand: Hyundai
Price: 18174 USD

2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy 4dr SUV Exterior Shown

Hyundai Santa Fe Limited 4dr SUV Exterior

+387

The Santa Fe delivers impressive acceleration and fuel efficiency as well as luxurious accommodations at a price that undercuts most of the competition. A spacious cabin and a smooth ride quality are also highlights.

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2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Review

byKurt Niebuhr^{Senior Vehicle Test Editor
Kurt Niebuhr has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. A automotive photographer by trade, Kurt is now one of Edmunds' high-performance test drivers. He's driven and photographed hundreds, if not thousands, of vehicles all over the world, so Kurt's library of automotive experiences would certainly make for a good book. When not dreaming about getting his racing license or trying to buy out-of-date film for his cameras, Kurt can usually be found cursing at his 1966 Mustang.}

Pros

Abundant standard features for the money
Generous warranty coverage
Smooth operation of advanced driver aids
Quick acceleration from available turbocharged 2.5-liter engine

Cons

Overly soft suspension tuning dilutes driver enjoyment
10.25-inch touchscreen can be a bit slow to respond

What's new

Significant exterior and interior update
Completely revised powertrain lineup, including a newly available hybrid
New range-topping Calligraphy trim
Part of the fourth Hyundai Santa Fe generation introduced for 2019

Overview

Have you shopped both small and midsize SUVs and not yet found what you're looking for? The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe could be the solution. It lands squarely between both SUV types on price, size and feature availability. This gives the Santa Fe strong middle ground appeal, and the significantly updated 2021 model is even more enticing than its predecessor.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe SE 4dr SUV (2.5L 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 $3.64 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio

$173/mo

$207/mo

Avg. Midsize SUV

Calculate my fuel costs

On tap for this year is revised exterior styling, a larger touchscreen, a new push-button gear selector and a new top-level Calligraphy trim level. The Santa Fe's engines are new, too. Notably, the Santa Fe now offers a turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a strong 277 horsepower as well as a new hybrid powertrain that gets an EPA-estimated 34 mpg in combined city/highway driving.

These are very significant changes but this is a competitive class, and the Santa Fe has a wealth of established competition on its hands. The Honda CR-V, long a perennial favorite, has been upgraded with a hybrid version, and the midsize Toyota Venza also boasts stylish looks and high mpg. What should you get? Read our Expert Rating of the 2021 Santa Fe below to help you decide.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Our Verdict^{The Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.}

Good

7.7

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

Rated for you by America's best test team.

Performance

7.0/10

How does the Santa Fe drive? We tested the Santa Fe with the 277-horsepower turbocharged engine. It's pretty potent and our test vehicle covered 0-60 mph in just 6.6 seconds, which is quicker than most other small and midsize SUVs. However, if you aren't asking for maximum speed, its power delivery is a bit inconsistent and unrefined. Hyundai seems to have tuned the eight-speed automatic transmission to get up to its highest gears as quickly as possible, which can also be off-putting.

The Santa Fe leans a lot as you go around turns, so it's definitely not as planted as a Mazda CX-5. This is an SUV for highway cruising, not sporty driving. But the Santa Fe's steering is pleasantly tuned, making for easy low-speed maneuverability and decent highway stability.

Comfort

8.0/10

How comfortable is the Santa Fe? The Santa Fe's suspension soaks up most bumps and road impacts, but the ride can sometimes feel a little too soft and wallowy. But the front seats are very comfortable and have a broad range of adjustments and available heating and ventilation. The rear seats are also comfortable and have lots of recline adjustment, though we'd prefer thicker padding on the door armrests.

The Santa Fe has excellent cabin insulation thanks to dual-pane front windows and comprehensive sound deadening. Wind, road and ambient noise is very much kept at bay. The climate controls are easy to adjust and do a great job of keeping cabin temperatures pleasant.

Interior

7.5/10

How’s the interior? The Santa Fe's interior quarters are relatively spacious, especially in legroom. The available panoramic sunroof does eat into headroom in both rows, but the rear seat's generous recline serves to off-set that. All controls are laid out well and within easy reach, and the most often-used controls are real buttons and knobs.

The large door openings make it easy to get in and out, and both front and rear rows offer plenty of space and legroom. Visibility is good too, with a decent-size rear window and very little obstruction from the rear headrests. The door-mounted sideview mirrors help you avoid blind spots, and the optional surround-view camera system makes parking a breeze.

Technology

8.0/10

How’s the tech? Our test vehicle had the optional 10.25-inch screen. Unfortunately, we found it slow to respond to our inputs at times, and its graphics aren't particularly eye-catching. The Santa Fe's premium audio system produces accurate sound and plenty of volume, but it isn't as fully immersive as we'd like it to be. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration is included, though CarPlay only uses about two-thirds of the 10.25-inch screen.

The wireless charger is a spring-loaded slot that saves space but could also easily swallow loose coins and other small objects that might be hard to fish out. There are plenty of power ports and USB ports.

Hyundai's advanced driver aids are some of the best around. The adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist work smoothly and ease the stress of rush-hour traffic. The blind-spot monitoring and forward collision mitigation also work pretty well, but some drivers might find them to be a little too sensitive.

Storage

8.0/10

How’s the storage? The Santa Fe's cargo space is decently roomy (36.4 cubic feet behind the rear seats) and has some helpful underfloor bins. Remote seat releases allow you to drop down the second-row seats from the rear of the vehicle and at the rear passenger doors. This is a very smart use of space and allows for storage of the cargo cover as well.

There's a pleasing amount of space for personal items in the cabin. Hyundai's electronic gear selector frees up a sizable space underneath the center console. The cupholders have good anti-tip design and there's usable space in the armrest bin as well as around and in the glovebox. The maximum towing capacity for the Santa Fe is 3,500 pounds when properly equipped. That's better than many small SUVs but not as much as bigger SUVs such as the Honda Passport and Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport can pull.

Got small children? There's plenty of room for child safety seats, and the anchor points are reasonably accessible.

Fuel Economy

8.5/10

How’s the fuel economy? The EPA says the Santa Fe with the upgraded turbo engine gets 24 mpg combined (21 city/28 highway). We achieved 27.3 mpg on our 115-mile evaluation test route, which is a strong indication that the Santa Fe can meet the EPA estimates. This is impressive given the power output of the Santa Fe's engine — it outperforms some competitors with V6 engines.

Value

8.5/10

Is the Santa Fe a good value? On a price-per-feature basis, the Santa Fe remains an excellent choice. The quality of materials and design are standouts even if a few small areas, particularly thinly padded door armrests, aren't perfect. But even the top-of-the-line Calligraphy trim level undercuts similarly equipped competitors yet offers a powertrain that is both quicker and more efficient.

Hyundai's five-year/60,000-mile basic and 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranties are industry-leading, and the automaker has added three years of free scheduled maintenance. Value continues to be a strong appeal of all Hyundai vehicles.

Wildcard

7.0/10

The Santa Fe does well at its intended purpose: comfortably hauling people and giving you lots of value. But it isn't particularly fun to drive, even with the upgraded turbo engine, and the latest styling update makes it seem like Hyundai is trying a little too hard to make its vehicles stand out.

Which Santa Fe does Edmunds recommend?

We think the SEL is a good place to start. For not much money over the base SE, you get heated seats, an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, wireless charging, and keyless entry with push-button start. It also includes blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The SEL can also be bolstered by some fairly comprehensive option packages not available on the SE.

2021 Hyundai Santa Fe models

The Hyundai Santa Fe is a five-passenger SUV available in four trim levels: SE, SEL, Limited and Calligraphy. On the SE, SEL and Limited trim, front-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive is optional. The Calligraphy comes standard with all-wheel drive.

A 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine (191 horsepower, 182 lb-ft) mated to an eight-speed automatic is standard on SE and SEL trims. The Limited and Calligraphy come with a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder (277 hp, 311 lb-ft) mated to an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

A hybrid powertrain is new for 2021 as well. Available later in the model year in SEL and Limited trims, it combines a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with an electric motor (225 hp combined) paired to a six-speed automatic. All-wheel drive is standard with the hybrid powertrain option.

SE
Starts you off with:

18-inch alloy wheels
LED headlights
Stain-resistant cloth upholstery
60/40-split folding rear seat
8-inch infotainment touchscreen
Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
Four USB ports (two front and two rear)

Every Santa Fe comes standard with a generous number of advanced driver aids:

Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
Lane keeping assist (steers the Santa Fe back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)
Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane)
Trailer sway damping (adjusts vehicle brakes to help control trailer movement if a trailer begins to sway)
Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front)

SEL
Adds more features, such as:

Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing)
Rear-passenger safe exit system (can prevent a rear passenger from opening a door into traffic approaching from behind)
Keyless entry and push-button ignition
Power-adjustable driver's seat
Heated front seats
Heated side mirrors
Wireless device charging
Roof rails
Hyundai's Blue Link connected services

Two robust option packages are available for the SEL trim. These features become standard on Limited and Calligraphy models.

Convenience package
Includes upgrades, such as:

Hands-free liftgate
Noise-reducing front side windows
Digital key (allows select phones to be used as a vehicle key)
Dual-zone climate control
Leather-wrapped steering wheel
Rear passenger window sunshades
Digital instrument panel
LED taillights
Power-folding rear seats
Rear seat reminder (alerts you to check the rear seat before exiting the vehicle and sounds the horn if motion is detected after the vehicle is locked)

Premium package
Requires the Convenience package and adds:

Leather upholstery
Power-adjustable front passenger seat
Upgraded 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system
10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen
Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane)
Panoramic sunroof
LED interior lighting

Limited
Adds the Convenience and Premium packages plus:

More powerful engine
19-inch wheels
Upgraded LED headlights
Parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible in front of or behind the vehicle when parking)
Upgraded driver's seat with memory settings
Ventilated front seats
Heated steering wheel
Heated rear seats
Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the Santa Fe and its surroundings for tight parking situations)
Blind-spot camera (displays a live camera view of the Santa Fe's blind spot in the instrument panel when changing lanes)
Rain-sensing wipers
Automated parking system (steers into a parking spot with little or no driver intervention)

Calligraphy
Adds extra luxury with:

Optional 20-inch wheels
Unique exterior trim
Premium leather seating with quilted stitching
Ambient interior lighting
Imitation suede headliner
Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line on the windshield)

Build Your 2024 Hyundai SANTA FE

At a Glance:

5 Colors
8 Trims
5 Packages
$33,950starting MSRP

Build & PriceHyundaiusa.com

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

3.5/5Above Average

#17 out of 32 among Midsize SUVs

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

^{The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Hyundai Santa Fe from 2008-2022.}

$448/yr

vs. $485/yr
for Average Midsize SUV

Frequency

^{The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).}

1.4x/yr

vs. 1.18x/yr
for Average Midsize SUV

Severity

^{The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).}

12.7%

vs. 13.5%
for Average Midsize SUV

powered by RepairPal ^{Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.}

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe.

5 (61%)

4 (16%)

3 (8%)

2 (7%)

1 (8%)

4.1

74 reviews

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Most helpful consumer reviews

2021 Santa Fe Calligraphy

E. S. , 02/05/2021

2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy 4dr SUV AWD w/19-in Wheels (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 8AM)

I spent 4 weeks researching and finally made the decision to purchase a 2021 Santa Fe Calligraphy. I've had it for about 3 weeks now. Although not a certified luxury SUV it certainly rivals the smooth ride and bells and whistles that luxury SUV's offer at about $10k - $15k less. I cannot rave enough about the vehicle. I previously had an Audi and Infiniti. The Santa Fe Calligraphy is …

Rides like a luxury vehicle

H W Tillman, 01/23/2021

2021 Hyundai Santa Fe SEL 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A)

The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe rides and handles like a luxury vehicle. It is so quiet inside and the new electronics rival anything I've seen in much more expensive vehicles.

Great Daily Driver

Josh , 01/29/2021

2021 Hyundai Santa Fe SEL 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 8A)

I'm impressed with the amount of technology that they put in this ride. Lots of good stuff. I'm getting used to the 8 speed transmission. It really does get around when you need to. Plenty of power for a daily driver, cool enough looking for those who like some style, and plenty of room inside. Seats are comfortable, and the leather steering wheel is very nice to the touch. Lane keep …

Great roomy midsize SUV for the money!

Dbal72, 07/09/2021

2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 8AM)

I now have 2400 miles on my 21' Limited AWD. I skipped the Calligraphy model as the Limited has 95% of the content for a few thousand less and dealers were willing to negotiate more on Limiteds. Coming from a loaded 14' Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland. Was looking for a midsize 2-row with good room, features, reliability, some tow capacity, decent handling and gas mileage for reasonable … price. I think the 21' Santa Fe Limited checks all the boxes. I waited to write this review until I had some miles on it and after break-in period. I cross-shopped Audi Q5, Acura RDX, Kia Sorento and Lincoln Corsair. I can afford any of these new, but I am not a pretentious person and badge prestige is not a big deal to me. Never thought a Santa Fe would end up in my garage, but I have to say I really enjoying this suv. I put about 15-20k miles a year on a vehicle, so having the right one is important. My Jeep GC was a good vehicle, but I had over 140,000 miles on it. If you are a driving enthusiast, you will enjoy the 2.5 turbo and Dual Clutch 8speed transmission. Shifts are very smooth and super quick. It takes a bit to get used to at crawling speeds as a dual clutch is different in how it operates vs. a normal torque converter trans. You can google it to read more about how they work. Q5 uses a DC as well. If you drive this in comfort or smart mode, the car drives smooth and easy with plenty of pull from the turbo. Sport mode raises the rpm some, holds shifts longer and tightens steering. I do wish the suspension also changed dampening with modes, but I get it at this price point. Dig into the throttle and you will feel the 311lb's of torque. Actually kind of funny how many types of cars you can take from a stoplight if you want to. I am getting great gas mileage on a mix of 50/50 driving. Averaging 25.1 overall and I like it uses regular as prices are climbing. I also give it some spirited runs in that average mpg. It rides very smooth and it very quiet on the highway. I have taken trips with cruise set at 80mph and it is an easy and quiet drive. I like the overall look of the vehicle and the interior changes for 21. Brings it more upscale without going crazy on design. I also prefer the push-button shifter and it opens up a lot of room for storing things below it. Honestly takes just a few day and you will be used to the push button. For the price this car has everything. You can read in the standard equipment what comes with it. The Limited does not have the Heads up Display, so if you want that, go with the Calligraphy. Not a big deal to me. The Harmon Kardon sound system is decent. Clear highs and decent midrange, but wish it had a larger sub for better bass tones and a little more depth overall. I like how you can customize your digital gauges with different looks. I also like the layout of the physical buttons on center stack. I can't stand when a car buries many simple functions deep with the touchscreen menus such as heated seat, steering wheel, etc. The touchscreen works well and menus are nice. Not the best and not the worst. I use apple carplay often for maps and other things. I like the wireless charger in this one. My wife has a 20' Highlander and you have to lay it on a pad in center console and hit a button to turn it on. It is finicky with certain cases as well. The Santa Fe charger you simply drop it into a slot and it immediately starts charging and can handle a variety of different phone sizes. I am 6'2" and I find the seats and driving position very comfortable. I like the powered thigh extender and lumbar as well. What is most surprising is the amount of cargo room and back seat legroom. This is 2" shorter than my GC and yet tops it in both. We had a couple recently ride in back and they were amazed at how comfortable and roomy it was. If you don't need three rows, this is one of the roomiest two-rows you will find for the overall size. The extra storage under rear cargo mat is nice too. The panoramic roof is larger than my GC as well and is really nice. I went with a rare darker gray/black interior on my limited. Harder to find, but really gives a nice contrast without the gray being too light. This can tow 3500lbs which has been nice for my smaller boat and utility trailers I pull from time to time. Also nice for my bike rack. This SUV also handles well in corners for its size and weight. It is no sports SUV obviously being 4,000lbs., but gives you just enough to make it fun sometimes vs. many boring driving suvs in this class. Brakes are very good and I was pleasantly surprised with that. It drives smaller than what it is which I also prefer. Overall, I am really liking it so far and have had zero issues or quality control items to address. If you are looking for a two-row midsize or even a smaller two-row I would cross-shop this due to the price. You get a lot for your money and you get Hyundai's long warranty. I will update in a year.

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2021 Santa Fe Highlights

Trim:

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$27,000
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	26 MPG
Cost to Drive	$173/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	36.4 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	5 years / 60,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Key safety features on the Santa Fe include:

Back-up camera
Blind Spot Monitoring
Lane Departure Warning
Alarm
Tire Pressure Warning
Stability Control
Pre-collision safety system
Post-collision safety system

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover4 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover15.5%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

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2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Review

2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe SE 4dr SUV (2.5L 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 $3.64 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.}

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which Santa Fe does Edmunds recommend?

2021 Hyundai Santa Fe models

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe.

Trending topics in reviews

Most helpful consumer reviews

2021 Santa Fe Calligraphy

Rides like a luxury vehicle

Great Daily Driver

Great roomy midsize SUV for the money!

2021 Santa Fe Highlights

Safety

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2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Review

2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe SE 4dr SUV (2.5L 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 $3.64 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which Santa Fe does Edmunds recommend?

2021 Hyundai Santa Fe models

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Most helpful consumer reviews

2021 Santa Fe Calligraphy

Rides like a luxury vehicle

Great Daily Driver

Great roomy midsize SUV for the money!

2021 Santa Fe Highlights

Safety

People who viewed this also viewed

Related Used 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe info

Vehicle reviews of used models

Popular new car reviews and ratings

Other models

Join Edmunds

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe SE 4dr SUV (2.5L 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 $3.64 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.}