I love the Hyundai Santa Fe, but this is why I won’t buy it

Hyundai’s Santa Fe has been a familiar name on UK roads for over 20 years, but the latest version steps things up in many ways. This fifth-generation model is bigger, bolder and far more advanced – right on purpose Family Those who want the style of a premium SUV, but the running costs and tax benefits of a plug-in hybrid.

On paper, it ticks a lot of boxes. Seven utility seats? check. A boot big enough for two Labradors and a week’s shopping? tick. Technology that wouldn’t be out of place in a high-end German SUV? Yes, that too.

this latest Hyundai The Santa Fe Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) combines a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine with an electric motor and a 13.8kWh battery. It produces a combined 250bhp and offers an official electric range of up to 34 miles – not class-leading, but potentially enough to get you through the day without using fuel if you charge at home.

Step inside and it’s clear Hyundai is aiming high. The design and layout are all a step up from the previous version, while the car itself is longer, wider and more spacious. It looks distinctive on the outside too – square-jawed and rugged in a way that sets it apart from smoother (and more uncompromising) rivals.

so far so good. But the real test – as always – is how it drives and how easy it is to live with. After a week of family and solo use, as well as the odd trip to a garden centre, the Santa Fe PHEV proved its practicality and charm, but also revealed some rough edges that dull the shine of an otherwise impressive package.

how i tested

I spent a week driving the Santa Fe in mixed conditions – motorways, station drop-offs, shopping trips and dog walks – assessing not only efficiency and comfort, but also family-friendliness and ease of everyday use.

Independent Rating: 7/10

Hyundai Santa Fe Specifications

Battery, range, charging, performance and drive

Let’s start with the numbers. The Santa Fe Plug-in Hybrid offers a 13.8kWh battery and an official electric-only range of 34 miles. This is low by modern plug-in standards – some rivals now offer more than 50 miles, which can make a real difference if you’re running daily on electricity alone.

Still, if you charge it regularly it’s good for short periods of school and errands. It’s best to leave plugged in overnight at home – a full charge using a 7kW home wallbox takes about 2 hours 15 minutes.

The petrol engine is Hyundai’s familiar 1.6-litre turbo four-cylinder, and coupled with the electric motor it produces 250bhp and 367Nm of torque. Performance is good for a large family SUV – 0-62 mph takes 9.3 seconds – and in EV mode it’s smooth and quiet. You will barely even notice the change between electric and petrol energy.

Where the Santa Fe doesn’t quite hit the mark is in ride comfort. Especially around town, the suspension feels a little too firm. At low speeds, you feel more jolts than you’d expect in something of this size. This isn’t a problem on the motorway, where it settles down well, nor is it enough to beat children’s faces, but I would have liked it to be a bit more comfortable.

There’s a Terrain mode for slippery surfaces and light off-roading, but most Santa Fes will live suburban life. To that end, the powertrain is smooth, refined and more than capable – just don’t expect hot hatch thrills or long EV miles.

Interior, practicality and boot space

This is where the Santa Fe shines. Simply put, this is one of the most family-friendly cars on the road. It’s huge inside, with room for seven adults – and unusually for a plug-in hybrid, the third row of seats isn’t just for emergencies or small children. Even the grandparents can climb on board and sit in the back – but not the third row – without complaint.

The square shape helps. It may not be pretty, but the bluff back end and high roof mean you’ll get more useful headroom and visibility than sleeker rivals. The boot really is spacious, especially with five seats in use – 621 liters in the seven-seater plug-in model – and the loading lip is low and flat, which is fantastic if you’ve got dogs who like to jump in and out of the boot (or even if you have to lift them up).

There are clever touches throughout. The second row slides and folds, and there are ISOFIX points on both outer seats. Access to row three is a one-touch affair. You get charging ports, tray tables, cubbies and coat hooks – it feels like Hyundai has thought of everything for everyone.

Up front, the seats are comfortable and well-padded, with a driving position that’s suitable for all sizes. There’s lots of adjustment and visibility is excellent. The chunky digital center mirror is a neat touch – it gives a camera feed of what’s behind you, which is helpful when the boot is full of bags or dogs.

One small disappointment is the quality. You can’t buy a new Santa Fe for less than £50,000 and for that money some of the interior trim feels a little cheap. At least it’s cleaned up – literally when it comes to the backs of the front seats.

This is a car designed for families, and it shows. It’s not trying to be a sporty SUV – it’s trying to make your life easier. And in this he is successful to a great extent.

Technology, Stereo and Infotainment

Hyundai has packed a full kitchen sink with a ton of posh-car tech in the Santa Fe, and most of it works brilliantly. A wide curved panel houses twin 12.3-inch screens – one for the driver, one for infotainment – ​​and the graphics are clean and responsive.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, and there’s a full suite of BlueLink connected car services. You can unlock the car from your phone, pre-condition the cabin remotely and even set up driver profiles. OTA (Over The Air) updates keep the system current without dealer visits.

The Bose 12-speaker sound system delivers powerful, clear audio and the head-up display is one of the clearest on the market. Voice control now recognizes natural language, although like most systems, there are still occasional hiccups.

The security technology is complete. Highway Driving Assist 2, Lane Follow Assist, Blind Spot View Monitor, Driver Attention Warning, and Remote Smart Parking Assist come standard on all top trims. And it’s all wrapped up in Hyundai’s excellent SmartSense safety suite.

This is a car that actively tries to help you, not hinder – and the technology is far more user-friendly than some of its competitors. However, it was difficult to turn off the usual beeps and bongs without turning off some features you actually wanted to keep on!

Prices and operating costs

Prices for the Santa Fe Plug-in Hybrid start at around £51,995 and go up to £57,745 – this is more expensive than you might think for a Santa Fe. It’s close to some premium rivals like the Volvo XC90 and even some Land Rovers.

Company car drivers will prefer the low benefit-in-kind (BiK) rate due to the CO2 figure of around 38g/km – but private buyers will have to weigh the cost against the relatively short 34-mile EV range. If you can plug in every night, running costs will be lower.

There’s not much of a road tax saving over a year due to the car’s price exceeding the £40,000 luxury car tax threshold, but Hyundai’s five-year unlimited mileage warranty (with a separate 8-year battery warranty) adds peace of mind.

The Santa Fe is a big, clever car – but it’s not cheap, and plug-in technology only makes sense if you can plug in regularly.

Hyundai Santa Fe Rivals

questions to ask

How long does it take to charge?

The Hyundai Santa Fe takes about 2 hours 15 minutes on a 7 kW home wallbox, about 5 hours on a standard 3-pin plug.

How much does it cost – is it worth it?

You might be surprised to see that the Santa Fe costs more than £50,000 which puts it close to some pretty premium rivals. There aren’t many seven-seat PHEVs to choose from, however.

Does Hyundai replace batteries for free?

There’s an eight-year cover for the hybrid battery pack, with a five-year warranty on the rest of the car.

Why trust us?

Our team of motoring experts has decades of experience driving, reviewing and reporting on the latest EV cars, and our verdicts are tailored with every type of driver in mind. We thoroughly test every car we recommend, so you can be sure our judgments are honest, fair and authentic.

Verdict: Hyundai Santa Fe

There’s a lot to like about the Santa Fe Plug-in Hybrid – it’s clever, it’s big, and it has all the technology you could want. And if you want a big, seven-seat plug-in hybrid SUV, you don’t have much choice at all. However, the short EV range, firm ride and premium prices blunt its everyday appeal.