The Santa Fe Hybrid is the smart choice in Hyundai’s three-row SUV family. Powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder engine plus a motor and batteries, it produces 231 horsepower for good acceleration, and the EPA averages 36 mpg with front-wheel drive.
The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe is a stunning redesign of the Korean automaker’s venerable SUV. Now with three rows standard, the midsize crossover is available with a conventional gasoline engine and a hybrid option, all for a reasonable $500 less.
In late August, we had the opportunity to drive the 2024 Santa Fe Hybrid in the rolling hills around Santa Barbara, a few hours north of Los Angeles. Overall, we found the new Santa Fe’s hybrid to be very practical and a fun place to spend time. We call the hybrid the better of the two powertrains in this new crossover; it’s smoother and more fuel efficient.
Given its low price, we expect the hybrid to be popular with families who know that a combined EPA rating in the mid-30s will save them a lot of money compared to a rating in the mid-20s. As automakers struggle to meet increasingly stringent emissions limits for vehicles in the 2026 to 2035 model years, Hyundai has clearly chosen attractively priced hybrids as one way to achieve those goals. Of course, it also has a growing lineup of electric vehicles — but hybrids make up a growing share of Tucson sales in the popular compact crossover segment. You can expect that to be the case for the midsize Santa Fe, too.
Hyundai Santa Fe 2025
Is this a land rover?
By now, the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe’s striking design has begun to appear on city and suburban streets. It’s a significant departure from previous generations, with its square, flat-sided lines earning comparisons to Land Rovers and other SUVs. Even in car-scarce California, it’s a big deal in traffic. Remarkably, Hyundai claims a drag coefficient of 0.294, which is impressive for such a straight, massive shape—Hyundai says the Subaru Outback has a drag coefficient of 0.34—proving that fuel-sapping drag can be tamed in a variety of ways.
Inside, the car feels airy and open, with Hyundai’s new standard dashboard design featuring two 12.3-inch displays on a wide horizontal tray. It’s an arrangement first seen in the Ioniq 5 electric hatchback and now appears in a growing number of Hyundai models, from the Ioniq 6 EV sedan to the updated 2025 Tucson compact crossover.
The new hybrid powertrain consists of a 1.6-liter direct-injected four-cylinder engine, mated to a conventional six-speed automatic transmission. Between the engine and transmission is a 47.7-kilowatt (64-hp) electric motor, which draws its power from a 1.5-kWh lithium-ion battery. The combined powertrain output is 231 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque. Unlike the smaller Tucson, there is no plug-in hybrid version.
Hyundai Santa Fe 2025
Acceleration: Feels more lively than the petrol version.
The Santa Fe Hybrid shares its powertrain with the 2025 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid, but it’s a larger, heavier vehicle. While the Tucson Hybrid is relatively quick in most driving conditions, the Santa Fe Hybrid is slower. We’d call it average for a three-row SUV—while the gasoline-only version was average to sluggish when this reporter drove it in March. Hyundai didn’t provide acceleration numbers; we weren’t able to properly test that during our drive.
The new Santa Fe’s design incorporates a highly effective noise suppression system, and powertrain sounds are so well muted that occupants may not even realize they’re driving in a hybrid at all. Engine noise is generally imperceptible when running, and transitions between power sources go largely unnoticed. This speaks to the tremendous effort Hyundai engineers have put into refining their single-motor hybrid system over the more than 12 years since it hit the market.
The sensation of the large utility vehicle upshifting or downshifting while the “EV” dashboard light remains on will be jarring to those accustomed to battery-electric vehicles, which of course don’t have gears to shift. Matching engine speed to road speed is a necessary flaw in Hyundai’s system, but more importantly, it allows the Santa Fe Hybrid to run on electric-only power in high-speed traffic or on the highway. Hyundai says this provides the best balance of performance and efficiency in typical U.S. highway driving cycles. We were often surprised to look down and see the Santa Fe Hybrid operating in “EV” mode, even at highway speeds or on gentle uphill grades.
The right-hand paddle behind the steering wheel can be pulled to increase regenerative braking when stopped, and there’s also an “auto” mode for regeneration. This mode uses the Santa Fe’s sensors (cameras, radar, etc.) to adjust the level of regeneration based on what it senses in front of it—a slower vehicle, for example. California highway traffic kept the car busy adjusting.
Hyundai’s suspensions tend to be tuned for comfort rather than roadholding, and the Santa Fe is no exception. Drivers and passengers will certainly find it quiet and comfortable in conventional use. When driving over rough roads with irregular surfaces, we found it to bounce a little more than expected. But suburban families going to school or visiting the mall probably won’t be affected, or even bothered.
Hyundai Santa Fe 2025
EPA ratings: 34 or 36 mpg combined
The Santa Fe Hybrid we built in Montgomery, Alabama, handled well and was a fun place to spend time. Full details and specs on interior size, seating options, safety ratings, and standard and optional features can be found in our 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe review.
As for fuel efficiency—the main reason to typically choose a hybrid—the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid’s combined EPA rating is 36 mpg for the front-wheel-drive version, or 34 mpg with optional all-wheel drive. That’s a significant increase over the ratings for the various gasoline models, which range from 22 to 24 mpg combined.
The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid comes in three trim levels: SEL, Limited and Calligraphy. The SEL comes standard with 18-inch alloy wheels and a power-adjustable driver’s seat. The Limited upgrades to 20-inch wheels and adds rain-sensing wipers, a dual-pane sunroof, a power front seat, heated rear seats and ambient interior lighting, among a long list of nice features. The top-of-the-line Calligraphy features Nappa leather seats with a massage “relax” function, a UV sanitizing tray (“Can you tell this was designed during a pandemic?” one executive asked), a head-up display and multiple appearance elements that adorn the design.
The Santa Fe Hybrid SEL starts at $38,615, with another $6,900 added to the Limited. The Hybrid Calligraphy Edition starts at $48,665, plus options. All-wheel drive is available for $1,800 on any trim. All prices include a mandatory $1,415 destination charge.
Hyundai provided travel, accommodation and meals to enable Green Car Reports to provide this test drive review to you.
