’24 Santa Fe is radically different SUV
To appreciate the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe, approach the new midsize SUV the way its designers did: from the tailgate.
The Santa Fe’s boxy new shape is radically different from the sleek model it replaces, and the changes all started with a big square tailgate and a wide opening designed to carry big items and accommodate tailgating, even car camping.
Key exterior design elements include:
Long wheelbase
Upright nose
Boxy shape
Long roofline
“H”-shaped head and tail lights Hyundai attributes the changes to a pandemic-era desire for outdoor activities and getting away from it all, but the Santa Fe’s new shape is also a fashion statement, complemented by a number of new colors.
Bigger than the outgoing model and with an XRT model that delivers surprising off-road capability, the 2024 Santa Fe foreshadows Hyundai’s next generation of SUVs, which will all likely look a bit more rugged than its current lineup.
The 2024 Santa Fe also features a pair of small seats in a third row, giving it the capability to carry more people than the five-passenger layouts that dominate its segment: Chevrolet Blazer, Ford Edge, Honda Passport and the upcoming Toyota Crown Signia. The Santa Fe’s third row is for occasional use and small children.
The 2024 Santa Fe is in dealerships now.
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Trim levels and prices
SE: $33,950
SEL: $36,450
SEL hybrid: $36,950
XRT: $40,600
Limited: $43,350
Limited hybrid: $43,850 Calligraphy: $46,500
Calligraphy hybrid: $47,000
Prices exclude $1,395 destination
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charge. AWD adds $1,800 to all models.
More standard power, but heavier
The 2024 is about 2 inches longer and 1.4 inches taller than the outgoing model. Its width did not change.
The rear opening and cargo space grew significantly: The opening increased 2.0 inches from top to bottom and 5.7 inches from side to side. The ’24 has 4.2 cubic feet more space behind its second row, nearly 12% more than the 2023.
The Santa Fe’s weight increased significantly with its added room and seats – 469 pounds for the top-of-the-line Calligraphy model.
To keep performance acceptable, Hyundai dropped the old base engine, a normally aspirated 2.5L that produced a pedestrian 191 hp and 181 pound-feet of torque. The new base engine is last year’s upgrade: a 2.5L turbo generating 277 hp and 311 pound-feet. It comes mated to quick and smooth eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Acceleration is adequate.
A hybrid should be available soon. It will improve fuel economy significantly, but the system adds weight and power falls. Modest performance expectations are in order.
That may be a fair tradeoff for what Hyundai’s internal projections say will be a near 50% improvement in an allwheel-drive Santa Fe’s combined city/ highway fuel economy rating from 23 mpg to 34. Hyundai expects city fuel economy to rise 75%, from 20 to 35 mpg.
Driving impressions
The Santa Fe’s suspension muffles bumpy surfaces and is stable on curving country roads. Tire noise is minimal despite 21-inch Pirelli tires on the AWD Calligraphy model I drove through the rolling country around Nashville for a day.
The steering was firm and responsive.
The controls featured an appealing mix of touchscreen for many features, but physical dials for volume, tuning and temperature.
My test vehicle for on-road driving stickered at $49,510, excluding a $1,395 destination charge.
The XRT model adds a four-wheel lock feature that splits torque evenly between front and rear axles, 1.3 inches of extra ground clearance and more offroad capability than most midsize SUV owners will ever dream of using.
I navigated a reasonably aggressive course that included a couple of spots that left one wheel hanging in the air. It also handled several steep downhill stretches on dirt and some loose gravel ably with an electronic brake control for a slow, confident descent.
The interior is airy, thanks to large windows that also provide good sight lines when off-roading. Twin sunroofs – the front opening, the rear fixed – let in all the sunlight anyone could want.
In addition to two-device wireless charging, the center console offers a bin for the rear passengers’ use. The front seatbacks also hold two USB-C charging ports for the rear passengers’ use.
The Calligraphy’s second row captain’s chairs are comfortable and offered plenty of leg room.
The two third-row seats are best suited for short trips or short people – ideally, young children.