The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Limited Edition AWD SUV
You Are What You Drive — A Bottom Line Review
The Bottom Line: What is a Santa Fe? The Hyundai Santa Fe is a SUV sport utility vehicle produced by the South Korean manufacturer Hyundai since 2000. It is named after the city of Santa Fe, New Mexico, and was introduced for the 2001 model year as Hyundai’s first SUV. The Santa Fe is a midsize two row SUV with seating for five, and has a lineup that spans from the budget minded SE model, to the near luxury Calligraphy Edition.
For 2021 Hyundai has totally revamped the Santa Fe platform and chassis with new sheet metal, and an imposing front grill. It is a very good looking, and practical SUV, with a slightly upscale vibe. The new Santa Fe offers families a roomy cabin, desirable features, and plenty of curb appeal. Buyers can choose from a pair of four cylinder engines, one is turbocharged, and front or AWD all wheel drive. Plus a hybrid drive train is now available.
The very first Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid was made for those who want to experience more. Standard AWD all wheel drive gives it rugged capability. Tech features like expansive digital displays and wireless conveniences keep your family comfortably connected wherever you go. Safety advances look out for you when you’re out there, and because it’s got a hybrid driveline, you’ll spend less time filling up, and more time on the road.
This week Hyundai sent me a 2021 Santa Fe Hybrid Limited Edition AWD SUV with a base window sticker price of $39,950 to test drive and review. The only option on the press car are the carpeted floor mats for $155. The total MSRP manufacturer’s suggested retail price, including the destination fee of $1,185, came to $41,290. Adding in the state and local sales tax, plus the DMV and dealer fees, the total purchase price is: $46,451.
For the 2021 model year, the Santa Fe has been given a fresh face, with more standard and optional equipment. It now has a turbocharged 1.6 L liter four cylinder hybrid engine paired with a permanent magnet synchronous electric motor, bolted to a conventional six speed automatic transmission with Shiftronic manual shifting, thru the steering wheel mounted paddle shifters. Hyundai sells the 2021 Santa Fe in 4 trim levels: SE, SEL, Limited, and Calligraphy.
As the press car is a Limited Edition Hybrid model this Santa Fe has every technology, safety, comfort and convenience option Hyundai has to offer. Starting with the powered memory leather trimmed front seats with heat and ventilation, a leather wrapped heated steering wheel and heated rear seats, power release second row seats, dual automatic temperature controls, a 12.3” digital instrument cluster, and a 10.25” center stack screen with navigation. Plus it has that retro digital vacuum tube radio that’s just super cool to look at, and very easy to use.
This new Hybrid Santa Fe SUV gets 33 MPG in the city, 30 MPG on the
highway, and 32 MPG in combined driving. The greenhouse gas emissions are a 7, and the smog rating is a 7, both out of 10. All great fuel economy and environmental numbers for an all new midsize SUV, that has been voted as one of the Best New Cars for 2021.
The Advance Safety Technology includes: forward collision avoidance assist, safe exit assist, blind spot collision avoidance assist, high beam assist, rear cross traffic collision avoidance assist, lane keeping assist, driver attention warning, smart cruise control with stop and go, ultrasonic front occupant alert, rear view monitoring, lane following assist, and highway drive assist. These sensors help keep you in a safety zone, as they are aware of everything around the car, to help you avoid a collision in all driving conditions 24/7.
The Harman Kardon premium audio system with SiriusXM Radio has been perfectly tuned for this new SUV, and is a H-K powerhouse. With 12 speakers, plus an 11 channel amplifier, and 630 watts of decibel pumping power, this setup will give you miles and miles of fantastic sounds and tunes, for many years down the road.
When you’re ready to buy a new hybrid SUV, the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe should be on your ride and drive list, as it’s one of the best new midsize hybrid SUV’s for sale today. Call, click or visit your local Hyundai dealer for a test drive, and a Bottom Line price review, on a 2021 Santa Fe SUV. And note that the base window sticker starting price for a new Santa Fe is only $27,200. Hyundai now has a Santa Fe model priced for everyone.
A word to the wise is sufficient: Be Smart, Stay Safe, and Just Breathe. Remember, “You Are What You Drive ©” And maybe, just for those reasons alone, you should “Drive one, Buy one, Today ©”.
This Bottom Line new vehicle review is a Nut & Bolt and Dollars & Sense editorial provided by Tony Leopardo. “Tony the Car Guy” is an automotive writer, editor and publisher in the San Francisco Bay Area. If you have a question, or comment for Tony, send it to tonyleo@pacbell.net and visit AutoWire.Net at www.autowire.net