10 Best Features of the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe

2024 Hyundai Santa Fe ・ Photo by Hyundai

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe is all new with wholly different styling than the prior generation. Put this year’s Santa Fe next to last year’s and it doesn’t even look like they should share the same name. The new Santa Fe is boxy and bold with a more rugged exterior design and distinctive headlights.

Inside the changes are just as dramatic with the addition of a third row that brings seating up to seven passengers. It’s a true family hauler with enough room for the kids, a couple of friends, and all their stuff. Here are the 10 best features of the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe.

The New Third Row

The previous generation of the Santa Fe had only two rows of seating with room for up to five people. That limited its versatility for large families. This year, Hyundai added a third row that increases seating up to seven with the option for second-row captain’s chairs that take seating down to six.

That third row gives the Santa Fe the versatility to work for larger families. It also makes it easier to take along friends and carpool. Even with a full load of people, there’s still good room behind the third row for cargo.

2024 Hyundai Santa Fe ・ Photo by Hyundai

Large Liftgate Opening

The Hyundai Santa Fe now has a large liftgate that makes it look almost imposing from the rear. The benefit to the giant liftgate is how easy it makes loading cargo. Even the bulkiest of items easily stows with the cargo area. Families will also appreciate the ease with which cargo can be reorganized when you’re on the go.

Total cargo room behind the third row is 14.6 cubic feet with 40.5 cubic feet behind the second row. If cargo is the priority and passengers aren’t along for the ride, then fold both rows and there’s 79.6 cubic feet of cargo room behind the first row.

2024 Hyundai Santa Fe ・ Photo by Hyundai

Hybrid or Gas Engines

There are two engine options for the Santa Fe. The gas engine is a turbocharged 2.5-liter inline 4-cylinder with 277 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque paired to an 8-speed automatic transmission. It’s a strong engine though not overly aggressive and does a great job of getting this large SUV up to speed.

There’s also a 1.6-liter turbocharged inline 4-cylinder hybrid for those who want a more fuel-efficient option. This engine offers 178 horsepower with 195 lb-ft of torque paired to a 6-speed automatic transmission. Both are available with either front-wheel or all-wheel drive.

2024 Hyundai Santa Fe ・ Photo by Hyundai

The Panoramic Display

The open and airy interior of the Santa Fe includes an available curved panoramic display that houses both a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen. Despite being two independent screens, having them housed in a single display enhances the clean, uncluttered dashboard layout.

The display curves toward the driver, but not so much so that it’s inaccessible to the front passengers. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, available wireless charging for up to two devices, and standard USB ports for the second row create a well-rounded infotainment package.

2024 Hyundai Santa Fe ・ Photo by Hyundai

Available Relaxation Comfort Seat

The front seats of the Santa Fe are comfortable and supportive with great adjustability. While base trims get cloth seating surfaces, as you move up through the trim range, materials improve with leatherette, leather, and quilted Nappa leather. They’re also available heated and ventilated with up to 8-way power adjustability.

There’s also an available first-row relaxation comfort seat. It not only reclines, but has a leg rest so the driver can truly relax when the vehicle stops. This is ideal for quick road trip breaks or for taking a snooze while waiting on the kids.

2024 Hyundai Santa Fe ・ Photo by Hyundai

Five Available Trims

The Santa Fe is available in a range of five well-equipped trims with a starting price of $33,950 for the SE with front-wheel drive and a gas engine. At the top of the gas lineup is the all-wheel-drive Calligraphy at $48,300.

The hybrid runs from $36,950 for the front-wheel-drive SEL up to $48,800 for the all-wheel-drive Calligraphy. That keeps the full Santa Fe lineup under $50,000, even at its most plush. This makes it more manageable for tight budgets and provides enough choices to find the right trim for your needs and budget.

2024 Hyundai Santa Fe ・ Photo by Hyundai

Good Array of Standard Safety Features

Safey is always a priority when you have the family along for the ride. The Santa Fe offers a good number of standard safety features even on its base trim. These include blind-spot collision avoidance warning, rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist, front and rear park distance warning, and lane keeping assist.

Also on the list are rear occupant alert, forward-collision avoidance assist with pedestrian, cyclist, and junction turning detection, lane following assist, safe exit assist, and driver attention warning. Enhancements and additions to that list come on higher trims, but it’s a solid offering even on the base trim.

2024 Hyundai Santa Fe ・ Photo by Hyundai

UV-C Sterilization Compartment

This is an entirely unexpected feature, especially for a car in this price range. The Hyundai Santa Fe is available with a UV-C sterilization compartment. This small space can accommodate little items that are frequently handled, like your wallet or smartphone.

Even your glasses can be placed inside the compartment where it can be sterilized using ultraviolet light. This space is located right above the glove box, making it easy to reach even from the driver’s side of the vehicle. It’s a unique feature that you won’t find on most other vehicles.

2024 Hyundai Santa Fe ・ Photo by Hyundai

C-Pillar Assist

When you need to bring along extra cargo, the Santa Fe is ready with the ability to carry additional cargo on the roof. This is great, but getting up there on most vehicles is a challenge. With nothing to grab onto, you’re left clutching the roof or maybe a roof rail as you awkwardly reach for the top of the vehicle.

The Santa Fe has a solution: a self-concealing grab handle. It’s located in the C-pillar. Simply pop open the panel in the C-pillar and you have a grab handle that lets you easily pull yourself up to reach cargo on the roof.

2024 Hyundai Santa Fe ・ Photo by Hyundai

Digital Center Mirror

An SUV is great for carrying people and cargo, but with a full load, it can be hard to use the rearview mirror. A third row full of people means there are heads potentially blocking the view. A full load of cargo creates an even bigger obstacle.

The Hyundai Santa Fe is available with a digital center mirror. This lets the driver see what’s behind the vehicle through the use of an exterior camera on the rear spoiler, so what’s inside can’t block the view. This also comes in handy at night by providing a brighter view than a traditional mirror.

2024 Hyundai Santa Fe ・ Photo by Hyundai