2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Road Test and Review

Just two years after the introduction of the all-new fourth-generation Santa Fe, Hyundai has given its two-row mid-size crossover suv a new look and significant powertrain, infotainment, and driver-assistance updates. The facelifted exterior of the 2021 Santa Fe now hews closer to the hot-selling three-row Hyundai Palisade, with more rounded features and a taller, wider, more expansive grille with three-dimensional details. Hyundai adds a new range-topping trim to the Santa Fe this year, the Calligraphy, and the 2021 Santa Fe also gets its first-ever gas-electric hybrid model, which we will cover in a separate review.

The Santa Fe seats five and is available with front- or all-wheel drive. Including the $1,185 inland freight and handling charge, 2021 Santa Fe prices are $28,035 for the base SE, $29,835 for the better-equipped SEL, $39,785 for the well-equipped Limited, and $43,285 for the top-of-the-line Calligraphy. All-wheel drive is a $1,700 upcharge in the SE, SEL, and Limited trims and standard in the Calligraphy. Competitors in this popular two-row mid-size segment include the Chevrolet Blazer, Ford Edge, Nissan Murano, Honda Passport, Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, Jeep Cherokee, and Subaru Outback.  

Two new non-hybrid gas four-cylinder engines make their debut in the 2021 Santa Fe. SE and SEL models get a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 191 horsepower and 182 lb-ft of torque, up 4 hp and 3 lb-ft over the output of last year’s 2.4-liter engine. It is teamed with an eight-speed automatic transmission. EPA fuel economy estimates are 25 mpg city/28 mpg highway/26 mpg combined with front-wheel drive and 22 mpg city/25 mpg highway/24 mpg combined with AWD.

Limited and Calligraphy trims are powered by a lively 277-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder turbo, replacing last year’s top Santa Fe offering: a 2.0-liter turbo four. Power is up 18% and peak torque rises nearly 20%. The new 2.5 turbo makes 311 lb-ft of torque in a wide band from 1,700 rpm to 4,000 rpm, resulting in excellent throttle response for merging and passing or just cruising around town. It’s mated to a new wet-plate eight-speed dual-clutch automatic that delivers quick, seamless shifts. Surprisingly, the 2.5 turbo’s EPA estimates nearly match those of the base model’s non-turbo four-cylinder at 22 mpg city/28 mpg highway/25 mpg combined with front-wheel drive and 21 mpg city/28 mpg highway/24 mpg combined with AWD.

Inside, the 2021 Santa Fe gets a refreshed interior with a new high-mounted center console that looks elegant enough to belong in a Genesis product. A new console-mounted push-button shifter replaces last year’s conventional shift lever. An arching dual-cowl instrument panel blends seamlessly into the doors. Soft-touch materials and low-gloss forms abound. Soft, ambient lighting with 64 selectable hues bathes the cabin. A new 12.3-inch full-color digital instrument cluster that changes its appearance with different drive modes is standard on the Limited and Calligraphy trims.

Seat coverings are cloth on the SE and SEL, leather on the Limited, and creamy quilted Nappa leather on the Calligraphy. All but the SE get a power driver’s seat, heated front buckets, and push-button start. The Limited brings ventilated front seats, a power front passenger seat, leg cushion extensions, driver seat memory, a heated and leather-wrapped steering wheel, a panoramic sunroof, a slot-type wireless charger, and dual-zone automatic climate control. The Calligraphy adds a color head-up display and a faux-suede headliner. Interior storage is ample with console cup holders and small-item cubbies, a large open area under the console, a lower-dash tray, door pockets, plus a glovebox and covered bin under the center armrest.

Dynamically, the ride quality of all 2021 Santa Fe models benefits from the addition of a new front suspension subframe. Reduced steering system friction and a quicker ratio deliver improved responsiveness. Also, braking is sharpened via a larger-capacity brake booster and fade resistance is improved with larger, more heat-resistant brake rotors. Hyundai’s HTRAC all-wheel-drive system is optional on the SE, SEL, and Limited and standard with the Calligraphy. 

The Santa Fe has four driver-selectable driving modes, accessed via a rotating knob on the center console. Comfort is the new Normal for everyday driving and it varies front-to-rear torque distribution from 80% front/20% rear to 65% front/35% rear, Sport, Smart, and Snow. Sport ups the fun factor with quicker acceleration and better handling as it varies torque distribution between 50% front/50% rear and 65% front/35% rear. Smart is Hyundai’s Eco mode and prioritizes fuel economy, varying the front/rear torque split from 100% front/0% rear to 80% front/20% rear. Snow optimizes the system for slippery conditions. When pressed, the AWD differential lock button in the center of the rotating knob sets the torque split evenly at 50/50 so both front and rear wheels can tackle difficult terrain or conditions.

The SE and SEL trims come standard with an 8-inch infotainment screen featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, helping minimize the clutter of USB cables by allowing a cellphone to pair with the system while stashed in the glovebox, a purse, or a computer case out of sight. While the SE setup is a basic AM/FM stereo, the SEL adds SiriusXM, HD radio, voice recognition for access to phone, maps, messages, music, and third-party apps, as well as Blue Link connected-car services. The front seats have one USB data and one charge port, and rear passengers get dual USB charge ports.

The Limited and Calligraphy bring a high-resolution 10.25-inch touchscreen featuring embedded navigation with split-screen map and music, junction-view lane guidance, access to vehicle settings, and driver-assist settings. It also includes HD radio traffic-flow and incident data and an immersive 12-speaker Harman Kardon surround-sound with Clari-Fi music restoration technology. The 10.25-inch screen, however, reverts to wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The 10.25-inch system also features dynamic voice recognition that enables the driver to use common speech to adjust the climate control, seat or steering-wheel heat, open the liftgate, do a POI search for destinations, send an SMS text, check weather, sports, or stocks.

Hyundai’s digital key technology, shown here with the Sonata sedan, turns any Android smartphone — even those of family or friends — into a remote for vehicle access functions such as locking and unlocking and engine starting.

Using highly secure Near Field Communications (NFC), the system works only within a few feet of the Santa Fe. The owner can tailor which functions are available and for how long they remain active, revoking them remotely at any time. Currently, it does not work with Apple iPhones.

One of the big reasons to opt for the SEL, Limited, or Calligraphy trim is the addition of Blue Link connected services. It’s standard on those trims (but not available with the base SE) and is complimentary for the first three years of ownership. Hyundai has expanded the feature set of its telematics system for 2021 and now includes such functions as remote door locking and unlocking, remote engine starting with climate control, seat and mirror position, and seat heating/cooling preferences, stolen vehicle recovery, and a lot more.

All of this can be done remotely via the Blue Link smartphone app, the MyHyundai web portal, Amazon Alexa Blue Link skill, the Blue Link Google Assistant app, and even some Apple and Android smartwatch apps. Owners can also store personalized settings in the Blue Link cloud.

Thanks to the slightly longer and wider cabin this year, the 2021 Santa Fe’s already generous cargo space increases. There’s 36.4 cubic feet behind the raised rear seat, ample room for airport roller bags for all five passengers. Or with the 60/40 split rear seat folded nearly flat, cargo space increases to 72.1 cubic feet, roomy enough to carry a pair of mountain bikes.

Under the cargo floor is a large hidden compartment that can handle a laptop bag, purse, camera bag, or other valuables best not left in plain sight. Available on higher trims is a hands-free power liftgate. The liftgate’s operating speed is selectable, with standard six-second or express 4.5-second settings.

With the 2021 Santa Fe, Hyundai continues the push to equip its products with the latest safety and driver-assistive technology. Standard Hyundai SmartSense systems on all Santa Fes include a forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection and automatic emergency braking, a lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, a driver attention warning, adaptive cruise control with full stop and go, a rear occupant alert, and automatic high beams.

The SEL trim adds blind-spot and rear cross-traffic assist and safe-exit assistance, which monitors for traffic. The Limited and Calligraphy bring a blind-spot camera monitor and a surround-view camera (an overhead-view of the Santa Fe and its immediate surroundings that replaces the standard backup camera), ultrasonic forward and reverse parking sensors, lane-centering, and an ultrasonic rear occupant alert system that listens for pets or children left behind after the doors are locked. Also added for the Limited and Calligraphy is Remote Smart Park Assist, which helps the owner park the Santa Fe in tight spaces from outside the vehicle, using buttons on the smart key fob. The system will automatically shift into the appropriate gear, apply the throttle, steer the vehicle, and apply the brakes.

The significantly updated 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe gets a more upscale look and Hyundai’s latest infotainment and driver-assistive technology while retaining its family-friendly cabin, roomy passenger and cargo space, and practical features. Particularly alluring are the luxury-packed Limited and new Calligraphy models, both powered by a lively and powerful 277-hp 2.5-liter turbo.

Families on a budget will want to look at the Santa Fe SEL model, which comes standard with blind-spot and rear cross-traffic assist, passive keyless entry, push-button start, heated front seats, SiriusXM, HD radio, and more at a very affordable price. Hyundai’s warranty coverage is another selling point: The company’s bumper-to-bumper warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles, and the powertrain warranty is an unbeatable 10 years/100,000 miles.