Boxy is back, and Hyundai is capitalizing on this trendy design with their latest Santa Fe, a three-row, seven-seater, family-hauling SUV that has its crosshairs aimed at the Mazda CX-90, Toyota Highlander, and Honda Pilot.

Blocky and bold is the new Hyundai style and it’s no wonder they chose this route with the Land Rover Defender, Ford Bronco, and Mercedes G-Wagon revitalizing those squared retro vibes. Hyundai is heavily promoting its brand image with the letter ‘H’, cleverly incorporating it into various elements, including the headlights and taillight designs, inner seat inserts, dashboard elements, and even the key fob. 

Hyundai has taken a page out of the BMW handbook as well and inserted comically large fonts for ‘Santa Fe’ on the trunk lid – though we’re tempted to replace ‘Fe’ with ‘Claus’ just in time for Christmas. However, the ‘hybrid’ badge appears a bit off and Comic Sans-looking. It appears cheap and an afterthought, as if they just slapped it on at the last minute. It doesn’t seem to line up nicely with the margins of the trunk panel either. 

The interior is fantastic, though, a masterclass of functionality and usable space that appears to take ergonomic notes from the Land Rover Defender. With the gear shifter relocated to the steering column, the center console is entirely cleared of clutter, allowing for a cleverly positioned and elevated wireless charging pad in the center. There are ample cupholders and storage space above and below the console, and a sizable touchscreen mounted into the dash that’s high-definition and very easy to use, however, it’s positioned a bit too far from the driver, so you have to get off the seatback to reach the screen. 

There’s also a Land Rover-like storage compartment on the passenger-side dashboard, featuring an upper and lower portion, and a matted mailbox slot in the middle, perfect for storing small items and other electronic paraphernalia. The steering wheel also looks like the Defender’s but this one is shaped like a robot vacuum cleaner holding its arms out like Wall-E, sporting a cryptic four-dot logo that’s Morse code for the letter H. Clever.

Visibility is excellent and rivals that of Subaru’s, thanks to tall windows and an expansive windscreen, which lends a sense of airiness and freedom to the cabin. The Santa Fe also comes standard with three rows of seats. The second row can be rolled forward on its rails with the touch of a shoulder-mounted button, making ingress into the back incredibly easy. The door entry portal is sizable, too.

The Santa Fe is available in both hybrid and non-hybrid models. We tested the former, with its 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine mated to a 1.49 kWh lithium-ion battery and permanent magnet synchronous motor. It produces a total combined output of 231 horsepower and 271 lb-ft through a six-speed automatic transmission. 

It works much like a Toyota or Lexus Hybrid, slipping into electric-only mode when cruising under low power demands or at very low speeds of under 40 km/h, allowing you to navigate parking garages without a whirr of engine noise. That means this SUV is very fuel-efficient as well, with huge range benefits. A full tank lasted us just over 800 km, and we averaged 7.0 L/100 km with both city and highway driving. 

The powertrain delivers decent acceleration and usable power, but it’s more glacial and progressive than its V6 or non-hybrid counterparts. It doesn’t break a sweat getting up to triple-digit speeds, with seamless transitions between electric and combustion propulsion. Occupants will hardly know which is running the show unless they keep an eye on the driver’s gauges and spot the green ‘EV’ text light up.

That said, the six-speed automatic can be clunky at times when caught in the wrong gear or napping at a rolling stop sign, but it’s otherwise polished and unnoticeable. That said, the ride is flinty and busy, layered with an underlying firmness that rattles and wavers whenever it has to negotiate bumps or pockmarked roads. We wouldn’t call it comfortable next to a more composed Toyota Highlander or Honda Pilot, but its road composure is excellent and relaxed when the road is smooth.

Despite the wooden ride, the Santa Fe Hybrid ticks all the boxes of a family-oriented seven-seater. Hyundai has nailed the interior ergonomics and even added its own design easter eggs into the mix, instilling charm and character that its boxy silhouette matches up to. The hybrid powertrain and its excellent fuel economy add even more success to this otherwise well-rounded mid-size SUV.

Specifications:

Model: 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Preferred with Trend Package
Paint Type: Hampton Grey
Base Price: $40,999
Price as Tested: $47,966
Engine: 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder, 1.49 kWh lithium-ion battery, permanent magnet synchronous motor
Horsepower: 231 combined hp @ 5,600 rpm
Torque: 271 combined lb-ft @ 1,000-5,100 rpm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Engine & Drive Configuration: Front engine, AWD
Observed Fuel Consumption (L/100km): 7.0
Tires: Kumho Crugen HP71; 255/45R20