- Eleven trim levels, four powertrains
- Hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions
- Loaded with premium features and tech
- Priced from $27,400 | Price yours
- On sale now | See listings near you
Which 5-passenger midsize SUV shines brightest for 2022? The Hyundai Santa Fe, which just snagged a KBB Best Buy Award in the 2-Row Midsize SUV category for the third year in a row.
The secret to the Santa Fe’s success? General excellence. In other words, the Santa Fe — which is larger than the Tucson but smaller than the 3-row Palisade SUV — shines in a broad variety of categories. It drives well, looks great, exudes quality, and feels more expensive than it is. What’s more, this Hyundai has a fantastic warranty, and it extends well beyond being just a single model — it’s sold in 11 trim levels and with four different powertrains, including an impressive new plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV).
Get this: When the lithium-ion battery is fully charged (which takes about 4 hours with a Level 2 charger), the new Hyundai Santa Fe PHEV can travel 30 miles on electricity alone. Just think: You might be able to complete your daily errands without burning a drop of gas.
And when the suitcase-sized battery does get exhausted, the Santa Fe PHEV drives just like a standard hybrid — one with a 13.9-kWh battery, 261 total horsepower, and an EPA range of 440 miles. Of note, the standard Santa Fe Hybrid (the one you don’t need to plug in) goes even farther (566 miles), thanks to a larger 17.7-gallon fuel tank (versus 12.4 for the PHEV).
A Lineup, Not Just a Model
While the new PHEV warrants the lion’s share of attention for 2022, other Hyundai Santa Fe models still impress. Examples:
At $27,400, the base front-wheel-drive (FWD) Santa Fe SE comes well equipped. It has a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine with 187 horsepower, an 8-speed automatic transmission, cloth seats, 18-inch alloy wheels, and an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. All-wheel drive (AWD) is a wise $1,800 option.
At $33,750, the Santa Fe Hybrid Blue is considerably quicker and more fuel-efficient than the base Santa Fe SE. Its hybrid powertrain — with a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine, a 60-horsepower electric motor, and a 1.49-kWh battery — has a combined total output of 226 horsepower, and EPA fuel economy for the model is pegged at 36 mpg city/34 mpg highway.
The top two 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe models are the $38,960 Limited and the $40,960 Calligraphy. These luxurious SUVs use a turbocharged 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine that produces a strong 281 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. That torque figure is even more than you’ll find in the Honda Passport’s 3.5-liter V6.
The Santa Fe Limited is distinguished by beautifully stitched leather upholstery and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, plus a panoramic sunroof, a 10.25-inch navigation screen, 19-inch alloy wheels, and an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The Limited also has Hyundai’s handy Blind-Spot View Monitor, which displays a video image of your rear three-quarter blind spot on the instrument panel each time you use your turn signal.
Even more opulent is the Calligraphy. Quilted Nappa leather upholstery is standard, as is ambient interior lighting, 20-inch alloy wheels, a unique grille, a synthetic suede headliner, and a full-color head-up display.
Outstanding Technology
Making the 2022 Santa Fe all the more attractive is a thorough standard safety suite that includes a collision-avoidance program (with automatic emergency braking), lane-keep assist, a blind-spot system, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control.
You also can get a Santa Fe with the Hyundai Digital Key, which lets you enter the vehicle and start it using your smartphone. Available Highway Driving Assist (HDA) blends adaptive cruise control with automatic lane-centering for reduced driving stress on long trips. And with Remote Standard Smart Parking Assist, available on the Limited and Calligraphy, you can stand outside the Santa Fe and use your Smart Key as a remote to guide the vehicle into (or out of) a tight parking spot.
Handsome Styling, Roomy Interior
Because the Santa Fe just was updated last year, it still looks fresh, with short overhangs and a wide track giving this Hyundai a planted stance. At the same time, a gently arcing character line, which extends from headlight to taillight, adds a graceful touch to the pleasant overall design.
Other aesthetic goodness is found inside the spacious Santa Fe, which features a prominent but stylish center console with numerous push-button controls, including those for the transmission.
Tall folks fit with ease in front or back, and there’s 36.4 cubic feet of cargo space. This expands to 72.1 cubic feet when the back seat is folded. When you lift the Santa Fe’s rear load floor, you’ll also find a hidden storage well divided into three handy sections.
All told, the 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe brings a generous amount of content, technology, and sophistication into the world of the mainstream 2-row midsize SUV, and at a good price. And we think the luxurious Limited and Calligraphy models are nice enough to wear Genesis badges.
Outstanding Service/Warranty
All 2022 Santa Fes come with Hyundai Complimentary Maintenance Program. All scheduled services (such as oil changes) are free for three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. Not surprisingly, the Santa Fe is a past winner of the KBB award for being the lowest 5-year cost to own vehicle among 2-row midsize SUVs.
Equally significant, the Santa Fe has an extraordinary warranty. The basic coverage lasts for five years or 60,000 miles. Powertrain protection goes even further — it’s good for 10 years or 100,000 miles. With protection like that bolstering the brand’s already solid resale values, the Hyundai Santa Fe has been named the 2-Row Midsize SUV KBB Best Buy for a second straight year.
Photo Tour: 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe
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Our 2022 Best Buy Award Winners
- 2022 Ford Expedition
- 2022 Ford F-150
- 2022 Ford Maverick
- 2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E
- 2022 Genesis GV70
- 2022 Genesis GV80
- 2022 Honda Accord
- 2022 Honda Civic
- 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe
- 2022 Kia Seltos
- 2022 Kia Telluride
- 2022 Lexus ES
- 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLA
- 2022 Toyota RAV4
- 2022 Toyota RAV4 Plug-In Hybrid
- 2022 Toyota Sienna
- 2022 Toyota Tacoma
- 2022 Best Buy Awards Home
