2020 Hyundai Santa Fe- Roomy, smartly designed 2-row package
- Wide array of standard safety and driver assists
- Upscale options include wireless charging, panoramic sunroof
- Pricing starts at $26,995 (including $1,095 destination charge) | Price yours
- On sale now | See Santa Fe models for sale near you
Spacious, nicely appointed and an excellent value, the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe is an easy-to-recommend SUV in the burgeoning two-row midsize SUV segment. This segment appeals to people who want more space than a compact SUV can offer, yet don’t need a third row. And, as one of KBB’s editors noted, while the Santa Fe is on the smaller side of the two-row midsize SUV spectrum, it is nicely packaged, with a high level of attention to materials and build quality. It’s this combination of value, practicality and quality that earned the Santa Fe Best Buy two-row midsize SUV honors for 2020.
Great Space, Smart Size
The attractive Santa Fe slots between the Hyundai Tucson and the Palisade. It has been adorned with LED headlights, Hyundai’s new grille, and an eye-catching profile. Those sharp looks continue inside, where you’re greeted by an upscale cabin. Hyundai designed the interior with plenty of practicality in mind, but that doesn’t detract from the quality of the materials or the overall look and feel.
The seats are comfortable, and the instruments and controls are well laid out. One of the standouts is Hyundai’s infotainment system: everything is easy to access and intuitive to use, making it easier to focus on driving, without distraction. The cabin has an intuitive center stack design our editors loved, switch gear that doesn’t feel cheap or plasticky, and generous head- and leg room in both front and rear — and the rear seats offer plenty of room to recline. The Santa Fe offers 35.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind second row, and its low load-in floor and creative underfloor storage (the spare tire is under the SUV) make the room in the cargo area highly usable space.
On the Road
The Santa Fe is powered by either a 185-horsepower, 2.4-liter inline-four or an optional turbocharged 235-horsepower 2.0-liter engine, both of which are backed by an 8-speed automatic transmission. Editors noted that the turbocharged 2.0-liter is nicely matched to the vehicle. The turbo four has good power and the Santa Fe’s smaller size makes the vehicle feel a bit nimbler and easier to maneuver whether you’re in a parking lot or out on the open road. The various drive modes work well: Sport, for example, gives the throttle a little more life and increases steering feedback. The Hyundai’s suspension tuning allows for a comfortable ride, without being wallowy.
Value All Around
All Santa Fe models get SmartSense, Hyundai’s suite of safety features, which includes blind-spot collision avoidance, forward collision assist with pedestrian protection, rear cross-traffic alert, lane keeping assist and smart cruise control with stop-and-go capability. All Santa Fes also come with a 7-inch touchscreen, as well as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity. As far as options, there’s a long and varied list, including all-wheel drive and a lot of interior bells and whistles, all of which make the Santa Fe a great value for the money. An especially appealing feature is Safe Exit Assist, a system that locks the doors to prevent people exiting the car if the system senses traffic is coming up from behind.
The Santa Fe we evaluated came very well equipped, with upscale amenities like a big panoramic sunroof, which adds to the light, airy feel to the cabin. There were also left- and right-hand camera images that appear in the instrument cluster when the turn signals are activated, and an all-around view camera that makes it easier to park the Hyundai. While the vehicle we tested cost about $40,000, similarly equipped comparable vehicles would cost thousands more. Not only does the Santa Fe offer impressive value when you sign on the dotted line, with a starting price of $26,995, but that value continues throughout the lifetime of the vehicle. Its warranty — 5 years/60,000 miles basic, and 10 years/100,000 miles of powertrain coverage — is tops, its 5-Year Cost to Own numbers are excellent, and resale value is among the best in the Santa Fe’s class.
Photo Tour: 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe
More 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe
Build and price your own 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe to see this week’s Fair Purchase Price, 5-Year Cost to Own and more, or check out the Santa Fe models for sale today at dealers near you.
More 2020 Best Buys
