2021 Hyundai Santa Fe
- Significantly updated inside and out
- All-new powertrains, including two hybrids
- Premium looks and features
- Technology powerhouse
- Pricing starts at $26,850 (plus $1,175 destination charge)
If you ever needed proof that Hyundai is a company that strives for excellence through constant refinement, look no further than the 2021 Santa Fe SUV.
The latest version of the Santa Fe was all-new just two years ago and already an excellent choice among 2-row/5-passenger midsize SUVs, witnessed by its Best Buy Award in the category last year.
Not leaving good enough alone, for 2021, Hyundai has made the SUV even better with significant revisions. The updates touch everything from what powers the Santa Fe to its design aesthetics, safety features, and technology.
In short, the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe is not just the best it’s ever been, but the best in its class.
New powertrains, including hybrid variants
Updates for the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe start with the engine (or should we say engines?), and there’s a lot of news. It starts with the new standard engine – a larger and more powerful 2.5-liter 4-cylinder that’s good for an estimated 191 horsepower.
The turbocharged engine option is also more robust – a turbo 2.5-liter that is potent with an estimated 277 ponies.
The 2021 model year also marks a major first, not just for the Santa Fe, but for Hyundai itself. The AWD Santa Fe Hybrid that is set to arrive in the first quarter of 2021 marks the first such system of its kind in a Hyundai SUV.
If that’s not enough, there’s even more coming. Set to arrive later in 2021 is a plug-in hybrid Santa Fe.
Stylish looks inside and out
On the outside, the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe is slightly larger than the outgoing model and brings even more style to an already dapper SUV. This new Santa Fe looks like it hit the gym, then aced etiquette class. Up front is a designer grille, new front and rear LED lights, and a body with elegant creases.
Step inside and the upgrades for the 2021 Santa Fe are even starker. Gone is the traditional transmission lever and center console. In its place is what looks like a command system that you might see in a space ship. The console is filled with a sea of buttons, including those to select drive, park, and reverse. It is a sophisticated setup that would look at home in a luxury SUV.
Also new are larger touchscreens – 8.0 or 10.25 inches – and available premium accoutrements such as quilted leather seats, ambient lighting, and soft-touch surfaces. The new Calligraphy Edition Santa Fe could well pass for a luxury SUV.
Tech powerhouse
The latest Santa Fe also showcases some of Hyundai’s newest technology, and it is impressive.
Its feature set includes everything from the ability to enter and start the car with a phone app or hotel-like key card to a remote parking system in which the Santa Fe can pull in and out of parking spots and garages while you stand outside the vehicle.
Also impressive is a new 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, and Harman Kardon audio system.
One option we really appreciate is Hyundai’s Blind Spot View Monitor. This innovative blind-spot monitoring system goes far beyond just flashing a light in the mirror when another vehicle is in your blind spot. Rather, when you engage your turn signal, it presents a live image to either the left or right of your vehicle directly in the digital instrument cluster. It’s like having extra sets of eyes all around you.
Backed by a terrific warranty
Finally, like all new Hyundai models, the 2021 Santa Fe has an unbeatable warranty. In addition to its basic coverage of 5 years or 60,000 miles, the powertrain is backed up by a 10-year/100,000-mile warranty.
And, to make your busy life even easier, the new 2021 Santa Fe comes with complimentary maintenance for 3 years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first.
Not many automakers would strive to so quickly improve on what is already a winning vehicle, but for Hyundai, that’s just part of the formula for its success.
Photo Tour: 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe
