Used 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid

The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid is a new and fuel-efficient variant in a range of excellent SUV/crossovers. The Santa Fe is a 5-seater that slots between the compact Tucson and midsize Palisade 3-row, size-wise. But it’s priced more like a compact, making it an intriguing cost/space proposition for potential buyers.

This year, Kelley Blue Book has named the 2021 Santa Fe as a Best Buy for its class. There’s plenty to recommend it, from its pleasant driving experience to the technology on offer, plus many standard safety features.

How safe is the Santa Fe? It’s taken top crash-test scores from both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Now, this latest hybrid model has come along, packing the good points of the combustion-only siblings, but adding greater fuel economy as well as all-wheel drive as standard.

The non-hybrid 2021 Santa Fe range is reviewed separately. Anyone looking for a plug-in hybrid version will be pleased to know that there’s one coming as a 2022 model.

When we get to drive the 2021 Santa Fe Hybrid, we’ll be filling out this section with well-judged observations.

In the meantime, we’re happy to learn that the drivetrain develops a healthy 226 horsepower, has all-wheel drive as standard, and uses a 6-speed automatic transmission instead of a continuously variable transmission (CVT). No offense to the CVT’s inventor (well, maybe a little), but a vagueness of response and tendency toward whining are not what fires up a driver’s enthusiasm.

Going with what we already know from the non-hybrid variants, seat comfort is good, the ride quality is supple, and the steering feels natural. That works for us.

For optimum fuel economy in Smart mode, the standard all-wheel-drive system sends most of the available power to the front wheels. But Sport mode can achieve a perfect 50:50 split. Normal mode is an 80:20 split front to rear.

Apart from a few model-specific gauges, the 2021 Santa Fe Hybrid follows the same interior design approach as its regular counterparts. That’s a good thing. The cabin uses classy materials set into pleasing shapes.

At the Blue level (that’s the trim’s name, as opposed to the color it comes in), there’s a 12.3-inch digital driver information display. A 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen comes in Premium trim, along with leather seating surfaces. Hyundai also offers power-folding rear seats.

Rear legroom is generous at 40.8 inches. Cargo space behind those rear seats is 36.4 cubic feet, expanding to 72.1 cubic feet when they’re folded down.

Hyundai hasn’t gone veering down some strange design path with the Santa Fe Hybrid exterior design, either. It looks virtually the same as the rest of the lineup. That said, the rest of the lineup looks especially dramatic with that huge grille and distinct front lighting.

HYBRID DRIVETRAIN
Installing a hybrid setup into a crossover is becoming more common and makes a lot of sense. It saves fuel and cuts emissions while sitting in traffic, but the electric side of the equation still contributes to overall thrust. And this one doesn’t have a CVT. It’s a win/win/win.

REMOTE SMART PARKING ASSIST
This is a standard feature in the top Limited trim. It enables drivers to step out of their Santa Fe Hybrid and let it move automatically into (and out of) a parking space by pressing a button on the key fob.

The 2021 Santa Fe Hybrid doesn’t follow the same trim level formula as the rest of the range. It comes in Blue, SEL, and Limited trim levels.

The contents of the Blue model include upholstery made from a special stain-resistant cloth, roof rails, keyless entry/start, air conditioning, heated front seats, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration, and the set of SmartSense safety features (see our Safety section for more details).

SEL trim for the 2021 Santa Fe Hybrid includes a panoramic sunroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated/ventilated front seats, leather seating surfaces, leather-wrapped steering wheel, 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen, navigation, and a 12-speaker/630-watt Harman Kardon surround-sound system.

Limited trim adds a heated steering wheel, heated rear outboard seats, 115-volt power outlet, 360-degree camera system, front/rear parking sensors, and the Remote Smart Parking Assist feature.

The gasoline/electric drivetrain of the 2021 Santa Fe Hybrid consists of a turbocharged 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine and a pair of electric motors running off a lithium-ion polymer battery pack. Total system output is 226 horsepower.

Unlike many hybrids that deploy a continuously variable transmission (CVT), the Santa Fe Hybrid has a 6-speed automatic transmission that’s much preferable. And all-wheel drive is standard.

What is the fuel economy of a 2021 Santa Fe Hybrid? According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Blue is rated at 33 mpg in the city, 30 mpg on the highway, and 32 mpg combined. As an extra-efficient Blue model, the Santa Fe Hybrid returns 36 mpg in the city, 31 mpg on the highway, and 34 mpg combined.

Maximum towing capacity (with trailer brakes) is 2,000 pounds.

1.6-liter turbocharged inline-4 + two electric motors
226 combined horsepower
N/A lb-ft combined torque
EPA fuel economy city/highway: 33 mpg/30 mpg (SEL Premium & Limited), 36 mpg/31 mpg (Blue)