Summary
The Hyundai Santa Fe is a large seven-seat SUV that sits above the Tucson and Kona in the Hyundai family. This is the fourth-generation model, which was replaced by a new iteration in 2024.
It received particular praise for its generous level of standard equipment and large boot, while it was criticised for being more expensive than expected.
A facelifted Santa Fe arrived in the UK in Spring 2021. As part of the update, the diesel engine was dropped in favour of a petrol/electric hybrid and a plug-in hybrid. Styling was updated both inside and out, while some extra tech equipment was added.
No longer on sale, the Hyundai Santa Fe has a Used Car Expert Rating of C, with a score of 62%. It gets points for low average CO2 emissions (thanks to the plug-in hybrid version) and a decent safety rating. However, running costs are fairly average and reliability has been poor.
Key specifications
Body style: Large SUV/crossover
Engines: Hybrid, plug-in hybrid
Price when new: From £41,445 on-road
Launched: Summer 2018
Last updated: Spring 2021
Replaced: Summer 2024
Image gallery
Media reviews
Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
The Car Expert
Model reviewed: 1.6-litre petrol/electric plug-in hybrid Ultimate
Score: 8 / 10
“Available with seven seats as standard, if you’re looking for a practical family car, the Hyundai Santa Fe is definitely one to consider.”
Author: Trinity Francis
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Auto Express
Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 8 / 10
“The Hyundai Santa Fe is a practical, well-built family SUV with seven seats and loads of standard equipment.”
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Auto Trader
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6.6 / 10
“The Hyundai Santa Fe gives buyers the style and the high driving position they want, along with the practicality, comfort and versatility they need. It can’t quite match the very finest seven-seat SUVs on offer, but it is a very solid all-rounder and worthy of any family’s consideration.”
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Business Car
Model reviewed: Plug-in Hybrid range
Score: 8 / 10
“While the new Tucson PHEV is targeting the bulk of middle management user choosers, the Santa Fe could be a shrewd alternative for those who are prepared to give up the cache of a premium badge for better value and versatility.”
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Car
Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 6 / 10
“It’s more practical than ever with a far smarter look, all the safety kit modern family buyers will want and doesn’t drive badly either.”
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Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7.4 / 10
“The Hyundai Santa Fe is a capable seven-seat family SUV that performs well across the board, but doesn’t excel in any specific area.”
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Carwow
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“The Hyundai Santa Fe is a large seven-seat family car that comes with a decent amount of equipment, but alternatives are more practical and have a wider range of engines.”
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Company Car Today
Model reviewed: 2.2-litre diesel Premium SE
“The Hyundai Santa Fe is a pleasant and sensible workhorse, but this top-end model is far from cheap, and the high CO2 makes running costs harder to justify.”
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Heycar
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“You could save a lot of money and buy a Skoda Kodiaq, but the Hyundai Santa Fe is a luxurious choice and comes with a lot of standard equipment. It’s comfortable and extremely practical, making it that little bit easier to justify.”
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Honest John
Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 10 / 10
“The latest Hyundai Santa Fe represents a huge amount of progress over its predecessor. No longer is it just good ‘for the money’, it’s now a top-drawer SUV in its own right, easily worthy of taking on the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace and Land Rover Discovery Sport.”
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Model reviewed: 2.2-litre diesel automatic Premium SE
“It’s impossible to persuade Audi aficionados out of their status symbols, especially when their companies are paying for their cars. But anyone else really needs to take a drive in a new Hyundai Santa Fe before they commit to another big, luxurious £40k plus SUV.”
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Parkers
Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 8.4 / 10
“Seven-seat SUV adds quality, space and kit over predecessor.”
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The Sun
“The 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe blends French sophistication with an upmarket feel.”
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The Telegraph
Model reviewed: 1.6-lite petrol/electric hybrid Ultimate
Score: 6 / 10
“Forget status symbols, the Hyundai Santa Fe makes a compelling case – although this top-spec version isn’t the best value in the range. Choose the right model, and the Santa Fe is a sound, sensible seven-seat SUV for those who seek practicality and peace of mind.”
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Model reviewed: 2.2-litre diesel automatic
Score: 6 / 10
“It is OK to drive and does the job as a seven-seat SUV, but a small boot and so-so versatility mean others do it better. Priced up against premium rivals, too, which means you’ll have to pay for the privilege – really, it’s hard to work out why you’d want to.”
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Top Gear
Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 7 / 10
“Has the makings of a great family car, if lacking a little excitement.”
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Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
Overall score: 5 stars
Date tested: December 2018
Read the full Euro NCAP review
Adult protection: 94%
Child protection: 88%
Vulnerable road users: 67%
Safety assist: 76%
Eco rating
No eco rating
As of September 2024, the Hyundai Santa Fe has not been lab tested by Green NCAP.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
Total claims: 122
Average repair cost: £695.35
Last updated: January 2024
Reliability score
All data based on MotorEasy average workshop costs for extended car warranty claims
The Hyundai Santa Fe has a poor reliability score as of January 2024, according to workshop and warranty data provided by our partner MotorEasy. This data refers to both the current model and older (pre-2018) models.
Braking issues are the most commonly reported faults, although they’re relatively affordable to repair, costing just under £300 on average. However, MotorEasy reports that gearbox faults cost about £3,000 on average. Fortunately these faults are rare. Engine faults are also reported, with an average bill of £1,300 to fix.
If you’re looking at a used Hyundai Santa Fe, make sure any extended warranty cover you purchase covers all of these potential problem areas.
Awards
Trophies, prizes and awards that the Hyundai Santa Fe has received
2019
- Parkers Awards – Best seven-seater
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the Hyundai Santa Fe, you might also be interested in these alternatives
Honda CR-V | Kia Sorento | Land Rover Discovery Sport | Mitsubishi Outlander | Nissan X-Trail | Peugeot 5008 | SEAT Tarraco | Skoda Kodiaq | SsangYong Rexton | Subaru Forester | Suzuki Across | Toyota RAV4 | Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace
More information
More news, reviews and information about the Hyundai Santa Fe at The Car Expert
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