- Great styling
- Two engine choices
- A spacious 5-seater
- Great safety suite
- 10-year powertrain warranty
- Pricing starts at $26,125 (plus $1,120 destination) | Price yours
As we reported in our Expert Review on the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe, this is a crossover SUV that really has come into its own. What was once a second-string player has matured into a full-time starter that doesn’t need to make excuses. This midsize 2-row sport-ute is comfortable, efficient, roomy and well equipped. It has the superb build quality we’ve now come to expect from the giant South Korean automaker. And, as always, it’s backed by an outstanding 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. Front-wheel-drive (FWD) and all-wheel-drive models (AWD) are available.
Choice of engines
Buyers have a choice of engines: a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder with 185 horsepower or a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder with 235 horsepower. The 2.4 is a fine powerplant that gets the job done in smooth fashion. It returns up to 29 mpg on the highway, but it can feel a bit strained in the mountains when all five seats are occupied. On the other hand, the turbo 2.0, which can get up to 27 mpg on the highway, produces significantly better torque, making it a much better choice if you plan to use your Santa Fe as a family hauler.
And in that role, the Santa Fe shines. This Hyundai feels much roomier than most 2-row midsize SUVs, and the switches and controls work with well-oiled precision. The large screen capping the center stack is easy to use, and the power liftgate can be opened with the swipe of your foot below the bumper. Interesting details: you can program the hatch to open in 4.5 seconds or 6.0 seconds, and the spacious cargo area has a false load floor that allows secure out-of-sight storage.
Best Buy Winner
That’s right, Kelley Blue Book named the Santa Fe the Two-Row Midsize SUV Best Buy for 2020. Some praise from our write-up: “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, switchgear that doesn’t feel cheap or plasticky, and generous head- and legroom in both front and rear — and the rear seats offer plenty of room to recline.”
Great standard safety suite
Hyundai’s SmartSense safety suite also does its part to make the Santa Fe one of Kelley Blue Book’s 12 Best Family Cars. This standard suite includes forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, a blind-spot monitor, adaptive cruise control (with Stop & Go), and lane-keep assist.
Its Safe Exit Assist system warns if you exit the Santa Fe when a vehicle is approaching from behind. Rear occupant alert honks the horn and flashes the lights if a child or pet was left in the back seat. Systems such as these reflect the great effort that Hyundai has put into making the Santa Fe such an excellent family vehicle.
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 see Hyundai Santa Fe models for sale near you.
