The Hyundai Santa Fe was completely new for the 2019 model year, but just two years later, Hyundai has already given its popular SUV a facelift. The big news is that the facelift is more than just superficial as the 2022 Santa Fe is also getting new powertrains and a more luxurious trim level called the Calligraphy.
Outwardly, you’ll notice the biggest change in the front, where the 2022 Santa Fe gets a completely different bezel. These include a new wider grille, updated headlights and new T-shaped LED daytime running lights. There are also new wheel designs and new taillights.
Under the skin, the Santa Fe 2021 moves to a new platform shared with the new Kia Sorento. The engines have also been updated as the old 2.4-liter four-cylinder was replaced with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that developed 191 horsepower and 182 pound-feet of torque. If you want more power, the old 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder has been replaced with a new, 2.5-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder that develops 277 hp and 311 lb-ft. of the torque.
For green car buyers, the 2021 Santa Fe Hybrid has been added, powered by a 1.6-liter hybrid powertrain with a combined 225 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque. The Santa Fe Hybrid gets up to 36 mpg city, 31 mpg highway, and 34 mpg combined. That’s a big improvement over the base 2.5-liter front-wheel drive, which is rated at 25/28/26 mpg.
The new 2.5 liter engine is a welcome addition to the Santa Fe as it is super refined and has a nice punch. The engine revs up quickly so you can move around the road. The good news is that the more powerful engine, with its 22/28/25 mpg rating, is pretty efficient with front-wheel drive too. We can attribute these specifications to the eight-speed dual clutch transmission, which shifts quickly. The 2.5-liter naturally aspirated engine gets a regular eight-speed automatic.
On the road, we wouldn’t call the Santa Fe sporty, but it’s comfortable and easy to drive. The steering could be improved a bit, but most drivers won’t even notice.
The 2021 Santa Fe has now achieved almost luxurious status with the new Calligraphy trim level. it adds luxurious nappa leather, a suede-like material for the headliner and roof pillars, a head-up display, ambient lighting and 20-inch wheels. There are still some tough plastic materials out there, but the Calligraphy trim level makes the Santa Fe look a lot more luxurious than its rivals.
Our Santa Fe Calligraphy Tester drives and feels like a luxury vehicle. Inside, the beautiful nappa leather seats are extremely comfortable and there is plenty of space for five people to stretch out. There’s also 36.4 cubic feet of cargo space that expands to 72.1 cubic feet when you fold down the rear seats.
Technically, the Santa Fe is now equipped with an 8-inch infotainment screen as standard, which is 1 inch larger than before. The upper trim levels get a 10.3-inch screen with navigation, the Limited and Calligraphy trim levels get a digital 12.3-inch instrument cluster. The digital instrument cluster is optional in the Midline SEL equipment variant. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, but the strange thing is that only the lower trim levels get wireless connectivity.
The Santa Fe comes with a long list of advanced driver aids, but we wish more of them were standard. The basic SE receives automatic emergency braking and a lane departure warning system. If you opt for the SEL equipment, you will receive blind spot monitoring and a rear cross traffic alarm. The Limited and Calligraphy equipment variants are equipped with lane centering, adaptive cruise control and remote parking assist.
The Santa Fe 2021 starts at $ 28,185 including destination, while the top of the line calligraphy starts at just over $ 43,000.
With its updated front apron, more powerful engines and new calligraphy trim, the Hyundai Santa Fe 2021 is a great mid-range SUV.
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