We have to admit that our week with the Santa Fe was very enjoyable. This SUV is a strong contender against rivals like Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-50. However, it’s not perfect and two areas could use improvement.
Is the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe good for families?
Yes, the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe is a solid SUV for families to consider. It has many advantages to consider over the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V. For example, it’s comfortable, roomy, and has a long list of standard features.
It can be an incredibly cozy place to spend time in the front and back seats. The wide seats work ergonomically to keep you energized with comfort and support.
Plus, the rear seats are plush, with plenty of room to stretch out. The backrest sits on a relaxed incline and creates a peaceful environment where naps are possible. The Santa Fe has a smooth ride that dampens impacts quickly.
Standard acoustic laminated windows to keep noise at bay. But you can also use the silent mode to keep sound levels at bay. There is almost no wind or road noise at higher speeds and the engine is mostly quiet.
Our biggest gripe is with the optional ventilated seats. The seats are a bit noisy in use and don’t have much cooling power.
2. PROS: The Santa Fe’s interior is attractive
The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe stands out from the competition with its high-quality and attractive interior. It has an elegant design with soft and smooth coated surfaces for a sense of premium quality.
Large sections of black upholstery are broken up with eye-catching pops of silver trim and black stitching. Additionally, the interior ambient lighting has a subtle, inviting glow that is noticeable throughout the day.
The rear sun visors can reduce the brightness at the rear. But our favorite feature includes the huge panoramic sunroof. Provides an excellent view of the sky from the rear seats with sufficient tint to avoid light rays.
3. PROS: Cargo space in the 2023 Santa Fe is plentiful
Storage is one of the areas where the 2023 shines. The space in front of the center console is open, providing the perfect place to store bags. There are also storage compartments and trays that the driver and front passenger can take advantage of.
The built-in storage box above the glove box is long and wide. But the glove compartment and center console are a bit tight. The hold has huge storage bins built into the floor. The cubbies are easy to access and are divided into four different spaces.
You can access up to 36.4 cubic feet of cargo space in the rear with up to 72.1 cubes total. The seats are power foldable and are spread out to create a level cargo bed. If you need more room, the Santa Fe can tow up to 3,500 pounds.
1. CON: The Santa Fe is thirsty
Our 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe came equipped with the 2.5L turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 281hp and 311Nm of torque. That’s an excellent amount of horsepower, and the Santa Fe can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in .
The turbocharged model is expected to get an EPA-estimated 22 mpg in the city and up to 28 mpg on the highway. But during our week on back roads, inner city areas and on the highway it didn’t go well.
We got between 14 and 17 mpg and could never get as high as 18 mpg. Our model had AWD and 20-inch wheels, which might have cut its fuel economy by an mpg or two. Also, we could have used the Eco driving mode more in an effort to save fuel.
2. CONS: The Santa Fe could have more cup holders
Sensation is limited due to the lack of cup holders. The two in the center console are narrow and short. There are cup holders either side of the door, but they feel cramped with limited access.
In the back seat, passengers may have to hold their drinks! What a first world problem. You can fold down the center seat to provide two cup holders or use the ones in the doors. However, you cannot see the sides of the door at night.
Also, if you have three passengers in the back, they’ll have to fight over the two cup holders in the doors. Perhaps the Santa Fe will add more cup holders to the rear of the center console.
We are still processing and collaborating on our week with the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy trim. Stay tuned for our full review.
