How Do Car Seats Fit in a 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe?
The verdict: For 2024, Hyundai redesigned its Santa Fe SUV with blocky new styling and a standard third row. The Santa Fe has seats for six with second-row captain’s chairs or seven with a second-row bench. For this Car Seat Check, we tested the top Calligraphy trim with second-row captain’s chairs and struggled with Latch access in the second row and fixed head restraints in the third row.
Does it fit three car seats? No; we tested a model with second-row captain’s chairs.
Take a look at how the Latch system and each car seat scored below in our Car Seat Check of the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe.
Related: Search Car Seat Checks
Latch: Grade B
In the second row, there are two sets of lower anchors that sit just within the seat bight, where the back and bottom cushions meet. They require a bit of digging to connect. Two top tether anchors sit halfway down the seatback; they’re clearly marked and easy to use.
Infant Seat: Grade B
We needed to use a bit of muscle to connect to the lower anchors. Once installed, the infant seat had plenty of room and did not impact our 5-foot-6-inch front passenger’s legroom.
Rear-Facing Convertible: Grade B
As with the infant seat, we struggled a little to connect to the lower anchors. The rear-facing convertible also had plenty of space and did not affect the front passenger’s legroom.
Forward-Facing Convertible: Grade B
After removing the head restraint, the forward-facing convertible fit well. While we had no trouble connecting to the top tether anchor, connecting to the lower anchor required some digging.
Booster Seat: Grade B
We again removed the head restraint to situate the booster flush against the seatback. The buckles are on short stalks that are held to the seat with an elastic strap, and they will likely be tough for kids to grasp and use independently.
Third-Row Latch: Grade A
The two-seat third row has two sets of lower anchors; they’re exposed for easy access and connection. Two top tether anchors are also clearly marked for easy access and connection.
Third-Row Entry: Grade B
The second-row captain’s chairs power out of the way for an opening to the third row, but this process takes a long time. The resulting opening is big enough for adults and kids.
Third-Row Forward-Facing Convertible: Grade B
While this seat was easy to install using Latch, the third row’s fixed head restraint pushed the convertible off of the seatback, but it should sit flush against it.
Third-Row Booster Seat: Grade C
Again, the fixed head restraint pushed the booster off of the seatback. Also, the third row’s floppy buckles could be tough for kids to grasp and use independently.
About Cars.com’s Car Seat Checks
Editors Jennifer Geiger and Jennifer Newman are certified child safety seat installation technicians.
For the Car Seat Check, we use a Chicco KeyFit 30 infant-safety seat, a Graco Contender 65 convertible seat and Graco TurboBooster seat. The front seats are adjusted for a 6-foot driver and a shorter passenger. The three child seats are installed in the second row. The booster seat sits behind the driver’s seat, and the infant and convertible seats are installed behind the front passenger seat.
We also install the forward-facing convertible in the second row’s middle seat with the booster and infant seat in the outboard seats to see if three car seats will fit; a child sitting in the booster seat must be able to reach the seat belt buckle. If there’s a third row, we install the booster seat and a forward-facing convertible. Learn more about how we conduct our Car Seat Checks.
Parents should also remember that they can use the Latch system or a seat belt to install a car seat, and that Latch anchors have a weight limit of 65 pounds, including the weight of the child and the weight of the seat itself.
Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.
