Is the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe a Good SUV? 6 Pros and 4 Cons

Buyers demand a lot from mid-size SUVs, especially the families on a budget that are driving a big chunk of sales. A roomy, comfortable cabin and plenty of room for gear are a must, but buyers also insist on lots of technology, safety and convenience features along with enjoyable driving dynamics and, above all, value. Few in the category deliver the goods on as many fronts as the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe.

Related: 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Review: Could This Be the Perfect Family Crossover?

With a clean, modern look inside and out, the Santa Fe makes a good first impression, which is neither so bland as to be uninteresting nor too quirky to lose mainstream appeal. While perhaps not the sportiest to drive or the most luxurious choice in the category, the Santa Fe simply does enough things well to make it an exceptionally well-rounded choice with few faults.

That’s the conclusion reached by Cars.com Detroit Bureau Chief Aaron Bragman after spending a week with a new Santa Fe in the top Calligraphy trim even if he did find a few nits to pick. Tap the link above to read his complete review; for a quicker rundown, read on for six things we like about the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe and four things we don’t.

Things We Like

1. Let’s Get Physical

In an age of expanding touchscreens and fewer knobs and buttons, the Santa Fe thankfully still includes plenty of physical controls. The requisite 10.25-inch touchscreen is there, and it’s a good one that’s bright and vivid and has logical menus. But there are also plenty of redundant buttons and switches that are large, clearly marked and easy to use without having to take your eyes off the road.

2. A Cabin That’s a Cut Above

The Santa Fe’s seats offer loads of hip, shoulder and legroom and are exceptionally comfortable in both the front and rear. There’s also plenty of headroom even with the available panoramic moonroof. What really sets the Santa Fe apart, however, is the quality of its interior materials and finish, with lots of soft-touch surfaces, close panel fits and stylish designs.

3. Terrific Tech

The 10.25-inch touchscreen is not just big and vivid, but it’s also easy to navigate and loaded with features and customization options that make it simple to access the information you want. Much the same can be said of the digital instrument cluster, which offers four different themes to present information the way you choose.

4. Pleasing Powertrain

The Calligraphy trim is powered by a potent 281-horsepower, 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with a smooth-shifting eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Acceleration is quick, with plenty in reserve for highway passing and merging, even with a full load of occupants and gear.

5. Capable Cruiser

The Santa Fe delivers an almost ideal balance of responsive handling and ride comfort, with reasonable steering feel combined with a smooth, absorbent ride. While not the most sporty choice in the category, the SUV’s body motions are nicely controlled, and the cabin remains quiet at all speeds as little road or wind noise makes its way inside.

6. Solid Value

The base Santa Fe SE trim starts at just over $30,000 including destination, which is entirely reasonable for the category. Even our top-trim Calligraphy test vehicle rang in at a total of $45,255. While not inexpensive, that makes a loaded Santa Fe less than the average new vehicle price in the U.S.

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Things We Don’t Like

1. Awkward Shifter

As much as we like controls that use knobs and buttons, we’re not so crazy about push-button shifters. A conventional shift lever is more intuitive to use without having to look. At least the Santa Fe’s shift buttons aren’t angled away from the driver the way they are in Hyundai’s Tucson SUV, making them easier to use.

2. Somber Surroundings

In an age of upbeat and stylish interior designs that often include contrasting accent colors, the Santa Fe’s monochromatic design is somber by comparison. More like a celebration of gray, the SUV’s interior palette is clearly going for a more conservative, upscale look than what’s found in some competitors, but it comes off borderline boring.

3. No Wireless Connectivity

The one big omission with Hyundai’s 10.25-inch multimedia system is that it still lacks wireless Apple CarPlay connectivity and requires the use of a cable for this popular function. Making this even more of a head scratcher is that wireless connectivity is available with the smaller screen system that comes in lower trim levels.

4. Lackluster Fuel Economy

There’s a price to be paid for the turbocharged engine’s lively acceleration, one that will make itself known every time you stop to fill up: The EPA rates the engine at a not-terribly-impressive 21/28/24 mpg city/highway/combined, but we didn’t even see that in a week of not-particularly-aggressive driving. Our Santa Fe returned just 18 mpg combined overall.

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