Hyundai’s boxy fifth-generation Santa Fe arrived in Australia in mid-2024, however the petrol variant we’re testing right here has solely been out there for half that point.
That’s as a result of the brand new seven-seat massive SUV was launched solely with hybrid energy, and was adopted in December final yr by a purely petrol-powered model sporting a 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine – full with a dual-clutch automated transmission in true Hyundai model.
Hyundai determined towards becoming the most recent Santa Fe with its older 3.5-litre V6, which is seen within the associated Kia Sorento and was additionally out there within the previous-generation Santa Fe till 2023.
The petrol 4 has joined the vary throughout all three Santa Fe gear grades, filling out the massive retro-styled SUV lineup alongside the much less highly effective however extra environment friendly hybrid powertrains. Petrol variants undercut their hybrid counterparts by $4000 after a current value bump for hybrid grades.
Nevertheless, the distinction was simply $2500 when the petrol engines arrived, which additionally introduced the Santa Fe’s beginning value right down to $53,000 earlier than on-road prices, with the bottom front-wheel drive petrol variant occupying the underside rung.
WATCH: Paul’s video overview of the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Elite AWD
Examined right here is the Hyundai Santa Fe 2.5T Elite AWD, the most affordable all-wheel drive model. It nonetheless comes with a complete record of ordinary gear, and punches above its weight when it comes to presentation.
The newfound breadth within the Santa Fe’s vary has helped it turn into Hyundai’s fifth-best promoting mannequin in Australia up to now in 2025, beating out the Korean model’s different massive SUV, the Palisade.
It’s even faring nicely towards its most direct rivals within the massive SUV section, with 2141 gross sales placing it behind the Sorento (3284), however making it extra in style than the Toyota Kluger (2125), and Mazda CX-80 (1488).
The Santa Fe makes a compelling case for reasonably priced but upmarket family-friendly motoring, or does it?
How a lot does the Hyundai Santa Fe value?
The two.5T Elite sits in the course of the Santa Fe vary priced at $62,500 earlier than on-roads, making it $4000 cheaper than its hybrid equal.
| Mannequin | Value earlier than on-road prices |
|---|---|
| 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe 2.5T FWD | $53,000 |
| 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe 2.5T AWD | $56,000 |
| 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid FWD | $57,000 |
| 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid AWD | $60,000 |
| 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe 2.5T Elite AWD | $62,500 |
| 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Elite AWD | $66,500 |
| 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe 2.5T Calligraphy AWD | $72,500 |
| 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Calligraphy AWD | $76,500 |
As for seven-seat massive SUV rivals, the Sorento ranges in value from $50,880 to $84,660 earlier than on-roads, the Kluger from $62,410 to $84,080 earlier than on-roads, and the CX-80 from $55,200 to $87,450 earlier than on-roads.
You may also get right into a Chery Tiggo 8 Professional Max for as little as $41,990 drive-away, or an outgoing Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace for round $45,000.
To see how the Hyundai Santa Fe stacks up towards its rivals, use our comparability software
What’s the Hyundai Santa Fe like on the within?
Palatial, but unmistakably Hyundai.
Very similar to the outside, the Santa Fe’s cabin is dominated by squares and exhausting edges. It’s a design language that lends itself to a cohesive format, which implies the whole lot feels prefer it’s in the correct place.
You received’t have hassle discovering something bodily because of this, although you continue to should deal with a number of menus by way of the automotive’s two primary screens. The primary is the infotainment show – a 12.3-inch touchscreen that includes easy graphics and a largely logical interface.
A number of app shortcuts populate its residence display screen, they usually’re simple sufficient to navigate by swiping. Wi-fi smartphone mirroring is included as normal, and you’ll map the steering wheel’s shortcut button to robotically bounce to a number of apps right here, together with car settings.
The display screen additionally curves in the direction of the driving force to make it simpler to view and attain, and it sits atop an aesthetic strip of wooden that stretches the width of the cabin. This trim adjustments color and texture primarily based on the inside color chosen; Supersonic Gray within the case of our tester.
Built-in into the identical display screen unit is the Santa Fe’s 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. Its two digital dials are practically similar to each different trendy Hyundai product, which implies it’s good to take a look at.
Within the center are a number of menus that may be scrolled by way of utilizing a button on the left of the steering wheel, whereas there’s a small quantity of visible customisation out there right here too. Normal info and journey computer systems are situated within the central portion.
The steering wheel itself is massive and wrapped in easy leather-based, making it good and cozy within the fingers. A draw back of the lighter-coloured leather-based is that it’ll rapidly present grime, and our tester’s wheel was already considerably discoloured.
Nonetheless, you get bodily buttons and scroll wheels on both aspect, that are all sturdy and satisfying to make use of. They’re both completed in what seems like actual steel or uninteresting gray plastic, so we count on they’ll keep trying recent in the long term.
Beneath the screens are the air vents, the steel accents of which neatly echo the Santa Fe’s headlight signature. Beneath that’s the local weather management system, which is nothing new in case you’re aware of different Hyundai SUVs.
That’s not a foul factor both, as a result of Hyundai’s strategy to local weather interfaces is healthier than what you get in a whole lot of screen-heavy trendy interiors. It’s nonetheless operated by way of a display screen, but it surely’s not shared with the rest, it’s clearly labelled, and it’s by no means too far out of attain.
The sq. design works nicely right here too, because it all suits collectively like constructing blocks. It flows onto the big centre console, which gives two USB-C ports and two wi-fi charging pads inside a deep tray to maintain issues from sliding round.
There are two cupholders behind the console and there’s an excellent bigger tray for small baggage beneath, full with a 12V outlet. Rounding this space off is a gentle central armrest, which might open both in the direction of the entrance or the again to disclose a properly sized storage field.
The Santa Fe’s seating place is nice, and the powered driver’s seat adjustment carried over from the bottom mannequin lets you get comfy. Powered adjustment for the entrance passenger seat is fitted from this Elite spec.
Each entrance seats provide sturdy bolstering and high-quality leather-based upholstery, the embossing on which is one other nod to the Santa Fe’s exterior design. As with the steering wheel, we will see the upholstery in our tester getting soiled over time, although we respect that you just get heating for each.
As for different storage choices within the entrance of the cabin, there’s a standard-size glovebox and bottle holders within the doorways, in addition to a cubby built-in into the dashboard in entrance of the passenger – very like what you’d discover in a ute.
Transferring to the second row reveals a great deal of area, created by the Santa Fe’s lengthy physique and excessive roofline. The metal-and-wood trim continues right here, together with the off-white upholstery that will likely be a goal for grubby children.
A key omission again here’s a devoted local weather interface, however there are two air vents fitted neatly into the B-pillars and a plethora of storage options like twin hooks on every entrance seatback, map pockets, bottle holders, cupholders, and a pouch on the centre console.
There are extra components paying homage to the Santa Fe’s design right here too, in these air vents and on the backs of the entrance seats. A USB-C port can also be fitted to every of the entrance seats for second-row occupants.
The mechanism that strikes the seats to permit third-row entry additionally doubles for second-row seat adjustment, which implies passengers right here can get comfy. This helps make up for the comparatively flat bench seat.
Hyundai does provide the choice of two particular person captain’s chairs within the second row, however just for the top-spec Calligraphy. Nonetheless, there’s not lots for passengers to dislike again right here.
The identical might be stated for the third row, which is understandably fitted with unforgiving foldable seats. There’s a stunning quantity of legroom although, and even headroom isn’t that badly compromised as compared with the row forward.
Passengers again right here even get management of their very own air-conditioning fan velocity, devoted vents and USB-C ports on both aspect, plus twin cupholders as well. It is probably not as plush, however a pair of average-height adults might comfortably handle longer drives again right here.
Cargo area is severely compromised with all three rows in use, although Hyundai doesn’t quote a capability determine on this configuration. A neat mechanism permits the third row to fold fully flat, which gives a sizeable boot that might be fully sq. with out the wheel-arches.
The second row received’t do the identical, however the bench can slide ahead to eke out some extra room. In any other case, there’s a big privateness cowl, a 12V outlet, an additional storage cubby beneath the ground, and a full-size alloy spare in all grades.
| Dimensions | Hyundai Santa Fe 2.5T |
|---|---|
| Size | 4830mm |
| Width | 1900mm |
| Top | 1720mm |
| Wheelbase | 2815mm |
| Cargo capability (VDA) | 642L – 1963L |
To see how the Hyundai Santa Fe stacks up towards its rivals, use our comparability software
What’s beneath the bonnet?
There’s no hybrid system right here; as an alternative you get a 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine producing 206kW of energy and 422Nm of torque. It’s practically similar to what’s fitted to the Hyundai Sonata, together with abroad variations of the Sorento and second-generation Palisade.
| Specs | Hyundai Santa Fe 2.5T AWD |
|---|---|
| Engine | 2.5L 4cyl turbo-petrol |
| Energy | 206kW @ 5800rpm |
| Torque | 422Nm @ 1700 – 4000rpm |
| Transmission | 8-speed dual-clutch auto |
| Drive kind | All-wheel drive |
| Kerb weight | 2020kg |
| Gasoline economic system (claimed) | 9.3L/100km |
| Gasoline economic system (as examined) | 9.7L/100km |
| Gasoline tank capability | 67L |
| Gasoline requirement | 91-octane unleaded |
| CO2 emissions | 212g/km |
| Emissions normal | Euro 5 |
| Braked tow capability | 2000kg |
A non-electrified four-cylinder petrol engine tasked with hauling a automotive as massive because the Santa Fe isn’t going to report class-leading economic system figures, however we had been nonetheless capable of get shut sufficient to Hyundai’s declare after per week of largely freeway driving – albeit with a couple of inner-town and stop-start visitors runs thrown in for good measure.
The two.5T’s gasoline consumption is unsurprisingly worse than the equal Hybrid, which is claimed to be able to 5.6L/100km. Pure freeway driving within the 2.5T will possible return sub-9.0L/100km figures.
For additional context, the identical engine can supposedly common 8.1L/100km within the Sonata sedan with a barely greater energy determine.
To see how the Hyundai Santa Fe stacks up towards its rivals, use our comparability software
How does the Hyundai Santa Fe drive?
Quietly and confidently, whereas feeling extra alive than the Santa Fe Hybrid.
That’s nearly totally because of the bigger turbo-petrol engine, which fires up quietly upon urgent the beginning/cease button. You then interact Drive utilizing the column-mounted gear shifter, at which level you’re able to go.
The two.5-litre engine beneath the bonnet isn’t afraid to rev when commanded. Whereas that’ll tank gasoline economic system, it provides the two.5T a spring to its step that makes it a bit extra partaking to drive.
It’s quicker than a Hybrid and avoids any points in getting the ability to the bottom due to its all-wheel drive setup, but it surely’s not excellent. One of many first issues we seen after hitting the street was the dual-clutch automated transmission.
Positives embrace the impressively easy shifts in regular driving, which makes the petrol Santa Fe a pleasure to drive on roads with lighter visitors and fewer stops. It additionally reacts nicely to sudden throttle inputs, and it’ll reply to guide shifts with the steering wheel paddles with cheap haste.
Nevertheless it begins to wrestle when you hit crawling visitors. As is typical with dual-clutch transmissions, it has hassle creeping at low velocity because it grapples with always partaking and disengaging ahead drive.
It’ll generally shift up when issues begin to transfer quicker, which might be harsh in case you’re not on energy. It’s an unlucky quirk of those transmissions, which isn’t helped by the scale of the automotive it has to maneuver – even when the Santa Fe isn’t earth-shatteringly heavy.
In a smaller Hyundai, like an i30 or perhaps a Sonata, the mass of the automotive doesn’t have as massive an affect on the best way the gearbox will get energy from the engine to the wheels. That doesn’t imply it’s simpler to drive in low-speed visitors, however somewhat that it doesn’t should work as exhausting to get issues transferring.
There’s nothing incorrect with the dual-clutch auto within the Santa Fe, however this automotive could have been higher served by a extra conventional torque converter auto.
A bit extra heft does have its benefits although. For one, the Santa Fe boasts a easy and compliant trip, exhibiting Hyundai’s engineers have achieved nicely to match its suspension with the mass of its massive physique.
There’s no bobbling or undue bouncing over gentler bumps, whereas it soaks up harsher imperfections with relative confidence. Potholes and the like nonetheless have an effect, however you’re unlikely to buckle a wheel round city because the tyres are moderately chunky.
The Santa Fe’s trip consolation is a key drawcard. It doesn’t maintain up fairly as nicely round bends, however you may nonetheless sort out corners at velocity with confidence due to strong street holding regardless of a little bit of physique roll.
You additionally get satisfying steering really feel, which is properly weighted however gentle sufficient to throw round on the town. This turns into heavier in Sports activities mode, which additionally holds gears for longer to offer quicker acceleration.
Highway and wind noise ranges are acceptable, and also you received’t discover an excessive amount of noise from the engine both. It’s hardly sonorous when it does rev out, but it surely doesn’t sound too strained both – the Palisade’s diesel could be an fascinating addition on this regard.
Because it’s a Hyundai, you do should cope with mildly annoying security gear. Our primary criticism – as ever – is with the automotive’s velocity restrict recognition system, which is as beepy because it all the time has been.
It’ll pontificate nearly relentlessly if the automotive thinks you’re over the velocity restrict by even a bit bit, which is commonly inaccurate. Happily, the Santa Fe is fitted with Hyundai’s non permanent workaround, which entails urgent and holding the amount scroller till a message pops up on the sprint.
This may flip off audible warnings, although the velocity restrict will nonetheless flash on the instrument show. We’d be completely satisfied to reside with this, even when you need to flip it off each time you get in.
The Santa Fe Elite additionally advantages from Hyundai’s Freeway Driving Help, which includes adapative cruise management, lane centring, and lane change help. This technique is well-calibrated, and we discovered it simple to belief on light, high-speed roads.
It’s hesitant to use vital steering lock round tighter bends, specifically freeway interchanges and on-ramps. That is superb, as a result of ideally you’d be being attentive to decelerate and merge in these conditions.
The automotive’s driver consideration monitor will pipe up on occasion, however provided that it thinks you’ve been trying away from the street for extended intervals. It’s extra delicate than a Toyota’s system, for instance, however nowhere close to as hyperactive as many different new automobiles.
Visibility out of the cabin is robust, however you continue to get a complete array of sensors and a surround-view digital camera as normal. That is particularly helpful in tight carparks, and also you even get high-definition video together with a digital 3D mannequin of the automotive.
As a result of the Elite comes with all-wheel drive as normal, you’re capable of make use of the Santa Fe’s three off-road drive modes. These are tailor-made in the direction of snow, mud and sand, as designated by their names.
They work by adjusting how energy is delivered to every wheel, serving to to maximise traction in every situation. We didn’t get the prospect to do that throughout our week with the automotive, however we don’t count on many house owners will go off-roading of their normal Santa Fe.
When fitted with the XRT Journey possibility pack, we’d count on the Santa Fe to be cheap succesful away from the bitumen. That is no ladder-frame Toyota Prado or Ford Everest, however the availability of all-terrain tyres and elevated floor clearance, mixed with sufficient torque, traction and smarts as normal, ought to let you head a good distance away from the crushed monitor.
All up, the two.5T engine serves the Santa Fe nicely, with long-distance touring a specific power because it minimises the low-speed hiccups of its dual-clutch transmission.
To see how the Hyundai Santa Fe stacks up towards its rivals, use our comparability software
What do you get?
There are three gear ranges for the Santa Fe in Australia, and the Elite sits within the center.
2025 Hyundai Santa Fe gear highlights:
- 20-inch alloy wheels
- Full-size alloy spare
- Silver entrance skid plate
- Digital parking brake with auto maintain
- Eco, Regular, Sport and My Drive modes
- Snow, Mud and Sand terrain modes (AWD solely)
- Paddle shifters
- Computerized high-beam
- Computerized LED headlights
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Distant begin
- Proximity entry with push-button begin
- Heated, power-folding exterior mirrors
- Fingers-free energy tailgate
- 6.6-inch local weather management touchscreen
- 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
- 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- 6-speaker sound system
- Leather-based-wrapped steering wheel
- Tilt and telescopic steering column adjustment
- Fabric upholstery
- Heated entrance seats
- 10-way energy driver’s seat with 2-way energy lumbar
- ISOFIX child-seat anchor factors for second- and third-row outboard seats
- High-tether anchor factors for all second- and third-row seats
- One-touch flat-folding second-row seats
- Sliding and reclining second-row seats
- Stroll-in change for third row
- 2 x entrance USB-C retailers
- 2 x second-row USB-C retailers
- Wi-fi telephone charger
Santa Fe Elite provides:
- Distant Sensible Parking Help
- Twin projector beam LED headlights
- Hyper Silver entrance skid plate, aspect and decrease bumper garnishes
- Satellite tv for pc navigation with reside visitors updates
- Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
- Ambient lighting
- 12-speaker Bose sound system
- Passenger Speak (driver’s voice despatched by way of rear audio system)
- Leather-based upholstery
- 8-way energy passenger seat
- Twin wi-fi telephone chargers (entrance)
- Heated steering wheel
- Suede headliner, pillar trim
- Leatherette door armrests
- Chrome steel sill plates
Our tester’s inside was completed in Hyundai’s Supersonic Gray, a $295 possibility.
Santa Fe Calligraphy provides:
- Satin Black entrance skid plate, roof rails and aspect and decrease bumper garnishes
- Head-up show
- Digital rear-view mirror
- Single-pane entrance sunroof with guide sunshade
- Mounted rear glass roof with energy sunshade
- Ventilated entrance seats
- Heated outboard rear seats
- Nappa leather-based upholstery
- 14-way energy driver’s seat with 4-way energy lumbar
- ‘Rest’ perform for entrance seats
- 10-way energy passenger seat
- Reminiscence for mirrors, driver’s seat
- UV-C sanitisation tray (entrance)
All Santa Fe fashions have the Bluelink suite of related companies – these embrace:
- Computerized collision notification
- Emergency name (SOS) perform
- Linked Routing (Elite, Calligraphy)
- Valet Mode
- Voice assistant for car controls (Elite, Calligraphy solely)
- Distant alert companies
- Distant management of locks, home windows, hazard lights, horn and local weather management
- Distant view of car standing
- Over-the-air software program updates
To see how the Hyundai Santa Fe stacks up towards its rivals, use our comparability software
Choices
A number of equipment can be found for the Santa Fe, most of them as a part of possibility packs.
A six-seat configuration with power-adjustable second-row captain’s chairs is a $500 possibility on the Calligraphy solely.
There are additionally a pair of dealer-installed possibility packages aimed toward bettering the Santa Fe’s off-road skill.
The XRT Journey Possibility Pack ($6900) options:
- 17-inch off-road wheel and tyre bundle
- Pirelli Scorpion A/T Plus tyres
- Satin black alloy wheels
- Mudflaps
- Underbody skid plate
- Off-road suspension package
- New entrance struts, springs and hubs
- New rear dampers, springs and hubs
- 30mm improve in trip peak
The XRT Peak Possibility Pack ($9900) provides:
- Built-in black aspect steps with 200kg most loading capability
- Hyundai real roof racks (80kg load capability evenly distributed throughout two bars)
- Roof platform with twin channels on every plank, periphery channels
- Darkish-tinted ‘stylevisors’
To see how the Hyundai Santa Fe stacks up towards its rivals, use our comparability software
Is the Hyundai Santa Fe protected?
The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe was awarded a five-star ANCAP security score primarily based on testing carried out by sister organisation Euro NCAP in 2024. This is applicable to each petrol and hybrid variants.
| Class | Hyundai Santa Fe |
|---|---|
| Grownup occupant safety | 84 per cent |
| Youngster occupant safety | 86 per cent |
| Weak street consumer safety | 77 per cent |
| Security help | 80 per cent |
Normal security gear contains:
- 10 airbags
- Twin entrance airbags plus driver’s knee airbag, entrance centre airbag
- Facet airbags for first two rows
- Facet curtain airbags
- Adaptive cruise management with cease/go
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Car, pedestrian and bicycle owner detection
- Junction turning and crossing help
- Direct oncoming and lane change oncoming and aspect features
- Evasive Steering Help
- Blind-spot help
- Blind-Spot View Monitor
- Clever velocity restrict help
- Lane Following Help (lane centring)
- Lane-keep help
- Main car departure alert
- Parking Collision-Avoidance Help – Reverse
- Rear cross-traffic help
- Rear occupant alert
- Secure Exit Help
- Encompass-view digital camera with 3D view
- Entrance, aspect and rear parking sensors
- Tyre strain monitoring
Elite and Calligraphy add:
- Navigation-based adaptive cruise management
- Freeway Driving Help
- Distance management, Lane Following Management and Lane Change Help Management
- Rear occupant alert (sensor-type)
To see how the Hyundai Santa Fe stacks up towards its rivals, use our comparability software
How a lot does the Hyundai Santa Fe value to run?
Hyundai Australia backs its automobiles with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee. The Santa Fe requires servicing each 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first.
| Servicing and Guarantee | Hyundai Santa Fe |
|---|---|
| Guarantee | 5 years, limitless kilometres |
| Roadside help | 12 months, then service-activated |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 10,000km |
| Capped-price servicing | Lifetime |
| Common annual servicing value (5 years) | $481 |
| Whole capped-price service value (5 years) | $2405 |
For context, the Santa Fe Hybrid AWD prices simply $10 extra to service over 5 years, averaging $483 yearly.
Hyundai additionally gives three pre-paid servicing packs, as detailed beneath:
| Service pack | Value |
|---|---|
| 3 years, as much as 30,000km | $1487 |
| 4 years, as much as 40,000km | $1946 |
| 5 years, as much as 50,000km | $2405 |
To see how the Hyundai Santa Fe stacks up towards its rivals, use our comparability software
CarExpert’s Tackle the Hyundai Santa Fe
Now that Hyundai has fleshed out its Santa Fe vary, it’s troublesome to argue there isn’t one thing for everybody.
The hybrid powertrain this massive, daring SUV was launched with remains to be fairly strong, providing good gasoline economic system and quiet and efficient motoring. The petrol-only 2.5T doesn’t essentially undermine that, however gives a distinct expertise for a distinct type of purchaser.
We count on it’d attraction to somebody who wants a big SUV however nonetheless needs cheap efficiency with out breaking the financial institution. The truth that the addition of a petroleum engine introduced the Santa Fe’s beginning value right down to the low $50,000s caters to this purchaser, and has now enabled Hyundai to cost the next premium for the hybrids.
Even so, you get a mountain of kit and tech as normal throughout the vary, which implies you solely miss out on the nicest of things by going for the cheaper grades.
That stated, the Elite is arguably nonetheless the choose of the bunch.
It builds on the options record of the bottom Santa Fe by including many helpful gadgets together with a greater sound system, leather-based upholstery and Freeway Driving Help, which may very well be a must have for folks travelling lengthy freeway distances.
The petrol engine as additionally examined right here gives impressively easy energy supply, and extra refinement typically in comparison with the diesel that powers another Hyundais.
Naturally, the draw back is greater gasoline consumption, and on this case these small quirks which can be widespread to most dual-clutch transmissions. Hyundai’s security help gremlins are nonetheless current too, however the workaround is intuitive and straightforward sufficient to cement into behavior.
Hyundai’s Santa Fe Hybrid does lots proper, and a few issues higher than the two.5T, however this automotive is healthier worth within the context of each its stablemates and rivals.
Fascinated about shopping for a Hyundai Santa Fe? Get in contact with one in every of CarExpert’s trusted sellers right here
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