Hyundai vehicles offer outstanding value thanks to their accessible pricing, standard feature lists, and industry-leading warranty. Factor in top-notch product quality, reasonable insurance rates, and low maintenance costs, and it's no wonder Hyundai (and its siblings Kia and Genesis) continues to climb the sales charts. The Santa Fe is yet another example of this value bonanza.
The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe pricing starts at $30,085 (including the $1,335 destination charge) for the base SE trim level with FWD. It comes with LED headlights, 18-inch alloy wheels, cloth seats, split/reclining second-row seats, an 8-inch touchscreen display audio, Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a multitude of standard ADAS.
The better-equipped SEL starts at $33,785 and comes with heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, a 10.25-inch touchscreen navigation system, wireless device charging, a proximity key, and push-button start.
The rugged XRT has a dark-finish grille, dark silver front and rear fascias, black roof side and cross rails, unique side moldings and steps, dark alloy wheels, and H-Tex seating surfaces, among other details. Its MSRP is $35,585.
The Limited, priced at $41,935, ups the luxury factor with LED taillights, 19-inch alloy wheels, leather seats, 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, heated steering wheel, Harman Kardon premium audio, cooled front seats, heated rear seats, panoramic sunroof, and even more ADAS.
Starting at $43,935, the top-spec Calligraphy adds a premium-finish grille, 20-inch alloy wheels, ambient lighting, quilted premium Nappa leather seats, a head-up display, premium side sill plates, hands-free smart liftgate with auto open, and more.
While all the trim options are good, our choice would be the Limited. For a little over $40K, you get the turbocharged engine with its superior performance, larger wheels, leather seats with additional cooling and heating, better audio, and more technology features. That said, we expect the volume-seller to by the SEL, as it offers tremendous value.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the non-turbo 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe FWD returns combined city/highway fuel economy of 26 mpg, while the AWD version gets slightly less at 24 mpg combined. Opting for the turbo engine brings a small mileage penalty; the turbo FWD delivers 25 mpg combined, while the AWD version gets 24 mpg combined. During our week of testing in the Calligraphy AWD, we averaged 22.9 mpg in mixed driving—about one mpg below the EPA's estimate. With a fuel tank capacity of 17.7 gallons, our maximum travel range would be approximately 400 miles.
Like all other Hyundai models, the 2023 Santa Fe has an outstanding warranty. Bumper-to-bumper coverage is good for five years or 60,000 miles. You also get a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty and three years (or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first) of complimentary maintenance (regular oil changes and tire rotations). Additionally, new Santa Fe buyers get five years (unlimited miles) of roadside assistance and three years of Bluelink connected services.