2021 Hyundai Santa Fe review
Hyundai Santa Fe highlights
Customer rating
Pros
- Impressive acceleration from the available turbo engine
- Luxuriously appointed higher trims
- Spacious cabin and a smooth ride
Cons
- Overly soft suspension tuning
- The touchscreen can be slow to respond
- Base engine power delivery is unrefined
Mileage (EPA estimate)
21 city, 25 highway, 24 combined
Pricing for current inventory
(no current inventory)
A stylish yet practical crossover SUV.
The Hyundai Santa Fe is a five-passenger midsize SUV that offers a great mix of comfort and convenience to suit your needs. Freshly redesigned for 2021, the well-equipped Santa Fe boasts a wide variety of standard and available features. If you're looking for an impressive crossover SUV, the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe is a great choice. While we currently do not have many 2021 Hyundai Santa Fes on our lots, we look forward to selling more in the future. If you love the 2021 model, you should also consider prior model years of the Santa Fe with similar features.
All Hyundai Santa Fe years
What is new for the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe?
- The Santa Fe is available in a new trim called the Calligraphy.
- Santa Fe trims have been upgraded with Remote Start, Tow Hitch, and Harman Kardon Sound as standard equipment this year.
- 20 Inch Plus Wheels features are now available as options on select trims.
2021 Hyundai Santa Fe trims
SE:
- 191-hp, 181-lb-ft of torque 2.5L
- Cloth Seats
- Rear View Camera
- Lane Departure Warning
- Power Mirrors
- Side Airbags
- Automated Cruise Control
- Blind Spot Monitor
- Overhead Airbags
- View our Hyundai Santa Fe SE inventory
SEL:
- Includes all features available on the SE
- Power Seats
- Front Seat Heaters
- Satellite Radio Ready
- View our Hyundai Santa Fe SEL inventory
Limited:
- Includes all features available on the SEL
- 277-hp, 311-lb-ft of torque 2.5L
- Sunroofs
- Rear Sunshade
- Panoramic Sunroof
- Memory Seats
- Rear Seat Heaters
- Leather Seats
- A/C Seats
- Heated Steering Wheel
- View our Hyundai Santa Fe Limited inventory
Calligraphy:
- Includes all features available on the Limited
- Head Up Display
- Remote Start
- Navigation System
- Harman Kardon Sound
- View our Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy inventory
Hyundai Santa Fe photos
5 reasons to buy the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe
1. Tons of tech features
To say that the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe is a tech showcase is an understatement. You'll get a standard eight-inch touchscreen (or an available 10.3-inch touchscreen) as part of the infotainment system, along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability. This means easy access to your favorite music and navigation apps. Add in a host of available driver-assistance features and you'll find that the Santa Fe is an impressive, tech-packed SUV.
2. Upscale trims
Even though the base Santa Fe is very well equipped, you can ramp up the luxury with the Limited and Calligraphy trims. The Limited trim features leather seating, with heated and ventilated front seats and heated rear seats. The trim-topping Calligraphy boasts exclusive features such as 20-inch wheels, quilted leather seating, and more.
3. Plenty of cargo room
The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe offers room for five passengers as well as impressive cargo space. Expect 36.4 cubic feet of space behind the second row with all seats in place. The Santa Fe also features a generous 72.1 cubic feet with the second row folded — so it's more than ready to tackle your next road trip or family outing.
4. Midsize flexibility
Though the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe is big on the inside, it's not massive on the outside. Instead, this crossover SUV boasts a great mix of form and flexibility. So if you're looking for a practical SUV to carry your family, friends, and their stuff — but don't want something that's difficult to park — look no further than the Santa Fe.
5. Good looks
The Hyundai Santa Fe got a facelift for 2021, with a completely redesigned exterior. The SUV now features a dramatic "cascading" grille design in the front and an LED bar across the back. With such eye-catching design, your 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe won't get lost in the crowd.
Similar vehicles
If you're interested in the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe, you should also check out these similar vehicles from Previous generation years.
The Hyundai Tucson is ready for adventure—and not just in Arizona, as the name implies. Winter-capable AWD is available on any Tucson trim. The third-generation Tucson (2016-2021) has three four-cylinder engine options available and an unusual-for-crossovers seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. The 2018 Hyundai Tucson has driver-assistance features standard on all trims, along with a revised suspension that glides over bumps, and a stylish interior filled with high-quality materials.
The 2018 Hyundai Tuscon Limited offers:
Panoramic sunroof
Hands-free liftgate
Heated steering wheel
Optional ventilated front seats and heated rear seats
The Honda CR-V feels like a compact hatchback with extra cargo and ground clearance. The 2017-present Honda CR-V features easy handling that creates confidence on-road, while the optional AWD lets you power through tough weather conditions and muddy trails. The 2017-2019 CR-V packs a 2.4L four-cylinder engine under the hood, with an optional turbo 1.5L engine available for more power and torque. For 2020-present, the 1.5L is the sole engine choice.
Standard features on the 2020 Honda CR-V LX include:
17-inch alloy wheels
Automatic climate control
Bluetooth® connectivity
The Toyota RAV4 is a small SUV with a quiet and spacious cabin. 2017–2021 models come with a 2.5L four-cylinder engine with FWD or AWD and a suspension system that's tuned for comfort. Whether heading to the rink or the campsite, you'll have space for gear with 38.4 cu-ft of volume in 2017–2018 models and 37.5 cubes in 2019–2021 RAV4s.
Standard features on the 2017–2019 RAV4 XLE include:
17-inch alloy wheels
Dual-zone automatic climate control
Blind-spot monitoring system (2019–2021)
Shop with your budget in mind
Ratings & reliability
RepairPal gave the Hyundai Santa Fe an overall reliability rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars, which RepairPal describes as Above Average. This rating ranks Hyundai Santa Fe 17th out of 32 among Midsize SUVs.
View RepairPal's full rating of the Hyundai Santa FeHyundai Santa Fe features and specs
Calligraphy 2WD 4D Sport Utility
Standard Features
- A/C Seat(s)
- ABS Brakes
- Air Conditioning
- Alloy Wheels
- AM/FM Stereo
- Android Auto
- Apple CarPlay
- Automated Cruise Control
- Automatic Transmission
- Auxiliary Audio Input
- Blind Spot Monitor
- Bluetooth Technology
- Front Seat Heaters
- Harman Kardon Sound
- Head Up Display
- Heated Steering Wheel
- Lane Departure Warning
- Leather Seats
- Memory Seat(s)
- Navigation System
- Overhead Airbags
- Panoramic Sunroof
- Parking Sensors
- Power Hatch/Deck Lid
- Power Locks
- Power Mirrors
- Power Seat(s)
- Power Windows
- Rear Defroster
- Rear Seat Heaters
- Rear Sunshade
- Rear View Camera
- Remote Start
- Side Airbags
- Smart Key
- Traction Control
- Turbo Charged Engine
- 20 Inch Plus Wheels
- Full Roof Rack
- Running Boards
- Tow Hitch
Drive Wheels
Front Wheel Drive (2WD)
Engine size
2.5L
Horsepower
277
Torque (ft-lbs)
311
Engine type
Turbo Gas
Fuel capacity
18.8
Wheelbase
108.9"
Overall length
188.4"
Width
74.8"
Height
66.3"
Leg room
F 44.1"/R 41.7"
Head room
F 39.5"/R 37.8"
Front tires
P255/45HR20
Rear tires
P255/45HR20
Seating capacity
5
Max towing capacity
350/3500 lbs.
Transmission
Automatic
2021 Hyundai Santa Fe FAQ
The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe is available in multiple trims, each with its own estimated fuel economy, here are the EPA estimates for each trim:
- Calligraphy: 22 MPG City and 28 MPG Highway
- SE: 25 MPG City and 28 MPG Highway
- SEL: 25 MPG City and 28 MPG Highway
- Limited: 22 MPG City and 28 MPG Highway
The Hyundai Santa Fe received a rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars from RepairPal, which RepairPal describes as Above Average. This rating ranks the Hyundai Santa Fe as 16 out of 32 among Midsize SUV
The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe has a maximum towing capacity of between 2000 and 3500 pounds, when properly equipped. Various factors may impact towing capacity, including weight of passengers, cargo, and options/accessories.
Here is what's new for the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe:
- Calligraphy
- Remote Start
- Harman Kardon Sound
- 20 Inch Plus Wheels
- Power Locks
More about the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe
Color options
Exterior colors:
Calypso Red
Hampton Gray
Portofino Gray
Quartz White
Shimmering Silver
Stormy Sea
Twilight Black
Interior details
36.4 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats in place (72.1 cubic feet with the second row folded)
Eight-inch infotainment touchscreen (available 10.3-inch touchscreen)
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability
Heated and cooled seats (SEL and above)
Leather seating (Limited and Calligraphy)
Research other vehicles
We hope you found this information helpful. This content is intended to inform and is not meant to indicate that a particular vehicle is currently available or recommended for you.
Statements of fuel economy or EV range are based on EPA and other third-party estimates for vehicles when new. Fuel economy and EV range will degrade with time and vary based on age, driving conditions, vehicle history, and other conditions. See fueleconomy.gov for more info.
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