The same $50,000 will buy you a better SUV
Pros:
More refined than the 2022 SantaFe.
Hybrid Average MPG of 34. City as high as 42MPG.
Limited trim comes with the same safety features that others have.
Third row seating suitable for kids.
Lots of cargo space.
Second row seats have heating and electric motor adjustment.
Second row seating is capt chairs that fold down flat with the push of a button.
Speaking of buttons, the SantaFe has plenty. Yes, there’s a big responsive touch screen with Apple Car Play. And they have added lots of knobs and push buttons in addition to the touch screen.
The drive train is frugal but peppy enough to merge into traffic.
Cons:
The devil is in the details. When looking at the window sticker this SUV seems like a good value. Yes, their car is more refined, but has lots of room for improvements.
The drive train may be hybrid, but it lacks the refinement of the competition. The drive train is often jerky and somewhat noisy. The 6 speed tranny is prone to downshift when you lift your foot off the gas. Starts and stops are not smooth or seamless, but noisy and clunky. The cabin is quieter than the 2022, but has lots of room for improvements.
The dash is like the Swiss Army Knife of dash boards. Very busy and likely to be distracting for most drivers who are not use to it.
There are many features which could benefit from more time with the R&D team. For example the cup holders which allow our 24 oz thermos bottles to rock back and forth while rattling loudly.
Although the 2026 offers improved visibility for drivers who are vertically challenged, it doesn’t provide the >10 inches the IIHS recommends between the steering wheel’s center and the drivers Sternum. For drivers of less than 5 ft height this is unlikely without adjustable pedals. A feature Hyundai doesn’t yet offer.
I could go on, but I think you’ve read enough by now to go check out the competition.