Its great except
The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe makes a strong impression overall, especially in terms of design and interior quality. Starting inside the cabin, the interior is excellent. The materials feel well thought out, the layout is functional, and everything is where you expect it to be. There are no real complaints here—Hyundai clearly put a lot of effort into making the interior both comfortable and modern.
Under the hood, the engine performance is impressive. Once you’re moving, the vehicle pulls strongly and feels confident at highway speeds. That said, the turbo lag is noticeable, particularly from a stop or during quick throttle inputs. While it doesn’t ruin the driving experience, it’s something you’re definitely aware of, especially in everyday driving.
The dual‑clutch transmission is a mixed bag. On the freeway, it performs smoothly and shifts cleanly, making long drives comfortable and refined. In city driving or stop‑and‑go traffic, however, it’s not my favorite. The behavior at low speeds can feel less natural than a traditional automatic, which takes away slightly from the otherwise solid driving experience.
From the outside, the Santa Fe really stands out. The exterior design is excellent and bold, giving the vehicle a distinctive presence on the road. One design element I could do without is the automatic grille shutters. While they may serve a functional purpose, they’re not particularly appealing and detract a bit from an otherwise great-looking front end.
Overall, the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe delivers strong interior quality, eye‑catching design, and excellent engine performance, with a few quirks that may come down to personal preference—particularly the turbo response and dual‑clutch transmission in city driving.
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