Hyundai Santa Fe

Hyundai Santa Fe at a glance

The Santa Fe sits above the Hyundai Tucson and, since 2019, below the Hyundai Palisade, which replaced the three-row Santa Fe XL. Hyundai's history is told in the history of Hyundai Motor, and its range, from the i20 to the Ioniq, is in the Hyundai catalogue.

First generation (2000–2006)

Production of the first Santa Fe began in June 2000 for the 2001 model year. According to the old 1cars text, it was based on the Sonata saloon and quickly became Hyundai's best-seller in the United States, despite criticism of its unusual styling. It was a unibody SUV with front-wheel drive and optional four-wheel drive, offered with a 2.4-litre four-cylinder, a 2.7-litre Delta V6, a 2.0-litre diesel outside the US and, from 2003, a 3.5-litre V6. Gearboxes were a five-speed manual and four- and five-speed automatics. Facelifts followed in 2002 and 2005, and US sales rose from 10,332 in 2000 to 111,447 in 2004. In China, Hawtai built the car as the Shengdafei until 2015.

Second generation (2006–2012)

The second Santa Fe went on sale in South Korea in late 2005, was shown at the 2006 Detroit show and reached Europe in April 2006. US production began on 18 April 2006 in Montgomery, Alabama, and moved to West Point, Georgia, on 1 September 2010.

It was a Consumer Reports "top pick" for 2008 and an IIHS Top Safety Pick. A mid-cycle refresh designed in Germany arrived for 2010.

Third generation (2012–2018)

Launched on 14 February 2012 and shown at the New York show on 4 April 2012, the third generation came in two lengths: the short-wheelbase DM (Santa Fe Sport in the US) and the long-wheelbase NC seven-seater, called Grand Santa Fe in some markets. It was built in Ulsan, Montgomery, West Point, Beijing and Kulim.

In the 2012 Euro NCAP test, the 2.2 diesel scored 96% for adult occupants, 89% for children, 71% for pedestrians and 86% for safety assist. A 2017 facelift, sold in Korea as "Santa Fe The Prime", brought new headlights and tail lights.

Fourth generation (2018–2023)

The fourth Santa Fe was introduced in South Korea on 21 February 2018 and shown at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2018. Its body uses 57% high-tensile steel, the most of any Hyundai at its launch. The facelift revealed on 3 June 2020 for the 2021 model year moved it to the N3 platform and introduced electrified versions.

Euro NCAP rated the 2.2 CRDi in 2018 at 94% for adult occupants, 88% for children, 67% for pedestrians and 76% for safety assist.

Fifth generation (from 2023)

Hyundai announced the fifth generation on 17 July 2023 and unveiled it on 10 August 2023 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It keeps the previous architecture but has a new body, a 2,815 mm wheelbase and a drag coefficient of 0.29, down from 0.33. Diesel and V6 engines were dropped. It is built in Ulsan, Montgomery and several Asian plants.

In 2024 Euro NCAP tested the hybrid with four-wheel drive and recorded 84% for adult occupants, 88% for children, 70% for vulnerable road users and 69% for safety assist. The 2025 model year earned an IIHS Top Safety Pick+.

Santa Fe sales in the United States

Rivals: how the Santa Fe compares

The Santa Fe competes with mid-size SUVs such as the Kia Sorento, the Toyota RAV4 and the Subaru Ascent in North America. Its strengths are a choice of five or seven seats, hybrid and plug-in hybrid drive, and strong Euro NCAP results for the third and fourth generations. The third generation's Marginal rating in the IIHS small-overlap test was a weak point of that model.