Hyundai Santa Fe Turbo Hybrid

After driving my Hyundai Santa Fe 1.6 Turbo Hybrid for the past two weeks, I can confidently say that this SUV has exceeded my expectations in many areas. I came from a Japanese car background, so I was naturally cautious at first — But this new Santa Fe quickly proved itself.

Design & Presence

The new boxy design stands out on the road. It looks premium, modern, and a lot more expensive than its price tag. I’Ve had people turning their heads and even asking me about it. The build quality feels solid, and the interior layout is spacious and well thought out.

Driving Experience

The hybrid system is smooth, quiet, and surprisingly powerful for a 1.6 turbo. Acceleration is effortless during overtaking, and the transition between engine and electric motor is barely noticeable. Around town, it feels refined and easy to handle despite its size.

Comfort & Interior

The cabin is comfortable, with good sound insulation and premium materials for its class. The seats are supportive, and the overall driving position feels commanding. The second and third rows have good space, and the panoramic sunroof makes the interior feel even more open.

Technology & Features

Hyundai packed this SUV with features. The 360-camera, large infotainment screen, remote smart parking, and safety systems work well and feel intuitive. Wireless connectivity is stable, and the digital cluster is clean and easy to read.

Fuel Efficiency

For a big 7-seater, the fuel economy has been impressive. The hybrid system helps a lot in traffic. I’M still monitoring long-term numbers, but early signs are promising.

Ride Quality

The suspension leans towards comfort — Bumps and rough roads are absorbed nicely. Even on larger 20-inch wheels, the ride isn’T harsh. Steering is light but accurate enough for daily driving.

Final Thoughts After 2 Weeks

Overall, the Hyundai Santa Fe Turbo Hybrid has been a pleasant surprise. It delivers comfort, features, design, and refinement that feel above its price point. As long as you maintain it properly, it’S a safe, solid, and enjoyable SUV for daily use and family duty.

For now, I’M genuinely happy with the decision to switch.

The Hyundai Santa Fe not only comes with plenty of road presence due to its size .

It is also impressively well-built.

The shape of the car is a love or hate relationship because of its back

Shape from the front is well designed and has character

Test drove this car (Calligraphy) because I caught on to the looks of it. Have to admit that the front looks quite dramatic although the rear looks ugly. The drive however, was unimpressive and overwhelming at times, and most of its idea, design and features ended up feeling forced. The hybrid drivetrain felt underpowered, and the handling feels like I am driving a tank.

In a nutshell, this car feels and looks like a concept car rushed to fill a market segment, with odd and unnecessary features (i.E., UV sterilizer, heated seats) yet overpriced with a lack of cardinal and premium features (i.E., Plasticky interior, weak engine, OEM sound system and a few original SF features that are strangely removed).

I will not recommend this car unless it is priced way more aggressively, you really like the exterior and wouldn't mind your kids heating the rear seats up by accident.

Pros: spacious. Commanding presence on the road.

cons: poor ride quality, poor driving dynamics, lacking engine. Feels like truck more than a SUV.

Christmas came early this year is seems. This Hyundai Santa Fe not only comes with plenty of road presence, but is also impressively well-built.

My review of things that I like about the Hyundai Santa Fe 2024 Calligraphy Hybrid, Singspore version. Things that I don't like in another video.: https://youtu.Be/SPREqfGa4IU?Si=U_wFfs3M3ghscg9r

There's another video of things that I don't like.

I've owned previous Santa Fe and Hyundai. Build quality has improved.