2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid XRT overview

Hyundai has added a few new off-road centered packages to its fashionable Santa Fe seven-seat giant SUV.

WATCH: Paul’s video overview of the Santa Fe Hybrid Calligraphy AWD

There are two variations obtainable – XRT Journey, and XRT Peak – and they’re packages that your Hyundai dealership can add to your new automobile pre-delivery.

In the event you go for them earlier than you drive your new Santa Fe residence, you additionally get a full five-year, unlimited-kilometre manufacturer-backed guarantee on the components fitted, which might’t be stated for different choices you may add post-delivery.

On this overview you’ll discover out what the XRT therapies convey, whether or not they’re definitely worth the cash, and the way the XRT-equipped Santa Fes differ from the numerous ute-based giant off-road SUVs you may in any other case be contemplating.

How a lot does the Hyundai Santa Fe value?

You’ll be able to apply the XRT packages to any all-wheel drive model of the brand new fifth-generation Santa Fe launched lately, which is sensible since it will be foolish so as to add them to the entry-level front-wheel drive variant.

Whereas Santa Fe XRT is a standalone mannequin variant within the US, Hyundai Australia says its XRT packages have been developed by an area engineering group in collaboration with the Hyundai America Technical Centre in California, and that they have been examined each on- and off-road, together with steep unsealed climbs and rocky and sandy descents.

There are two XRT packages to select from. The XRT Journey Possibility Pack prices $6900 and the XRT Peak Possibility Pack prices $9900. So neither of them comes low-cost and the worth of the range-topping Santa Fe Hybrid Calligraphy with XRT Peak Possibility Pack, as examined right here, is a cool $84,900 plus on-road prices.

Nevertheless, each XRT packs convey critical suspension and wheel/tyre upgrades at the least, and pricing for every of them contains each components and labour, in addition to the identical five-year manufacturing unit guarantee because the Santa Fe itself when fitted by a Hyundai dealership on the time of buy.

To see how the Hyundai Santa Fe stacks up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability software.

What’s the Hyundai Santa Fe like on the within?

It’s no totally different to the usual variations of the brand new Santa Fe – and that could be an issue for a few of you who may need some distinctive inside branding or highlights to make you’re feeling higher in regards to the more money you’ve spent.

Having stated that, there’s no mistaking the XRT remedy from the surface and, who is aware of, particular XRT-badged seat covers or the like might develop into obtainable sooner or later. Hyundai additionally presents a bunch of helpful inside equipment for the brand new Santa Fe, together with:

• All-in-one mats (carpet and rubber, entrance seats and center row): $390
• Cargo barrier (behind second-row seats): $1162
• Cargo liner for five-seat structure: $189
• Cargo liner for seven-seat structure with lining on third-row seats: $249
• Moveable fridge / freezer: 25L – $1299; 36L –$1399
• Towbar equipment: $1501
• Tailgate bike rack: $929
• Facet awning: $371

There are many different bits you may need to add too, however given there aren’t any XRT-specific cabin extras at this stage, you may learn our impressions of the stylish new Santa Fe’s inside design, area, practicality and value in our launch overview protection.

What’s underneath the bonnet?

At this time limit, the Santa Fe is obtainable solely in petrol-electric hybrid type. There’s a highly effective turbo-petrol engine possibility coming quickly, however the present hybrid-only – or hybrid-electric car (HEV) – vary comes with a reasonably spectacular powertrain.

All-wheel drive variants have an on-demand AWD system that can apportion torque the place it’s wanted, based mostly on the scenario. That is a vital distinction in comparison with a ‘correct’ selectable 4WD system incorporating high- and low-range gearing for off-road driving. 

This automobile doesn’t have that functionality, but it surely does have a number of terrain modes for unsealed driving, together with Mud, Snow and Sand.

Now, there’s a worth to pay in the case of the effectivity of this mannequin, contemplating the extra off-road centered tyres and heavier wheels, the additional weight of the opposite extra gear, and the truth that it will likely be much less aerodynamic than the usual car.

Consequently, I used to be unsurprised to see a better on-test gasoline consumption quantity this time round – 8.6 litres per 100km throughout a mixture of on- and off-road testing, which remains to be pretty spectacular for a giant seven-seat wagon.

To see how the Hyundai Santa Fe stacks up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability software.

How does the Hyundai Santa Fe drive?

On-road

First, as with our authentic overview of the brand new Santa Fe, we have to name out the security techniques. On-road, they’re irritating. The driving force monitoring digicam system is just too wanting to interrupt, and the speed-sign recognition and warning system is a painful factor to stay with, if you understand the velocity limits in your ordinary driving areas. 

They each default again on every time you restart and, in contrast to within the Tucson, there’s no ‘mute’ button to rapidly shut all of it up. Hopefully that rolls out quickly over-the-air. 

In any other case, we have been impressed with the way in which the Santa Fe XRT dealt with itself on-road.

There’s a notable distinction in contrast with the usual mannequin, as you’d anticipate with raised suspension and greater, chubbier tyres.

The usual mannequin drives fairly properly, however the XRT-fettled SUV has a extra purposeful really feel on the sealed stuff, with extra softness over sharp edges as a result of additional tyre sidewall, and a extra inflexible and strong really feel over bigger bumps.

The steering feels a bit totally different, too. It isn’t fairly as direct – that’s typical of an off-road centered tyre – however the Pirelli Scorpion A/T rubber nonetheless has a great quantity of buy on the street. Another tyres which can be this aggressive can squeal and squelch in blended driving, however these are fairly grippy and really quiet.

I used to be impressed that it didn’t have way more tyre noise in any respect authorized driving speeds.

And the powertrain? Properly, to me it felt just like the system was utilizing its petrol engine extra throughout my testing than I recall the usual automobile doing. That’s not shocking, given the very fact it has to work tougher to show these wheels, and it’s up greater within the air so the aerodynamics aren’t pretty much as good.

Add to that the roof-rack and platform fitted to the Peak model, along with the bonnet protector and visor package deal on the window-tops, and wind noise is a little more noticeable, too.

Off-road

Earlier than we get to my driving impressions, right here’s how XRT package-equipped fashions differ from common Santa Fes by way of the essential off-road angles:

That’s 33mm or near 1.5 inches of additional experience peak, plus two levels of additional method and departure angle, however I’m glad the XRT has an underbody skid plate, as a result of it actually doesn’t have sufficient clearance to cope with severely rutted off-road tracks.

For probably the most half, I used to be within the Mud Terrain driving mode (there may be additionally Snow and Sand) for the off-road a part of this check within the Blue Mountains, the place I’ve additionally pushed seven-seat fashions just like the Ford Everest, and let me let you know – this isn’t like a ute-based ladder-frame SUV.

The monocoque design means it doesn’t have the form of suspension journey to essentially cope with the kind of deeply rutted trails that different off-road SUVs can cope with simply. It doesn’t have the identical stage of articulation, so you will note wheels cocked as you go over offset and uneven terrain.

However I’ve to say, the powertrain and the traction and stability management system labored rather well to apportion the torque seamlessly to the wheel that had probably the most grip.

Positive, it will spin tyres a bit earlier than it figured on the market wasn’t any traction, however as soon as it managed to push the grunt the place it wanted to go, it acquired out of some conditions that may have seen an ordinary SUV get effectively and actually caught.

The skid plate copped a hiding on this check, and that’s what it’s designed to do. However the lack of extra floor clearance limits the aptitude of this SUV and it simply can’t go as far into the bush as a higher-riding off-roader.

Nevertheless, as an overland SUV – the form of car that you just drive for hours on finish, the place the journey and the surroundings are extra essential than making an attempt to push the boundaries of your car off-road – it’s an excellent possibility that shall be much better on corrugated gravel outback roads, the odd firetrail and even sloping and/or moist grass than any normal Santa Fe.

It has a terrific rough-road experience, and handles sharp-edged bumps and greater lumpy sections with ease. I hit some mud splashes with onerous bedrock beneath, and it remained composed and comfy always.

One benefit of the Santa Fe’s normal surround-view digicam system is that it is useful at low speeds off-road.

There have been a number of cases the place I hit the digicam button to see what was forward of the car (in fact, I acquired out and walked any treacherous bits earlier than taking the automobile by them!), and the Calligraphy’s auto braking system additionally pulled me up a number of occasions when the sensors detected I used to be going to hit a stump or rocky outcrop.

The hybrid powertrain additionally provided a robust quantity of urge in slower-speed conditions, and it continued to maneuver between EV mode or having the petrol engine kick in to help, relying on throttle inputs and obtainable traction ranges. 

And whereas the brakes have been sincere and straightforward to evaluate in slow-speed moments, the hill descent management system didn’t play ball when requested to. A few of these techniques will be temperamental, I do know that from expertise, so it was a great factor I by no means acquired into any unnervingly steep conditions, and using the brake did the job.

What do you get?

Right here’s a reminder of the usual gear ranges in all grades of the Santa Fe.

Santa Fe Hybrid highlights:

• 20-inch alloy wheels
• LED headlights
• Auto high-beam
• Proximity entry with push-button begin
• Digital parking brake with auto maintain operate
• 3 x drive modes – Eco, Sport, My Drive
• 3 x multi-terrain drive modes – AWD solely
• Twin-zone local weather management
• 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat
• Obsidian Black fabric upholstery
• Leather-based-wrapped steering wheel
• 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
• 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen
• Over the air (OTA) software program updates
• Apple CarPlay, Android Auto – wi-fi, wired
• Wi-fi smartphone charger
• Encompass-view digicam system
• 6-speaker sound system
• Heated entrance seats
• Energy tailgate
• Rear privateness glass
• Full-size alloy spare wheel

Santa Fe Hybrid Elite provides:

• Silver exterior highlights
• Distant Sensible Parking Help
• Black leather-based seats
• Suede headlining
• 10-way power-adjustable passenger seat
• Heated steering wheel
• Bose premium audio system – 12 audio system
• Twin wi-fi smartphone charger
• Bluelink related providers
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror

Santa Fe Hybrid Calligraphy provides:

• Distinctive 20-inch wheels
• Glass sunroof
• Head-up show
• Digital digicam rearview mirror
• Black Ink Nappa leather-based upholstery
• Leisure operate – entrance seats
• Reminiscence operate – entrance seats, mirrors
• Heated outboard second-row seats
• Ventilated entrance seats
• UV-C sanitisation tray
• UV and infrared insulated windscreen, entrance home windows

The Calligraphy can be provided with a six-seat structure with second-row electrically adjustable captain’s chairs, which could provide a extra plush expertise however might restrict practicality considerably.

To see how the Hyundai Santa Fe stacks up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability software.

Choices

There are at present two off-road centered XRT packages on provide and they are often utilized to any all-wheel drive variant within the vary.

XRT Journey Possibility Pack ($6900) provides:

• 17-inch off-road wheel and tyre package deal
• Pirelli Scorpion A/T Plus tyres
• Satin black alloy wheels
• Mudflaps
• Underbody skid plate
• Off-road suspension equipment
• New entrance struts, springs and hubs
• New rear dampers, springs and hubs
• 30mm improve in experience peak

XRT Peak Possibility Pack ($9900) provides:

• 17-inch off-road wheel and tyre package deal
• Pirelli Scorpion A/T Plus tyres
• Satin black alloy wheels
• Mudflaps
• Underbody skid plate
• Off-road suspension equipment
• New entrance struts, springs and hubs
• New rear dampers, springs and hubs
• 30mm improve in experience peak
• Built-in black aspect steps with 200kg most loading capability
• Hyundai real roof racks (80kg load capability evenly distributed throughout two bars)
• Roof platform with twin channels on every plank, periphery channels
• Darkish-tinted ‘stylevisors’

Is the Hyundai Santa Fe protected?

Surprisingly, the Hyundai Santa Fe is but to be examined by ANCAP or Euro NCAP even after having been on sale for months now.

Commonplace security options throughout the vary embrace:

• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
  • Pedestrian, Bicycle owner detection
  • Junction help
• Adaptive cruise management with cease and go
• Blind-spot help
• Blind Spot View Monitor 
• Driver consideration warning 
• Ahead consideration warning
• Main car departure alert
• Evasive steering help operate
• Clever velocity restrict help
• Lane Following Help
• Lane preserve help
• Parking Collision Avoidance Help
• Rear cross-traffic help
• Rear occupant alert
• Secure exit help
• Entrance, rear parking sensors
• Encompass-view monitor – 360 digicam

The Santa Fe has full airbag protection for the third-row occupants. The truth is, it has 10 airbags: twin entrance, driver’s knee, entrance centre, entrance aspect, second-row aspect and full-length curtain airbags.

How a lot does the Hyundai Santa Fe value to run?

As talked about, should you purchase a brand-new Santa Fe, you get a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee, and should you get both XRT pack fitted right away, the guarantee extends to these extras too.

The Santa Fe Hybrid has an eight-year/160,000km guarantee for high-voltage elements just like the e-motor and lithium battery.

Servicing intervals are 12 months/10,000km, which is a little more needy than some rivals. There may be additionally a roadside help program that renews each time you service your automobile with Hyundai.

To see how the Hyundai Santa Fe stacks up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability software.

CarExpert’s Tackle the Hyundai Santa Fe

I’ve little question there’s a marketplace for this mannequin, which appears to be like nice and does improve functionality in gentle off-road situations, however potential patrons must be aware of the constraints of a monocoque SUV like this compared to a body-on-frame 4×4 wagon. 

It’s not as succesful as a ute-based off-road SUV, or a purpose-built four-wheel drive, in the case of the tough stuff. However for households that go tenting often, or those that admire open-road and outback touring, it may very well be an awesome alternative.

Involved in shopping for a Hyundai Santa Fe? Get in contact with one in every of CarExpert’s trusted sellers right here

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