SUVs are an incredibly popular type of vehicle, and as the desire for more eco-friendly cars grows, more and more hybrid SUVs are entering the market. The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid is one such vehicle — but it has one major detriment, according to Autotrader. The Santa Fe Hybrid lags behind the competition in terms of fuel economy, a particularly important area of consideration for many people who are purchasing a hybrid. Here’s what you need to know if you’re considering this vehicle.

The Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid’s unimpressive fuel economy

The Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid has a combined fuel economy of 32 miles per gallon. While this may sound decent, many of its rivals have it beat, reports Autotrader. The Honda CR-V Hybrid gets 38 miles per gallon, the Toyota RAV Hybrid gets 40 miles per gallon, and the Ford Escape gets an impressive 41 miles per gallon.

Although some of these differences are fairly minor, and 32 miles per gallon is not a bad level of efficiency, the fact is that people who are actively seeking a hybrid vehicle are likely on the lookout for the most fuel-efficient option. Because of this, the fact that the Santa Fe Hybrid legs behind the competition in this area is notable, as buyers may opt for similar options that offer a higher level of fuel efficiency.

Where else this vehicle struggles

Reviewers at Autotrader didn’t have too many bad things to say about the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid. In fact, other than its less-than-ideal fuel efficiency, the only significant con of the Santa Fe Hybrid is its price.

Although Hyundai has not yet released pricing information for this vehicle, reviewers state that it is similar to the standard Santa Fe’s SEL Convenience trim in terms of features. This trim starts at approximately $32,000. When you consider the added cost of the battery, motors, and additional hybrid costs, the ultimate price may end up being several thousand dollars more than this.

What the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid gets right

Other than these shortcomings, there’s a lot to love about the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid. Reviewers praise its attractive design, particularly with regard to the “aggressive” front end. 

The interior of the base model features an 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, as well as heated front seats. It comes with an 8.0-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, which displays the power meter for the vehicle. The Santa Fe Hybrid is compatible with both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Another major strength of this SUV is its safety features. Hyundai’s Smart Sense suite of features comes standard, giving the Santa Fe Hybrid an impressive list of driver aids. These include forward-collision assist, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, pedestrian detection, and lane-keep assist.

Additionally, although Autotrader reviewers have yet to test-drive this vehicle, they anticipate that it will provide similar impressive performance to the most recent non-hybrid Santa Fe models. These SUVs provide a significant amount of stability, focusing heavily on ride comfort.

While the Santa Fe Hybrid may lag behind its rivals in terms of fuel economy, it does also have one key advantage: It features powerful all-wheel-drive capabilities. In this area, the Santa Fe Hybrid outshines its rivals, establishing itself as an excellent option for drivers who may live in areas that experience significant amounts of inclement weather.

Overall, the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid offers a wide array of advantages. Although it doesn’t quite match up with its rivals in terms of fuel economy, this vehicle’s many other strengths mean that it is well worth considering if you are on the hunt for a hybrid SUV.