Is the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Worth Buying?
Hyundai produces multiple popular midsize SUV nameplates. The Santa Fe isn’t its most successful midsize SUV, but the SUV still provides plenty of value. Is the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe worth buying, or should you get another new midsize model instead?
The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe is here to compete
The Hyundai Santa Fe may get overlooked because of its sibling, the Hyundai Palisade, but the Palisade isn’t the only midsize South Korean SUV that packs in standard features for a great price. Furthermore, the Santa Fe is even more affordable than the Palisade.
The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe starts at just $28,200. It’s one of the most affordable midsize SUVs on the market due to recent price bumps. The midsize SUV uses a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine to make 191 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque. It comes in five different trim levels.
The Santa Fe achieves 25 miles per gallon n the city and 28 miles per gallon on the highway. Not too shabby for a vehicle of its size. It has an 18.8-gallon gas tank so expect a driving range of around 498 miles on a full tank of gas. The Santa Fe gets about 66 more miles of driving range than the more expensive Palisade.
Hyundai’s midsize SUV comes standard with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, rear seat quiet mode, and smart cruise control with stop and go. It also includes forward-collision avoidance assist, driver attention warning, and lane-keeping assist.
Which 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe trim is best?
The best 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe trim is obvious because of the midsize SUV’s engine options. Since the base engine is underpowered, most drivers can narrow the choice down to two trims: the Limited and Calligraphy final trim level. If you can forego the opulence of the final trim to save a few bucks, then the Limited is the best option by far.
The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited comes standard with a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 281 horsepower and a whopping 311 lb-ft of torque. That’s 90 more horses and 130 more lb-ft of torque than the 2023 Santa Fe SE, SEL, and XRT.
The Santa Fe Limited comes standard with leather-trimmed seats, heated front and rear seats, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. It also features heated side mirrors with LED turn-signal indicators, a remote smart parking assist, and a surround-view monitor. The Santa Fe Limited starts at $40,050.
Should you get a Hyundai Santa Fe?
If you do get a Hyundai Santa Fe, the Limited is the way to go. The Santa Fe’s final trim, the Calligraphy, is also fairly affordable at $42,050. One of the biggest differences between the two trims is the Calligraphy’s standard Nappa leather seats.
The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe is praised by Edmunds for its driver assistance features and turbocharged engine option. It’s no Palisade, but a case can be made for the Santa Fe being the more value-oriented midsize SUV based on affordability and gas mileage.
Is the Hyundai Santa Fe the best option in its segment? Probably not. That being said, its upper trim levels are still worth looking into when considering a new midsize SUV.
