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I think we can all agree getting any car or SUV to 200,000 miles is some weird unwritten goal in life. Of course, that won’t come to fruition for most people riding around in the cheapest cars and sport utility vehicles. However, is Hyundai your best bet if you are looking for the best SUV in the midsize segment that won’t let you down? All eyes are on the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe.

What’s the best midsize SUV for 2023?

For a cheap SUV, this 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe is a good midsize option
A 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy | Hyundai

Even though pricing can fluctuate depending on the model, the cheapest midsize SUV of 2023 is probably the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe. Starting at only $28,450 for the base model this year, the Santa Fe comes pretty decked out from the factory. A fully loaded Santa Fe will run you $44,000 or so, which is more in line with other vehicles in the same segment. It does come in a plug-in hybrid model as well.

Why is the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe still a good choice, even if it is the cheapest? Hyundai put a lot of thought and effort into the Santa Fe, making it a good choice for those looking for quality and value. One of the things that stands out the most with the Santa Fe is its long list of features included with every model.

2023 Hyundai Santa Fe TrimMSRP
SE$28,750
SEL$32,450
XRT$34,250
Limited$40,600 
Calligraphy$42,600
The cheapest SUV of 2023

For instance, the base SE Santa Fe is one of the most affordable midsize SUVs on the market that comes with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also has LED headlights with automatic high beams, an eight-inch touchscreen, and four USB ports. That’s more than many cars and SUVs on the market offer.

How long will this economical SUV last?

The cheapest midsize SUV is this 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe
Inside the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy | Hyundai

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe might be one of the best SUVs of 2023, but one study found that it could hit 200,000 miles or more. iSeeCars looks at sales data for vehicles that are bought and sold throughout the year, with a particular emphasis on mileage.

While the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe is a reliable option, data shows that around 0.9% of these SUVs have 200,000 miles or more on the odometer. That number might sound low, but that is near the midsize SUV segment average. There are many Santa Fe SUVs with more than 200,000 miles on the road, too.

If you buy a new Sante Fe SE for $28,750 and put 200,000 miles on it, that works out to about $0.14 a mile. We can live with $0.14 a mile for a brand-new midsize SUV. If that doesn’t make the Santa Fe worth getting, nothing will.

Is the most affordable midsize SUV safe?

In addition to offering good value, Hyundai’s cheap SUV is quite safe. Hyundai included a long list of standard driver-assistance features such as blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and forward collision warning. Automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and lane-following assist are also standard across all trim levels.

Thanks to those standard systems, the 2023 Santa Fe took home several safety awards. It earned the IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus award and high marks on the main crashworthiness tests. The IIHS also gave the front crash prevention systems a superior score. Plus, the NHTSA gave it a five-star overall safety rating.

For now, the Hyundai Santa Fe is working overtime as the best but cheapest SUV out there. If you want to ride until the wheels fall off, Hyundai might be your best option.

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