Is the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Worth the New Price Jump?
The crossover platform has been in the American zeitgeist for a while now. Part of what makes the Hyundai Santa Fe such a colossal hit in the U.S. marketplace is the competitive price for the number of features it offers, all in a crossover platform. Hyundai just announced that the price of the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe is going up across the board. From the base-model SE to the fully-loaded Caligraphy, it now costs more to get behind the wheel of a Santa Fe.
The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe added more than just a bigger price tag
The redesigned Santa Fe is just about to hit the showroom floors, and Hyundai announced that it raised the price for the Korean crossover. This shouldn’t come as a big surprise, seeing how the 2021 Santa Fe has a whole new look, an updated engine, and some new features.
What is the new price of the 2021 Santa Fe?
Autoblog states that starting with the base model all the way up to the top trim, the prices have gone up. The base-model SE now starts at $28,025, which is $575 more than the previous model. Continuing up through the lineup, the SEL starts at $29,825, the Limited jumps way up with a starting price of $39,775, and finally, the Caligraphy at $43,275. All models (except for the Caligraphy, which comes with AWD) can be set up with a $1,700 AWD option, as well.
Engine options for the 2021 Santa Fe
The two lower-trim models, the SE and SEL, replace the 2.4-liter engine with a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder with an eight-speed automatic. This engine makes 191 hp and 182 lb-ft of torque, which is a 6-hp jump with the same fuel economy as the old Santa Fe.
The big dogs, the Limited, and the Calligraphy get a little more grunt out of the same 2.5-liter engine by adding a turbocharger jumping up to 277 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque. This new engine replaces the old 2.0-liter turbo adding 42 horses and 51 torques. As per Autoblog’s testing, the turbo Santa Fe models got 2 more mpg than the previous, less powerful models. I’d call that a pretty good trade.
The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe isn’t done showing off, yet
The engines and price aren’t the only things Hyundai has changed for the 2021 Santa Fe. The new Santa Fe is now lighter than before due to using a new kind of high-strength steel. The belly pans also got a redesign, which results in lower drag for the new crossover.
There are also some new visual cues around the 2021 Santa Fe. The headlights and taillights have an interesting new T-shaped design. Hyundai also enlarged the wheel arches to give a more imposing feel and filled the new space with 20-inch wheels.
The 2021 Santa Fe still has a similar interior layout as the previous models, except Hyundai upgraded to higher-quality materials. It sports a 12.3-inch digital dash and a 10.25-inch infotainment screen. The dash (Vader) is more screen than man, now (a little Star Wars reference for those of you who care). It comes with Apple CarPlay and Andriod Auto as well as forward and reverse remote parking. The 2021 Santa Fe now includes cyclists and intersection-turn support in the forward collision prevention system.
The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe is new indeed
Prices go up. That is simply the way the world works. But, it sure is nice to see a price increase attached to a car that has also been heavily improved upon. While the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe is a well-equipped crossover, it is starting to creep into some of the luxury brand’s territory.
Hyundai still hasn’t released the pricing information on the Hybrid models. Overall, the price increase seems to add up when you consider the improved engines, updating styling, and more tech included in the 2021 Santa Fe.
