Hyundai Santa Fe Review Australia: Bold New Design, But Is It Worth $54k+?

What Does the Santa Fe Cost in Australia?

Hyundai offers the Santa Fe across two powertrain families: the 2.5-litre turbo petrol and the 1.6-litre turbo hybrid. Each comes in multiple trim levels, and most variants offer both 2WD and AWD. Here is the full pricing breakdown:

2.5 Turbo Petrol Variants

1.6 Turbo Hybrid Variants

Driveaway, add roughly $2,000 to $5,000 depending on your state and whether you negotiate well. The base 2.5T at $54,400 is well-priced for a full-size seven-seat SUV with this level of equipment. For context, the Kia Sorento diesel starts at $54,630, and the Toyota Kluger kicks off around $55,000. The Santa Fe vs Kluger comparison is worth a look if you are weighing those two up.

The sweet spot? The Elite Hybrid AWD at around $68,000. You get the fuel-efficient hybrid powertrain, all-wheel drive for wet-weather confidence, and enough kit to feel genuinely premium without the Calligraphy's price tag pushing past $77k.

Interior and Tech

Step inside the new Santa Fe and it is immediately clear Hyundai threw out the old playbook. The dashboard is clean and horizontally layered, dominated by a dual 12.3-inch curved display panel that merges the digital instrument cluster and central touchscreen into one continuous unit. It looks modern without being gimmicky, and the software underneath runs smoothly with quick response times.

Physical controls still exist where they matter. The climate system has dedicated buttons and dials below the screen, which is a relief after some rivals have buried everything in touchscreen menus. The volume knob is also physical. Small details, but they make a big difference when you are driving and don't want to take your eyes off the road.

Material quality is strong across the range. Even the base model gets soft-touch surfaces on the dashboard and door cards, leatherette seat trim, and a flat-bottomed steering wheel. Step up to the Elite and you get genuine leather, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The Calligraphy takes it further with Nappa leather, a Harman Kardon sound system, a panoramic sunroof, and second-row captain chairs (in hybrid form, dropping to 6 seats).

The infotainment system supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which works reliably and connects quickly. There is also a wireless phone charging pad, four USB-C ports across the cabin, and a head-up display on Elite and Calligraphy variants.

Second-row passengers get plenty of space. The bench slides fore and aft, and reclines. Legroom is generous even for tall adults, and the panoramic roof on higher grades makes the cabin feel airy. The third row is better than most in this class, too. Hyundai pushed the rear axle back during the redesign, which created extra legroom. Kids will be comfortable back there on longer trips, and adults can manage for shorter stints. Air vents and USB-C ports in the third row are a thoughtful touch.

Boot space with the third row folded is a cavernous 711 litres. With all seven seats up, it drops to 175 litres, which is tight for anything more than a few grocery bags. The boot floor is flat when the third row folds, making it easy to load bulky items. There is also a useful underfloor storage compartment.

What's Under the Bonnet

Two powertrains, two very different characters. Here are the specs side by side:

The 2.5-litre turbo petrol is the performance pick. 206kW and a massive 422Nm of torque make it one of the most powerful engines in the mainstream seven-seat SUV segment. The 8-speed wet dual-clutch transmission is quick-shifting and mostly smooth, though it can be a little hesitant at low speeds in stop-start traffic. Once you are moving, the gearbox finds its rhythm and the shifts are barely noticeable.

The hybrid pairs a 1.6-litre turbo four-cylinder with an electric motor for a combined 172kW and 367Nm. It is noticeably less punchy than the 2.5T on paper, but the electric motor fills in the gaps off the line and during overtakes. The 6-speed torque-converter auto is conventional and smooth, which makes the hybrid feel more relaxed in daily driving. Both engines happily run on regular 91 RON, which keeps fuel costs down.

Driving

The Santa Fe's complete redesign is not just skin deep. Hyundai re-engineered the platform, lengthening the wheelbase and widening the track. On the road, it translates to a SUV that feels planted and composed in a way the previous generation never quite managed.

Start with the 2.5T. It is genuinely quick for a family SUV. Floor it from a standstill and you will hit 100km/h in about 7.5 seconds, which is faster than you will ever need but reassuring when merging onto a freeway or overtaking road trains in the Northern Territory. The turbo spools quickly and there is strong mid-range pull from 2,000rpm through to the redline. Highway overtakes are dispatched with confidence.

The hybrid is less dramatic but perfectly adequate. It won't pin you to your seat, but it gets up to speed without complaint and the electric motor adds a welcome shove off the line. Where the hybrid shines is around town. The electric motor handles low-speed cruising and the start-stop system is seamless, meaning you burn less fuel sitting in traffic on Parramatta Road or the Monash Freeway.

Steering feel is light and well-suited to the Santa Fe's role as a family bus. It weights up at speed and is accurate enough, but this is not a car you buy for driving thrills. It is a car you buy because it carries seven people in comfort without making the driver feel like they are piloting a bus.

Ride quality is good. The suspension soaks up most road imperfections, and the longer wheelbase helps it ride over potholes and expansion joints without the jarring you sometimes get in shorter-wheelbase SUVs. On rough country roads, the Santa Fe stays composed. The AWD system is a simple on-demand setup that sends power to the rear axle when it detects slip. It is not a proper off-road system, but it handles gravel roads, muddy camping grounds, and wet roundabouts with confidence.

Road noise is the one area where the Santa Fe could improve. On coarse-chip bitumen at highway speeds, tyre noise is noticeable. It is not loud enough to ruin a conversation, but the Kia Sorento and Mazda CX-80 are both marginally quieter at 110km/h. Wind noise is well-managed, and the cabin is otherwise relaxed on long drives.

For towing, the 2.5T is the stronger option. 2,200kg braked towing with 422Nm of torque means it will pull a mid-size caravan or a boat on a tandem trailer without breaking a sweat. The hybrid is limited to 1,900kg, which is still enough for a loaded box trailer or a small camper. If you are shopping for a dedicated towing vehicle, the 2.5T is the one to get.

Equipment Highlights by Variant

Santa Fe 2.5T / Hybrid (Base)

• Dual 12.3-inch curved display panel
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Wireless phone charger
• LED headlights and tail lights
• Seven seats with 2-3-2 layout
• Smart key with push-button start
• Forward collision avoidance with pedestrian, cyclist, and junction detection
• Lane following assist
• Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go
• Rear cross-traffic collision avoidance
• Blind-spot collision avoidance assist
• Rear parking sensors and reversing camera
• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Roof rails

Santa Fe Elite

Adds on top of the base:

• Leather seat trim
• Heated and ventilated front seats
• Heated steering wheel
• Power tailgate with hands-free opening
• Head-up display
• Surround-view monitor (360-degree camera)
• Blind-spot view monitor (camera feed in digital cluster)
• 19-inch alloy wheels
• Second-row heated seats
• Power-adjustable front passenger seat
• Digital rear-view mirror

Santa Fe Calligraphy

Adds on top of Elite:

• Nappa leather upholstery
• Harman Kardon premium 12-speaker sound system
• Panoramic sunroof
• 20-inch alloy wheels
• Relaxation front seats with extended leg support
• Ambient interior lighting with colour selection
• Second-row captain chairs (Hybrid only, 6-seat config)
• Electronically controlled suspension (AWD)
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Integrated memory system for driver seat and mirrors

Safety

The Santa Fe holds a 5-star ANCAP safety rating, which is based on the Euro NCAP assessment. Across the range, every variant gets the full safety suite. There is no need to step up to a higher grade for the critical stuff.

Standard active safety across all variants includes:

• Forward Collision Avoidance Assist with pedestrian, cyclist, and junction turning detection
• Lane Following Assist that actively centres the car in its lane on highways
• Adaptive Cruise Control with stop-and-go capability in traffic
• Blind-Spot Collision Avoidance Assist that actively steers if you try to change lanes into a vehicle
• Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Avoidance with automatic braking when reversing
• Driver Attention Warning and leading vehicle departure alert
• Safe Exit Warning that alerts if a vehicle is approaching when you open a door
• Speed Limit Assist using camera-based sign recognition

Passive safety includes eight airbags as standard, including a centre-side airbag between the front occupants. All seven seating positions have three-point seatbelts. ISOFIX anchor points are fitted to the two outer second-row seats, and there are top-tether points across the second row for child seats. For families with young kids, the best family cars guide breaks down which SUVs make car seat installation easiest.

Hyundai's Highway Driving Assist II is standard on Elite and Calligraphy. It combines adaptive cruise, lane centring, and lane change assist into a semi-autonomous highway system. It works well on Australian motorways, though like all Level 2 systems, it requires hands on the wheel at all times.

Running Costs

Here is where the two powertrains diverge significantly. At 15,000km per year with fuel at $1.95/litre:

The hybrid saves roughly $790 per year in fuel compared to the turbo petrol. Over a five-year ownership period, that is approximately $3,950 back in your pocket. Given the price gap between equivalent trim levels is around $5,500-$6,000, the hybrid does not quite pay for itself in fuel savings alone over five years. But it gets close, and if you do more city driving (where the hybrid advantage is greatest), you could break even sooner.

Hyundai's capped-price servicing program covers the first seven years, with intervals every 12 months or 15,000km. Service costs are reasonable and predictable, which is a genuine advantage over some European rivals where servicing can be a nasty surprise. The 7-year unlimited-km warranty is the joint-best in the segment alongside Kia and Mitsubishi. Check our warranty comparison for a full breakdown of coverage across brands.

Rivals

Kia Sorento (from $54,630)

The Kia Sorento shares its platform with the Santa Fe but goes its own way on powertrains. The Sorento offers diesel, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid options, while the Santa Fe sticks with turbo petrol and hybrid. The Sorento diesel is the pick for long-distance tourers who want maximum range between fills, and the PHEV is compelling for short-commute buyers who can plug in daily. Styling is more conventional than the Santa Fe's angular look, and the Sorento's interior is well-built and practical. It comes down to powertrain preference and which design language you prefer.

Toyota Kluger (from ~$55,000)

The Kluger has been a staple of the Australian seven-seat SUV market for decades. It is reliable, spacious, has strong resale values, and the hybrid version is fuel-efficient. Where it falls short against the Santa Fe is tech, interior quality, and warranty. The Kluger's infotainment system feels a generation behind, and Toyota only offers a 5-year warranty. The Santa Fe vs Kluger comparison covers the differences in detail.

Mazda CX-80 (from ~$60,000)

Mazda's new CX-80 is the premium play. It has a beautifully crafted interior, inline-six diesel and PHEV powertrains, a quieter cabin, and a more refined driving experience. It also costs more, and its base model is less generously equipped than the Santa Fe's base. If interior ambience and driving refinement matter more to you than value for money, the CX-80 is worth a test drive. But on pure bang-for-buck, the Santa Fe is hard to beat.

Our Take: Should You Buy the Hyundai Santa Fe?

Yes, if:

• You want a seven-seat SUV that looks like nothing else on the road
• The 7-year unlimited-km warranty gives you peace of mind
• You want strong performance from the 2.5T or fuel savings from the hybrid
• You need a usable third row for kids or occasional adult passengers
• Tech and safety features across the range matter to you
• You tow a caravan or trailer regularly (go the 2.5T at 2,200kg)

Maybe not, if:

• You need a diesel for outback touring and maximum range between fills
• The angular exterior design is too polarising for your taste
• You want a plug-in hybrid (check the Kia Sorento PHEV instead)
• You prioritise interior refinement and cabin quietness above all else (consider the Mazda CX-80)
• Your budget is firmly under $50k (look at the Mitsubishi Outlander or a used Kluger)

The redesigned Santa Fe is a genuinely impressive large SUV. It nails the fundamentals: space, safety, warranty, and equipment. The 2.5T is the performance and towing pick. The hybrid is the long-game value play for suburban and city buyers. And the design, love it or hate it, guarantees you won't lose your car in a Westfield car park.

For most Australian families shopping in the $55k-$70k seven-seat segment, the Santa Fe Elite Hybrid AWD at around $68,000 represents the best balance of everything: efficiency, tech, practicality, and long-term ownership costs. It is one of the best family cars on sale in Australia right now.

→ Compare all Hyundai Santa Fe variants on CarSorted (200+ specs)