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The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid received several great changes in 2021 that added lots of personality and features to the base model.
It starts at $40,000 and gets 33 miles per gallon in the city and 30 on the highway.
The bottom line is that hybrids have come a long way, so distance is not an issue here. Its total range is about 500 miles, which will get you to Disney and back without having to stop at the pump.
I like the blue trim, which has the best gasoline performance of the bunch.
The Sante Fe Hybrid is smaller than the three-row SUVs and larger than the Honda CR-V Hybrid. So, you are getting a nice car that feels big and gets great mileage.
The front end received some tweaks without changing the design from two years ago that I liked so much. You get new headlights and a new grille plus lots of silver trim. The taillights also have a new look, which is in line with the changes in the front. I like the overall feel of it, which gives it a fresh presence from the front and the rear.
The All-Wheel Drive model gives you plenty of power and confidence on the road. Its towing capacity is 2,500 pounds, which means you can take out that boat that has been sitting in your driveway for months waiting for the right sunny day to hit the water.
I like the fact that inside the cabin, everything is quiet and smooth. The suspension is really great on this model. You get a 10.25-inch touch-screen and a digital heads-up display that is functional and easy to use. There also is the 12.3-inch full digital instrument cluster that is sleek during the day and at night.
Hyundai’s suite of available SmartSense safety features includes a range of camera, radar and motion detection technologies to provide you with added peace of mind. These features include forward collision avoidance assist with a combination of pedestrian, cyclist and junction-turning detection. You also have a special feature for highway driving and parking collision avoidance, which we all know is valuable when parking in South Florida, particularly on the street.
We all have seen those cars on the street that get a bump in a parking lot and half their bumper is falling off. Fortunately, the owner of the Santa Fe Hybrid will not have that problem. The Hyundai Sonata also is built out of advanced high-strength steel that delivers strength and durability.
One of my favorite features is the remote parking assist. Get this: It allows you to remotely move the Santa Fe when you are outside of the vehicle, which sounds like extra, but it is a very convenient feature when you have large items to load in a tight area. Simply use the key fob to move the Santa Fe forward or backwards, into or out of the parking space.
I also like the smart power liftgate. All you have to do is stand within three feet of the trunk for three seconds with the key fob and the liftgate will automatically open. Plus, the handy height-adjustable function allows users to stop the liftgate at various heights to avoid contact with low overhangs.
For me, this is a great family car that you will be proud to drive to the soccer games and the mountains.
