When the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe hit showrooms, it polarised with its new design. Launching first as a 1.6-litre turbo hybrid, the absence of a diesel or full petrol variant left some wondering about its hauling capabilities.
Enter the 2.5-litre turbo petrol offering, with 206kW and 422Nm, and a 2000kg braked towing capacity. Drive can go to the front, or all-wheels at the base trim level, which is still surprisingly well specified.
The Santa Fe kicks off from $58,100 drive away for the Creamy White front-wheel drive example we’re testing. Sending power to all four wheels ups the price to just over $61,000 drive away.
Additional colours include Black, shades of grey and ‘Ocado Green’. The Terracotta orange hue has since been removed from the list. Regardless, the exterior makes a statement with its large and purposeful appearance.
We still think the rear was designed by a different team to the rest of the car but this has been covered quite extensively in the past. 20-inch wheels sit in the arches and there is very little to differentiate the base Santa Fe from the mid-tier Elite trim.
For a gamified experience, count how many ‘H’s’ you can find across the exterior and see who finds more. The Santa Fe key features remote start before even jumping in, but once there, it is spacious and comfortable.
These new Hyundai interiors are nothing short of impressive and at a base trim level still come with many features that would usually be reserved for the higher grades. The wraparound screen area (housing dual 12.3-inch displays) looks modern yet familiar.
The wide centre console is open to allow both driver and passenger easy access, with space for two phones (only one wireless charger for the driver’s side) and a mix of physical toggles, knobs and buttons to operate the radio/media and HVAC controls.
Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay is available, with tunes played through a simple six-speaker audio system that does the job but won’t be anything an audiophile will be getting excited about any time soon.
The cloth seats with their tartan pattern are comfortable throughout, with the first and second rows having ample legroom for occupants. The driver has 10-way power adjustability and the chunky and purposeful steering wheel is leather appointed.
Those in the second row can adjust their seats to allow themselves more legroom or to consider those who might be crammed into the third row if needed. Middle section occupants get their own USB ports and AC vents, with rear privacy glass offered here too.
Third row inhabitants don’t have to feel left out either, scoring their own AC controls, cupholders and USB ports. When those seats are stowed, the Santa Fe’s boot space offers a generous 642-litres, expanding to 1963-litres with all the seats folded.
This is all accessible via a large smart tailgate, meaning you can open the rear just by standing near the back of the car. The Santa Fe might look and feel large for its occupants, but the driver has no such worries on the road.
A chunky steering wheel adds to the purposeful look and feel but the overall setup is comfortable and driving feels easy, even on longer trips. The suspension is compliant over coarse roads with enough feedback to let you know what the car’s doing.
It makes both the longer road trip as well as the mundane commute easy for all involved with light, but communicative steering. There are four drive modes including Eco, Normal, Sport and My Drive, as well as three multi-terrain modes if you go for an AWD version.
Throttle response and even the steering feel all adjust depending on the mode selected. We found Normal to be a setting for all conditions, and Sport good for when a bit more ‘go’ was needed, like when climbing through mountain roads or short overtaking opportunities.
Hyundai claims consumption of 9.1-litres/100km, while we managed low 10s, which we figure isn’t too bad from a 67-litre fuel tank. On the downside, there’s a less than enthusiastic sound from the engine as it revs, but that’s hardly the point of this car.
On more than a few occasions the factory Nexen tyres struggled for grip, sometimes in acceleration and other times in mild cornering where the weight of the car seemed to come into play.
There’s also the suite of Hyundai driver warnings to contend with or learn how to turn those off each time. Parking something the size of the Santa Fe though is fairly simple with some great tech, repeating again that this is the base level.
The reverse parking camera comes with active guides and a 360-degree view to help out – though it should be noted that all-round visibility is also quite good for a car this size. The Santa Fe is so well appointed and capable you almost needn’t look at the larger Palisade.
Unless you really need the eighth seat, this is a more affordable option. That said, the larger vehicle offers a ‘first class’ experience, two additional top tethers, an extra ISOFIX point, two more USB ports and seven more cupholders.
But the Santa Fe is undeniably a great family car that offers so much, and you can jump up to the Elite and Calligraphy trims (for 10K and 20K more respectively) to tick off more of the family-SUV checklist if you need to.
Hyundai backs the 2025 Santa Fe with a 5-year unlimited kilometre warranty (or 7-years if you do all your servicing with them). All-in-all it’s a great package, and we’ve raved about it each time we’ve got behind the wheel.
This new engine option just adds to the car’s desirability and suitability for those looking for a spacious, capable and practical family SUV. You can find out more on the Hyundai Australia website, or by talking to your local dealership.
To get a low rate finance quote, talk to Australia’s best reviewed car finance broker; Credit One. To see a great range of vehicles for sale, check out OnlyCars.com.au.
Our test vehicle was supplied by Hyundai Australia for independent review purposes. Exhaust Notes Australia has not been paid to review this vehicle.
