The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe Review: A Comfortable Cargo Box With Near-Truck Space

This time Torque News reviewed the Calligraphy trim of the 2022 Santa Fe. This trim is a recent addition to Santa Fe's lineup and was added in the 2021 model year. It does deliver premium experience. The main thing that is new for 2022 is the Santa Fe's plug-in hybrid powertrain, delivering up to 31 miles of EV-only driving per charge. However, currently the availability of the Santa Fe PHEV is limited to only several states.

Speaking of trims: The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe's lineup consists of ten trims: SE, SEL, XRT, Blue hybrid, SEL Premium hybrid, Limited, SEL Convenience PHEV, Limited hybrid, Calligraphy, Limited PHEV. On the lowest end the SE Santa Fe starts with the $28,495 MPSR, while the top Limited PHEV trim line is offered at $47,305. Torque News reviewed the Calligraphy trim, which came with a $44,950 window sticker price tag, which included the inland freight and handling.

The Hyundai Santa Fe is an SUV to be taken seriously. This originally quirky — but mostly cheap — alternative to the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V in the early 2000s has evolved into a stylish, well-equipped vehicle that has generated colossal sales. Today's Santa Fe is very different from its first version; a simple look is enough to see it.

The plastic and nebulous allure of the model of yesteryear has given way to a unique and distinctive front fascia. It includes triangular grille openings, daytime running lights mounted on the edge of the hood under which headlights – LED projectors on the Calligraphy version tested – border the grille. This look, first seen in 2019, has been refined for the 2022 model year. Not only the Headliner is exclusive for the Calligraphy trim, but also the perforated leather steering wheel.

I have to note that the latest redesign changed the shape of the headlights to better integrate them with the grille. It also allowed the addition of new front and rear skid plates

The Hyundai Santa Fe fills the gap between the compact Tucson and midsize Palisade in Hyundai's SUV lineup.

It seats five passengers, but offers more room than the Tucson and is more accessible and maneuverable than the larger Palisade.

Its price is the key to the Santa Fe's appeal, as you get a lot of features for the money that its competition can't.

Styles and Options

The Limited trim is quite luxurious as it comes equipped with leather upholstery, premium audio, keyless ignition, heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, and entertainment with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.

It adds premium audio, heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats, surround-view camera system, heated steering wheel, wireless cell phone charger, head-up display, and automatic windshield wipers.

Calligraphy has all of the above and adds extra luxury with 20-inch wheels, unique exterior trim, premium leather seats with quilted stitching, ambient interior lighting, faux suede headliner, head-up display that displays important information on your line vision in the windshield.

Powertrain

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe comes with a base 2.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. More expensive models come with a more powerful, turbocharged four-cylinder engine, also 2.5-liter, but with 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque.

An 8-speed automatic transmission is mated for the entire lineup of engines and models. Front-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive is optional on all Santa Fe models.

Interior Style of The 2022 Santa Fe

Its interior of the 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe materials have real stitching and there's a high-quality feel to most of its trim pieces. There is plenty of room, especially for the legs.

The front seats are very comfortable with a wide range of adjustments and available heating and ventilation. The rear seats are also comfortable and have plenty of recline adjustments. Large door openings make it easy to get in and out, and the front and rear rows offer plenty of room and legroom.

The panoramic sunroof eats up headroom in both rows, but the rear seat's ability to recline serves to offset that. The Santa Fe has excellent cabin insulation thanks to double-pane front windows and integral soundproofing.

The Santa Fe's cargo space is very roomy at 36.4 cubic feet behind the rear seats, and it has some useful underfloor bins. Remote seat releases allow you to lower the second row seats from the rear of the vehicle and at the rear passenger doors.

Technology and Security

Santa Fe SUVs are outfitted with 8 inch touch-screen controls, while there is also an optional 10.25-inch screen. The response is decent. It brings Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration.

Santa Fe's premium audio system produces precise sound and plenty of volume, but it's not as immersive. The wireless charger is a space-saving spring-loaded slot. There is plenty of power and USB ports.

Regarding the security of the 2022 Santa Fe, it comes with anti-lock disc brakes, traction and stability control, front seat side airbags, and side curtain airbags. Hyundai's advanced driver aids are some of the best around. Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane Keeping Assist work smoothly and ease the stress of rush hour traffic.

Blind-spot monitoring and forward collision mitigation also work quite well, but some drivers may find them too sensitive.

The Drive

The 2022 Santa Fe is well designed and well assembled. The power of its turbocharged engine is generous. The acceleration is such that one has the impression that the mechanics are more powerful than what the manufacturer announces.

This is probably what most buyers want; power to feel confident. Even more important are ride and handling, as these aspects accompany the driver on a daily basis in his vehicle.

Those looking for a soft and controlled behavior will undoubtedly be impressed by the offer of the Santa Fe. The unevenness of the roads is barely felt in the cabin thanks to the work of the suspension elements.

After recently testing the new Tucson, I can confirm that Hyundai has succeeded in perfecting the handling of its various SUVs. This version undoubtedly deserves its name "Calligraphy".

The SUV handles well, the transmission is excellent, and there's enough horsepower under the hood that overtaking on the highway is no problem. The steering is decent.

My All-wheel drive was more predictive than reactive, engaging the rear wheels for better traction. The 4×4 system works well. The rear shocks have been pushed more vertically for longer travel and better ride quality, along with a body that is stiffer.

The Santa Fe's suspension soaks up most bumps and bumps on the road, but the ride can sometimes feel a little too soft and choppy.

This vehicle handles road conflicts smoothly. Wind, road and ambient noise are kept at bay. The Hyundai Santa Fe is strong in the segment, where the Nissan Murano, Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, Chevrolet Traverse and Kia Sorento put up a fight. I particularly like the interior comfort, technology and the power ofr the turbo. The multimedia system is also richly presented. I like less the fuel economy of 24 MPG combined (21/28 city/highway respectively).

P.S. Torque News just heard that the new generation of the Hyundai Santa Fe has already appeared. The midsize SUV will be completely revamped. The next model will change completely.

Armen Hareyan is the founder and the Editor in Chief of Torque News. He founded TorqueNews.com in 2010, which since then has been publishing expert news and analysis about the automotive industry. He can be reached at Torque News Twitter, Facebok, Linkedin and Youtube.

Reference: Puros Autos, Auto 123.