Hyundai Santa Fe SE 2021
turbocharged 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine is well suited for the job. With 277 horsepower, it makes for a Santa Fe that climbs long highway
$9000.00
Out of stock
277 horsepower
"The turbocharged 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine is well suited for the job. With 277 horsepower, it makes for a Santa Fe that climbs long highway grades with ease, even when all five seats are occupied.
2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Performance Review
Note: This performance review was created when the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe was new.
The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe has a so-so base engine, and its ride can feel unsettled on broken pavement. However, its available turbocharged engine delivers plenty of pep, and its spry handling helps it remain enjoyable to drive. It gets great gas mileage too.
Scorecard
Performance6.5
2021 Santa Fe Photos
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"Every once in a while … low-speed downshifts lack the smoothness you’d expect of Hyundai. That stated, the 2021 Santa Fe works well in the daily grind, aided by light-effort steering, well-tuned brakes, and good overall ride quality."
Autotrader
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"Aside from the occasionally jittery ride, the Santa Fe drives and behaves in a refined and almost engaging manner."
Car and Driver
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"The SUV drives well, but all its positive dynamic qualities—including much quicker as-tested acceleration and good steering—are drowned out by a transmission we hope will be retuned or replaced altogether."
Motor Trend
Engine Options, Horsepower, and Acceleration
Base engine: 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque (SE and SEL)
Available engine: 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque (Limited and Calligraphy)
Drivetrain: standard front-wheel drive; available all-wheel drive
Transmission: standard eight-speed automatic; available eight-speed dual-clutch automatic
The base engine is satisfactory in city driving, but it struggles at higher speeds. The turbocharged engine is more energetic, but adding it significantly raises the Santa Fe’s price. Both automatic transmissions usually operate smoothly, but there can be some lag when downshifting.
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"The turbocharged 2.5-liter engine, with 277 horsepower, provides plenty of power for easy merging onto the freeway, even with four full-size adults aboard. While we like this engine and appreciate its abundant low-end torque, it can be a bit grumbly during mild acceleration. Similarly, the shift timing of the 8-speed dual-clutch automatic is good, but occasionally the last downshift that occurs as the Santa Fe rolls to a stop can be a little clunky."
Kelley Blue Book
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"The turbocharged 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine is well suited for the job. With 277 horsepower, it makes for a Santa Fe that climbs long highway grades with ease, even when all five seats are occupied. Turbo boost arrives quickly and in smooth fashion. If there’s one complaint, it’s this: The engine, which employs both port and direct fuel injection, is a bit grumbly during light acceleration. But power does reach all four of the Santa Fe’s wheels via an 8-speed automatic transmission that shifts smoothly during acceleration."
Autotrader
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"But the base engine and transmission leave us cold. The SUV often feels underpowered with the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. While the uplevel turbo is quicker, it’s priced very close to the bigger Hyundai Palisade."
Consumer Reports
MPG Estimates
Regardless of engine, the Hyundai Santa Fe gets above-average gas mileage for the midsize SUV class.
SE and SEL, FWD: 25/28 mpg city/highway
SE and SEL, AWD: 22/25 mpg
Limited and Calligraphy, FWD: 22/28 mpg
Limited and Calligraphy, AWD: 21/28 mpg
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Handling and Braking
The Santa Fe is more engaging to drive than many of its rivals. It’s not athletic, but its hefty steering and strong brakes help it stand out. However, on bumpy or uneven roads, the Santa Fe can feel stiff or jittery. Many of its classmates have gentler rides.
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"The Santa Fe's steering is heavier than the numb and lighter steering in many crossovers. On the highway, there are no dead spots or latency to speak of. It's no Alfa Romeo, but it's responsive and a victor in this segment. The ride can tend towards jittery depending on the road, and you may catch the rear seatbacks jiggling along in the rearview mirror."
Car and Driver
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"Our drivers universally commented on how stiff the ride feels, almost as if the tires are overinflated. (We checked; they're not.) It doesn’t really isolate the impact from bumps and ruts, or when going over expansion joints on the highway and bridges. What makes it worse is that the stiff ride doesn’t bring any handling benefit."
Consumer Reports
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"With about as many body motions as you'd expect of a mainstream SUV and the slightly long-travel brake pedal, the Santa Fe delivered a sportier experience than … expected. Off the track, the 2021 Santa Fe rides smoother than the Sorento but not as well as the superbly tuned Outback."
Motor Trend
2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Dealer Inventory in Washington, DC (20007)
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