For a while now, Hyundai’s been hauling in award after award for brand new electrical automobiles, Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6 in addition to its flagship sport-utility car, the full-size Pallisade.
The Pallisade, which arrived in 2020, has been the topper on the South Korean automaker’s assortment of SUVs it’s been working to increase for years. The heat, fuzzy reception of the full-size ute has evened out into multi-year love affair.
It’s nearly sufficient to make you neglect it’s bought a slew of different spectacular utes, notably the ute slotted just below it, the Santa Fe.
Overview
The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy with all-wheel drive has been a pleasant praise to its massive sibling. It gives nice worth in addition to a premium really feel within the Calligraphy trim stage. Consumers appear to agree as gross sales for the two-row, five-passenger ute are up 8% by way of April.
It is available in a slew of trim packages, beginning with entry stage SE and rising by way of the SEL, XRT, Blue, Limited and at last Calligraphy, which places the SUV within the close to premium vary.
Exterior
The exterior design is easy, however engaging. It’s anchored by a big grille that’s tough to overlook. It makes the Santa Fe look athletic and succesful, however not comical. The grille is flanked by slit-like headlights which might be ubiquitous in Hyundai’s line-up of crossovers and SUVs
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As you progress down the aspect of the Santa Fe, you decide up a crease that emanates from the sting of the headlight, working alongside its beltline from entrance to rear, ending on the fringe of the taillight. It’s mirrored with a crease alongside the underside third of the doorways that give it some stability, providing definition and symmetry.
The rear of the Santa Fe is actually a complement to the remainder of the car. That crease that melds into to the taillights splits the place the seam for the liftgate is, creating a brand new “almost” spoiler throughout the again of the liftgate. Not as compelling as the remainder of the car, however it completes the athletic and fashionable look of the Santa Fe.
Interior
Moving inside, our tester’s black inside contrasted properly with the Shimmering silver exterior, and the sunshine introduced in by the panoramic roof provides the ute a premium really feel.
That really feel carries over to the Nappa leather-based seats with quilted uppers in each rows of seats. The seats are supple, offering loads of assist whereas entry to the second-row break up bench seat is simple and cozy.
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What I get pleasure from concerning the Santa Fe is its simplicity. It’s not spare, however it’s not overdone. It’s class by way of effectivity.
That is till you get to the middle console the place a dizzying array of buttons awaits you. It’s residence to the gear selector — buttons, local weather controls — buttons, seat heaters and ventilators — buttons, and infotainment controls — yup, you guessed it: buttons.
However, in case you take a couple of minutes whenever you first get in, and also you’ll rapidly see there’s a technique to the insanity. And in an period the place drivers should plod by way of a number of touchscreen menus to perform the only of duties … that is higher.
Powertrain
The Santa Fe Calligraphy is powered by a 2.5-liter turbocharged inline 4, mated to an 8-speed computerized with paddle shifters. It places out 281 horsepower and options HRTRAC, Hyundai’s all-wheel drive system.
It gives greater than sufficient energy for any maneuver you’re inclined to undertake. The inline 4 cylinder, in response to the EPA, will get 21 mpg within the metropolis, 28 on the freeway and 24 mpg mixed. I bought a bit of over 25 mpg with out working too laborious.
![2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy interior REL](https://i0.wp.com/www.thedetroitbureau.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/2023-Hyundai-Santa-Fe-Calligraphy-interior-REL-1024x683.jpg?resize=788%2C526&ssl=1)
And whereas it’s an SUV with all-wheel drive, its off-road journey functionality is restricted … or mainly nil. However, the all-wheel drive right here is nice for snowy days and rain-slickened roads to provide you a litte little bit of assurance that you just’ll be capable to get to wherever you’re going.
Safety and Technology
Since we’re speaking about getting the place you need to go safely, let’s deal with that first. The Santa Fe options loads of driver help and security expertise anticipated on higher trim stage SUVs on this phase. Of notice are the cameras that show the car’s blind spots when a flip sign is activated, simply supplying you with an added measure of confidence that comes with higher imaginative and prescient — it additionally assist the motive force decrease the possibilities of curb rash.
It additionally incorporates a encompass view monitor, blind-spot view monitor, rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance help, ahead collision-avoidance help, parking collision-avoidance help, lane following help and sufficient airbags to permit the ute to drift.
![2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy quilted front seats REL](https://i0.wp.com/www.thedetroitbureau.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/2023-Hyundai-Santa-Fe-Calligraphy-quilted-front-seats-REL-1024x683.jpg?resize=788%2C526&ssl=1)
Now that you just really feel protected, you need to be snug which begins with heated and ventilated seats within the entrance row, they’re simply heated within the again. The 12.3-inch instrument cluster permits for a transparent view of all readouts — though the amazingly crisp head-up show could make it out of date — whereas a ten.25-inch touchscreen provides you quick access to all of the infotainment controls.
That infotainment is anchored by a Harman Kardon premium sound system so whenever you hyperlink to Apple CarPlay or Android Auto the music or podcasts sound crystal clear — and so they do. Again, the gear selector and lots of the local weather controls are tied to a button-laden panel, however I forgive it as a result of easy-to-use wi-fi telephone charger.
Driving Impressions
I might prattle on about physique roll (there’s some), wanting a bit of extra off-the-line energy (I do), or are the seats nearly as good as they give the impression of being (they’re higher in my view) — however these considerations are secondary whenever you’re driving a car just like the Santa Fe Calligraphy.
No one’s racing this factor round city or touring out their favourite off-road mountain climbing path within the Santa Fe. They need to put 4 or 5 folks and their stuff in it comfortably whereas feeling just like the can simply merge with freeway site visitors and the Santa Fe actually does that with none downside.
2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy AWD Specifications
Dimensions | L: 188.4 inches/W: 74.8 inches/H: 66.3 inches/Wheelbase: 108.9 inches |
Weight | n/a |
Powertrain | 2.5-liter inline 4-cylinder engine with electrical motor; 8-speed computerized transmission and AWD |
Fuel Economy | 21 mpg metropolis/28 mpg freeway/24 mpg mixed |
Performance Specs | 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque |
Price | Base worth: $43,750; As examined: $45,255 plus $1,295 vacation spot and dealing with |
On-Sale Date | Available now |
Wrap Up
So, for a bit of greater than $45 grand, you will get a spacious, snug, succesful near-luxury SUV, which is a tricky deal to beat today.
That makes it price a glance and a check drive in my e book.
Source: www.thedetroitbureau.com