![]() The 2021 model year also sees the introduction of the Calligraphy trim level to the Santa Fe lineup, slotting above the Limited as the nicest Santa Fe you can get. Does ‘Calligraphy’ Write Checks the Interior Can’t Cash? Still, if Hyundai wanted to throw some performance tires on the Santa Fe and retune the suspension, a Santa Fe N Line or full N version might give the Ford Edge ST a run for the “Why Does This Exist?” performance SUV title. Upgrading to the optional 20-inch wheels for an extra $200 might exacerbate some of these issues. We also noticed a bit of jitteriness at highway speeds. Ride and handling with my vehicle’s 19-inch wheels weren’t bad by any stretch, but nor were they quite up to spirited driving. Our only quibbles with the new Santa Fe’s driving experience are that the dual-clutch transmission can still feel a little herky-jerky during very low-speed driving, and that, of all things, the ride and handling don’t quite match the powertrain’s performance. Your mileage may vary, literally, particularly if you frequently indulge in the Santa Fe’s Sport driving mode and bury the accelerator pedal into the floor, but it’s capable of better fuel economy than the previous powertrain. An all-wheel-drive 2021 Santa Fe with the 2.5 turbo is rated 21/28/24 mpg city/highway/combined, while an AWD 2020 Santa Fe powered by the 2.0-liter turbo managed a rating of only 20/26/22 mpg. ![]() Power delivery is swift and linear, and passing power is always readily available.īut wait, there’s more! Surely a larger displacement engine with significantly more power would come with a gas mileage penalty, right? It doesn’t, at least according to the EPA. Not because it will blow away supercars off the line - though it will win more stoplight drag races than you might expect - but because it’s such a radical departure from the experience of the previous, frustrating Santa Fe turbo. The most powerful Santa Fe is now … quick - almost unnervingly so. It’s paired with the new dual-clutch transmission, which shifts smartly through gears and is not only willing but happy to downshift. The 2.5 turbo (replacing the 2.0 turbo) makes 281 horsepower and 311 pounds-feet of torque - increases of 46 hp and 51 pounds-feet. The vehicle we tested, however, had the cream-of-the crop setup: A turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder that ditches the traditional torque-converter eight-speed automatic transmission for an eight-speed wet dual-clutch automatic. The new standard engine is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder (replacing a 2.4-liter four-pot), and there’s a new Santa Fe Hybrid, as well. ![]() “Hyundai can do better,” we said then, “and should.”Ģ021 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy | photo by Christian LantryĪs part of the Santa Fe’s updates for 2021, Hyundai gave it three new powertrains. Despite its win, our conclusion was that “we’d like to see the 2.0T powertrain improved.” The judges - of whom I was one - all preferred to drive other SUVs in the test when we had a choice. The engine produced only modest power, and the transmission seemed dead set against letting anyone use what power it had. The only thing holding the Santa Fe back was its optional turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and eight-speed automatic transmission. Related: How Do Car Seats Fit in a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe? All those are still strengths in the new Santa Fe. It was the lowest-priced vehicle in our test by more than $4,000, and it used its combination of value, straightforward and useful tech, and a well-appointed interior to grab the title. In that test, the previous generation of the Hyundai Santa Fe eked out a victory by a single point. Though it feels like ages ago, it hasn’t been two years since we last compared mid-size five-seat SUVs. And now it can be fun to drive, too? Rude. Versus the competition: Even with a new top trim level, called Calligraphy, the most expensive Santa Fe is still more affordable than most of its rivals’ high-end offerings - and a great value in terms of features for the money. ![]() The verdict: A new optional powertrain fixes the most significant weakness in the otherwise well-rounded Santa Fe.
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