Looking for a big family car that’s going to catch the eye of your neighbours – or anyone else giving it a casual sideways glance?
Hyundai’s revised Santa Fe might look as boxy as an old Volvo estate but you’d have had a job cramming seven people into one of them.
Not so the Santa Fe, because here’s a seven seater that actually does what it says on the tin. Might not be that easy to access the two at the back but when you do there’s plenty room for a full sized adult. Or two.
That big distinctive square shape at the rear hints at the amount of available space and the middle row of seats also offer plenty room for those aboard. Everyone gets a USB point close to hand, as we all know kids can’t travel more than 10 yards without having access to their phones. And plenty adults are the same too!
The suspension is set up for the comfort of those aboard, so the ride is softish. It doesn’t roll around too much and the steering feels accurate enough.
Where it lets itself down a bit is the engine, efficient enough but maybe not a smooth as you might expect. It’s hefty kerb weight of over two tonnes means it takes a bit of moving and can be quite audible under reasonable acceleration, but settles down to an acceptable level when motorway cruising. And enveloped in town traffic, it’s fine.
Santa Fe is purely petrol-electric in this latest generation, with a four-cylinder direct injection turbocharged 1.6-litre developing 158bhp. The regular hybrid has a 64bhp electric motor and develops a combined 236bhp.
The plug-in version – which, just like the hybrid, has been upgraded for 2026 – gets a 105bhp motor and delivers a maximum 284bhp. It features a 13.8kWh battery giving you 34 miles of silent running, whereas the hybrid makes do with a 1.5kWh battery.
For a big car, it’s surprising easy to manoeuvre and park, thanks to the crystal clear rear view camera and birds eye view. Its 11.6-metre turning circle help the Santa Fe squeeze into parking spots that its 4.8 metre length would otherwise have you thinking twice about.
In fact the overall level of equipment is generous and cameras in the door mirrors give you a handy live view of what’s alongside in the instrument binnacle when the indicators are used.
Santa Fe has a regenerative braking system like you would find in a full EV and you can adjust its strength using paddles on the steering wheel.
There’s definitely a hint of Land Rover Defender about it. It’s not just an attractive piece of design inside and out, but it’s also roomy and stands out from the SUV crowd. You can’t deny it’s distinctive.
Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy hybrid 4WD
Price: £53,380
Engine: 1.6 litre, four cylinder, petrol
Power: 158bhp
Torque: 195 lb/ft
Transmission: 6 speed automatic
Top speed: 98mph
0-62mph: 13.2 seconds
Economy: 39.8mpg
CO2 emissions: 161g/km
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