2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Customer Reviews

Pros

• Braking

  She likes it all except the little red warning triangle could be yellow like on our subaru last owned yellow shows up better.

Cons

Pros

• Ride and Handling

  love everything about the car except the turbo lag on take off! Style,fit and comfort can’t be beat.

Cons

Pros

• Cabin Noise

  Quiet ride, no creaks or vibrations, especially when in EV mode. Engine does not drone on the highway.

• Fuel Economy

  I regularly get 48 MPG in mine - which is well over the estimated EPA rating of 31. I also run 93 no ethanol only, and use AMSOIL hybrid oil and change it every 3500 miles. No special treatment on the road, it’s driven like a regular car. I pay no attention to how efficiently I drive when I drive, although I regularly use cruise and pass assertively. I don’t bog the engine on hills.

• Technology and Entertainment

  The screen can be turned off easily and the UI is fast and simple. Bluetooth works flawlessly. Wireless charging is a nice touch, but it can generate a significant amount of heat. However, it can be turned off as well.

Cons

• Power

  The 1.6L is good, but I don’t like I have to select Smart mode every drive cycle. The default is Eco. There is also a delay in power from a dead stop, as if the powertrain is off, like Auto Stop in a gas only vehicle. I prefer no drive modes, just give me the car and let me choose my “mode” by my driving style. The programming I feel is an extra layer between me and the road, which is a thorn in my side.

• Reliability

  Hyundai gonna do that Hyundai thing - had a leaking rear diff two weeks into ownership, at three weeks, a leaking oil filter. It’s a weird filter too, not a spin on, it’s a cartridge. Transmission fluid is a special type only Hyundai sells. Despite how nice it is, it’s still a disposable SUV. 5 years max life, if I had to guess. It’s definitely not meant to keep unless you rebuild it in parts from the ground up, which does not make sense unless you’re in love with the vehicle. I’m not, although it gets great mileage, so for that alone, I’d probably keep it around until the wheels fall off. Granted, I’m particular about severe duty maintenance. Most Hyundai owners are not.

• Braking

  Suspension is too soft on a hard stop. It does brake well otherwise.