- Santa Fe Hybrid strikes the best value in base SEL trim with AWD for $40,975
- It’s only $500 more than a similarly-equipped gas-only model
- But second-row captain’s chairs only come with the top Calligraphy model
One strong reason the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid won our Best Car To Buy 2025 award was because of its value. Sure, its boxy Land Rover-like styling with the letter H stamped everywhere stands out in a pool of midsize crossovers. And the fourth-generation Santa Fe gets right-sized to meet the growing needs of the three-row SUV shopper. But the most compelling factor about the new Santa Fe is its hybrid powertrain and its hybrid value.
The Hybrid model costs only $500 more than a similarly equipped gas-only Santa Fe. Factoring in the cost of ownership in fuel costs alone, the EPA estimates you’d save $3,250 over five years with the Hybrid versus its gas-only counterpart.
That makes it easy to recommend the Santa Fe Hybrid, but which trim level extracts the most figurative mileage for your money?
First, do you want all-wheel drive? It’s an $1,800 upgrade over the standard front-wheel drive. It lowers the Hybrid’s fuel economy from 35 mpg to 34 mpg combined, but adds more all-weather assurance and more grip from all four wheels. The Hybrid powertrain pairs a 1.6-liter turbo-4 with a 47.7-kw electric motor and a 1.5-kwh battery pack. It generates 231 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque, granting the three-row SUV an electric boost off the line and more responsive power on tap for say, uphill passing moves, than the 277-hp turbo-4.
One of its neater tricks comes via the 6-speed automatic transmission wedged between the engine and motor. In Sport mode, it delays the shifts to wring more power, and the driver can play with paddle shifters on the steering wheel to suit their needs. Switch the drive mode dial into Eco or Smart mode, and the paddle shifters transform into regenerative brake settings with four levels to route more power back into the battery for more efficient commuting. Or the driver can leave it all alone and let the powertrain seamlessly optimize power and efficiency.
The second consideration is which trim package is best for you. Hyundai makes this relatively easy by loading it with a range of driver-assist safety technology that includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, active lane control, and blind-spot monitors. Every Santa Fe also comes with Hyundai’s industry-leading 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, and a 10-year/100,000-mile warranty for the hybrid powertrain and parts.
There’s value in all of that, too. On to the trim levels. Opting for the Hybrid trim means you have to step over the base SE that costs about $35,500 for the gas-only model. The Santa Fe Hybrid starts in the loaded SEL grade for $39,175, including the $1,475 destination fee. That’s about $8,000 less than what the average new car shopper paid in 2024.
The Hybrid SEL comes with a 12.3-inch instrument cluster flowing into a 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. It has a wireless smartphone charger, four USB ports, a hands-free power tailgate, dual-zone climate control, heated front seats with a power driver’s seat, synthetic leather upholstery, and it rides on 18-inch alloy wheels. That’s a deal.
Covering it in Rockwood Green or Atlantis Blue doesn’t cost anything extra, and either are more interesting than black, silver, or white. We also like the white interior over black, but could see where families with littles would be wary of anything white. That gets our price to $40,975 with all-wheel drive.
But we have buts. We can’t order the captain’s chairs for the second row that lowers total seating capacity from seven to six passengers on the base SEL. We’d have to step over the Limited to the top Calligraphy model. These are big steps, economically.
The Limited costs $6,900 more to $47,875, but adds cooled power front seats, a heated steering wheel, heated outboard second-row seats, Bose sound, USB ports for the third row, and it rolls on 20-inch alloy wheels. It also has a surround-view camera system and blind-spot cameras that project onto the cluster what you can’t see beyond the big blocky pillars behind you.
The Calligraphy is $3,150 more to $51,025, but it’s nearly a luxury vehicle. It has dual wireless smartphone chargers, quilted nappa leather, massaging front seats, the second-row captain’s chairs, a rearview camera mirror, and it rolls on 21-inch black alloy wheels.
It distorts the value promise we’re so keen on, however, so maybe we’d skip the captain’s chairs here to save nearly $10,000. Then again, massaing front seats and all the USB ports could restore to the family road trip the idea that getting there is actually half the fun, especially when you’re not stopping to fill the tank as often.