By Sam Charlwood, carsales.com.au
The days of dirty diesel-powered family SUVs are done and dusted. As more Australian families are parking high-riding wagons in their driveways than ever before, consumer tastes are changing.
The large SUV segment was once almost exclusively the domain of diesel-engined models, but car makers are turning away from oil burners and transplanting cleaner, greener petrol-electric hybrid powertrains in their place.
For Hyundai, the introduction of the Santa Fe Hybrid is a big occasion. It’s the South Korean brand’s first hybrid SUV and comes with excellent on-paper credentials that should be appealing to suburban Aussie families with an eco-friendly conscious.
So, how does the hybrid compare as an everyday family SUV? Let’s find out…
Hybrid comes at a premium
Hyundai has taken a premium approach with the arrival of the Santa Fe Hybrid, which is only offered in upper-spec Elite and Highlander model grades.
As such, the petrol-electric Santa Fe Hybrid range starts at $63,000 plus on-road costs for the Elite and jumps to $69,550 plus on-road costs for the flagship Highlander.
Those prices account for a $3000 premium over existing Santa Fe diesel options and a $6500 premium on the front-drive Santa Fe V6 petrol.
That said, Hyundai has undercut the closely related Kia Sorento Hybrid by $3750 at base level and comes with the bonus inclusion of all-wheel drive as standard (although Hyundai has no answer for the new $81K-plus Sorento plug-in hybrid).
The like-for-like comparison between the Kia Sorento Hybrid GT-Line and flagship Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Highlander is closer though, with the Kia costing just $200 more.
Conversely, Toyota’s popular three-grade Kluger Hybrid range opens at $54,150 plus on-road costs.
Mirror, mirror
Apart from what’s under the bonnet, the 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid essentially mirrors the specifications of the regular Santa Fe range.
Visually, there are very few subtle cues to differentiate the hybrid models: some tell-tale badging on the tailgate and the introduction of uniquely designed aero-friendly five-spoke 19-inch alloy wheels.
Otherwise, standard specifications on the Elite grade extend to leather upholstery, a powered tailgate, dual-zone climate control, full exterior LED lighting, auto-dimming rear-view mirror and heated front seats.
Stepping up the Highlander adds premium Nappa leather, ambient lighting, a panoramic glass sunroof, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear outboard seats, remote park assist, blind-spot view monitor and an optional (no-cost) new six-seat layout reserved exclusively for the top-spec hybrid.
We’ll get to the infotainment details further below.
The Santa Fe is backed by Hyundai Australia’s five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, while the battery is backed by a separate eight-year/160,000km term.
Hyundai has yet to outline exact servicing costs but confirms the Santa Fe Hybrid is subject to shorter 10,000km (and 12-month) servicing intervals. That compares with 12 month/15,000km intervals for other models.
Safe cracked
The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe range comes with a five-star ANCAP safety rating from 2018, but the new hybrid version isn’t officially included in that rating due to the unique powertrain configuration.
But the new model offers the same comprehensive suite of safety aids as regular models, including forward collision avoidance assist (AEB) with junction turning assist, lane following assist, multi-collision braking, rear-cross traffic alert, parking collision avoidance assist, blind spot view monitor, safe exit assist, rear occupant alert, driver attention warning with leading vehicle departure alert and adaptive cruise control.
There are also seven airbags, including a front centre side airbag. However, as it is with the Santa Fe’s sister model, the Kia Sorento, third-row occupants do not get full airbag coverage with the side curtains only extending across the glass and not the roof pillar.
Digital age
Both the Elite and Highlander grades of the Santa Fe Hybrid get a 10.25-inch infotainment system with DAB digital radio, satellite-navigation and smartphone mirroring, plus a premium Harman Kardon sound system.
The caveat with the smartphone mirroring function is that it is only via a wired connection; lesser variants of the Santa Fe offer a cordless connectivity option.
Over the Elite grade, the Santa Fe Hybrid Highlander adds a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and head-up display.
Handily, both grades offer a ‘Driver Talk’ feature, which uses a high-definition microphone and the Santa Fe’s audio system to allow the driver to speak to rear occupants without raising their voice.
No compromise on space
The Hybrid’s interior presents just like any other Santa Fe and, critically, doesn’t alter with the interior proportions.
That’s good news, because the cabin is cleverly packaged, comfortable, has a premium ambience with quality materials, a practical design and loads of incidental storage.
Up front, the 10.25-inch touch screen display and digital instrument cluster are easy to use, intuitive and fast with their reaction speeds.
We also appreciate the array of buttons and switchgear to control basic functions – which are simple and seamless to navigate on the move – plus the fitment of a huge open storage area underneath, replete with charging points in the middle of the transmission tunnel.
The Santa Fe’s second row offers excellent proportions for little ones or adults alike, especially in our test vehicle which was fitted with the no-cost optional six-seat layout (with two captain’s chairs instead of a bench seat) that theoretically provides a walk-through (read: crawl-through) passage to the third row. The rear seat is serviced by separate air-vents, sunshades integrated into the door cards, USB ports and cup-holders.
The second-row seat’s fore-aft sliding adjustment is another boon, allowing occupants to prioritise respective leg space or boot space.
The adjustability is probably just as well, as the Santa Fe doesn’t quite match its seven-seat SUV rivals where third-row space is concerned. Rather, this is more of an occasional seven-seater, the kind you’d use when a child’s friend stays to visit.
Even though the rear-most bleachers are serviced by air-vents, cup-holders and separate power outlets, the smaller proportions and lack of full airbag coverage are key concerns.
Otherwise, the generous 571-litre boot offers ample room for a couple of full-size suitcases or a designer pram, together with a flat floor, quick-fold buttons to stow the second row and a large loading aperture.
The Santa Fe’s inclusion of a full-size spare wheel underneath is another noteworthy inclusion, and surprisingly uncommon in this space – especially considering the space required for the battery pack.
It’s all hidden
The biggest differences are under the skin with the petrol-electric powertrain.
The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid combines a 132kW/265Nm 1.6-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine with a six-speed automatic transmission and a 44kW electric motor for combined outputs of 169kW of power and 350Nm of torque.
The electric motor draws current from a small 1.49kWh lithium-ion battery mounted at the rear.
Crucially, this is a closed-loop parallel (plugless) hybrid system, so there is no recharging from a power socket. Like the Kluger Hybrid, the Santa Fe Hybrid captures energy on the move and under braking to recharge its small battery, which provides electrical assistance to the petrol engine as required.
Hyundai hasn’t published any performance claims for the electrified seven-seat SUV but has confirmed a significantly reduced maximum braked towing capacity of 1650kg (with 100kg down weight on the tow ball) compared to the 2500kg figures of the petrol and diesel versions, which is in line with its Sorento Hybrid cousin.
Similarly, the Santa Fe Hybrid isn’t rated to carry a load on its roof, whereas the diesel version offers a 100kg rating.
The Hybrid model combines a familiar MacPherson strut front suspension arrangement with a multi-link set-up at the rear. Hyundai engaged with engineers in South Korea to devise a different suspension tune for the hybrid sold in Australia, but unlike other Hyundai models it wasn’t developed on local roads.
A small saving
The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid has an official combined fuel consumption figure of 6.0L/100km – 0.1L/100km lower than the all-paw turbo-diesel (6.1L/100km) and a substantial 4.0L/100km lower than the V6 petrol (10L/100km).
CO2 emissions are pegged at a portfolio-leading 137g/km.
Uniquely hybrid
The hybrid-ness of the Santa Fe imparts a different kind of driving experience compared to its more conventionally powered models.
As with Toyota’s longstanding hybrid technology, the electric motor does much of the heavy lifting when accelerating from a standstill and during light throttle loads. This creates an element of serenity inside the cabin at low speeds that is a small and welcome departure from Hyundai’s existing diesel and petrol Santa Fe options.
Equally, the steering is light at low speeds and the key controls are nicely tuned to offer adequate weighting and feedback. A relatively tight 11.4-metre turning circle and just 2.53 turns lock-to-lock team nicely with the Santa Fe’s relatively compact 4.78-metre length to provide easy navigation through car parks, tight spaces and during inner-city driving.
An earnest prod of the accelerator pedal is all it takes to activate the petrol motor, and it does so quite intuitively and smoothly. With both motors operating together, the Santa Fe Hybrid can build speed deceptively quickly around town, cleverly maximising the propulsion available from electric and petrol power sources as required.
Ultimately, the 1.6-litre powertrain doesn’t quite offer the same level of low-rev pulling power as its diesel stablemate and becomes a little thrashy in its sound as you approach the upper reaches of the dial. Similarly, the older-style six-speed automatic transmission doesn’t deliver the same expediency in its shifts as Hyundai’s other gearbox options.
It’s not gutless, but it does require a little forethought when planning overtaking manoeuvres and building to highway speeds.
Elsewhere, the Hybrid delivers many of the same driving traits of the regular Santa Fe range, including a secure and surefooted demeanour on the road and excellent driver safety aids (with the exception of the lane keep assist, which is a little intrusive but easy enough to turn off).
On first impression, we’d say the hybrid feels a little more sensitive to small-amplitude bumps than its diesel stablemate, reflecting its 40kg heavier kerb mass (about 1.9 tonnes). But it recovers nicely from larger bumps in the road and feels controlled, with only an occasional thud over harsher obstacles.
Conversely, the hybrid feels lighter over its nose, a trait which endows more confident directional changes and a slightly more attentive character on a winding road.
Fuel use? We managed a respectable 6.5L/100km on test – mostly unladen in a mix of conditions – which is only marginally above the claim.
Off the blacktop
If you want a little adventure, the 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid can take you off the beaten path onto unsealed, light sand and gravel surfaces, armed with a Terrain Mode which can tailor parameters for engine and braking control and torque vectoring across Snow, Mud or Sand settings.
However, the Santa Fe Hybrid only has 176mm of ground clearance which will limit how far you can go beyond the Black Stump.
City Slick
So, does the Santa Fe Hybrid usher in a new age good enough to make diesel redundant?
Well, that depends on what you need your family SUV to do and where you live. For suburban families or those who err towards short commutes, it’s a welcome and efficient new real-world option.
But for those that live out of town (your correspondent included) or often drive long distances on the highway, the diesel’s superior torque delivery, greater towing capacity, lower purchase price and longer service intervals still make it the variant to have.
2022 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Highlander at a glance:
| Price: $69,550 (plus on-road costs) |
Transmission: Six-speed automatic transmission |
| Available: Now |
Fuel: 6.0L/100km (ADR Combined) |
| Powertrain: 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol-electric |
CO2: 137g/km (ADR Combined) |
| Output: 132kW/265Nm (electric motor: 44kW/264Nm) |
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2018) |
| Combined output: 169kW/350Nm |
Disclaimer: Images supplied by Hyundai Australia.
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