Hyundai put the Santa Fe through an extensive freshening for 2021, giving it new, more powerful engines, upscale interior styling, and a hybrid version. As before, it slots in between compact and midsized SUVs in terms of its footprint. But the reworked controls have become less user-friendly, and the base engine feels feeble and gets noisy when pushed hard.
We think the hybrid version, which combines a small turbo four cylinder with an electric motor for a combined 225 hp that's mated to a six-speed automatic, is the sweet spot within the Santa Fe lineup, owing to its power, quietness, and 30 mpg overall fuel economy.