The new 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy represents an entirely new direction for the Hyundai brand. All new from the ground up, it looks as though it’s ready for Safari, or even road-tripping into the future. Napleton News is always ready to head off toward the open road. Here’s what we thought about the new Santa Fe.
What’s new on the Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy
The new 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe is larger in build, style and features. The boxy exterior gives way to an enlarged interior with standard three row seating and the latest in automotive technology.
It is available in five different trim levels ranging from the base SE to the top-shelf Santa Fe Calligraphy model. We were able to test the Calligraphy and came away impressed. Sure, it wasn’t total perfection we liked what we saw!
The panoramic curved display really caught our eye, but so did the stacked menus that caused us to take our eyes off the road from time to time.
Under the Hood of the Santa Fe
This new Hyundai features a choice of engines ranging from the standard 2.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder making 277 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. It is matched to an eight-speed automatic transmission with front, or optional all-wheel drive. With our Calligraphy model, Hyundai’s HTRAC AWD is standard, as are 21-inch signature wheels, since it is, uh the Calligraphy.
The Santa Fe Hybrid is motivated by a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gas-electric hybrid engine. It makes a combined 231 horsepower and 271 lb-ft of torque. It is connected to a six-speed automatic transmission. According to Hyundai officials, there will be no plug-in hybrid for the US market, at least this year.
It’s in the box.
The new Santa Fe design is nothing, if not boxy. It dispenses with the angular, flowing looks of the previous Santa Fe, instead opting for a boxier look. It actually takes on the appearance of a member of the Range Rover family. That’s actually high praise indeed.
The 2024 Santa Fe still manages to fit between the Hyundai Tucson and the Palisade. In fact, it’s 8 inches longer than the Tucson and about 6.5 inches less than the Palisade.
One of the coolest looks on this year’s new Santa Fe is the “H” lighting motif that is part of the headlight signature at the very front of the vehicle. At the rear is a rather cavernous cargo hold opening. It offers extra space and lends an overall airiness to the entire look and feel of the new Santa Fe.
Interior Decorating in the new Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy.
The curved display screen is the elephant in the room of the new Santa Fe. It offers a sweeping view of all the controls including dual-zone climate control, cellular connectivity, navigation, audio system and many vehicle controls. Some are hidden a bit deeply in the menus, which can be annoying and distracting at the same time.
In most Santa Fe models, there is seating for seven via a 2-3-2 configuration from front to back. This includes a second-row bench seat. In the highline Calligraphy model, that number drops to six, thanks to the pair of captain’s chairs in the second row.
There’s a pair of wireless charging pads in the center console. Nappa leather seating and recycled materials are used to dress the interior further. The “twist to drive” column shifter is a slick feature with a spring-like function that returns to its center position once it has been shifted to your desired gear.
Behind the wheel of the Santa Fe.
Starting the new Santa Fe is an easy feat, most times as it’s easy for the starter button to get hidden by the gear selector and windshield wiper controls. Cameras give the complete bird’s eye view around and behind the vehicle as we back out of the drive. Flick the gear selector forward and you are off. We averaged about 20.4 mpg between West Palm Beach and Ocala, FL. That’s not spectacular, but it’s not terrible either.
There’s a lot of vehicle to move here. We were surprised, at times, at the hesitation as things got underway. Once we were underway, we accelerated quickly, when we needed to, in an effort to get past the less-experienced drivers slogging along on the northbound Florida Turnpike.
The Santa Fe was actually very quiet once we were on the relatively well-kept northbound route. It seems Hyundai engineers have managed to isolate all the extraneous road noise. This makes the new Santa Fe Calligraphy a case study in upscale motoring.
Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy Specifications
| Engine Type | 2.5-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder |
| Horsepower | 277 hp @5,800 rpm |
| Torque | 311 lb-ft @1,700 rpm |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic transmission |
| EPA Fuel Economy Equivalent (Combined/City/Hwy) | 23/20/28 MPG |
| Suspension F/R | MacPherson Strut / Multilink |
| Turning Circle | 37.9 ft. |
| Also Available | various trim levels, hybrid, front wheel drive |
| Specs | |
| Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| Powertrain Warranty | 10 years/100,000 miles |
| NHTSA Safety Rating | Not Rated |
| Max Seating Capacity | 6 passengers |
| Wheelbase | 110.8 inches |
| Overall Length | 190.2 inches |
| Width | 74.8 inches |
| Height | 69.7 inches |
| Headroom, Front | 40.2 inches |
| Headroom, 2nd | 39.6 inches |
| Headroom, 3rd | 37.7 inches |
| Legroom, 1st | 44.4 inches |
| Legroom, 2nd | 42.3 inches |
| Legroom, 3rd | 30.0 inches |
| Shoulder room, 1st row | 59.5 inches |
| Shoulder room, 2nd row | 58.1 inches |
| Shoulder room, 3rd row | 53.5 inches |
