But next to those Toyota twins, or the segment-leading Ford Escape Hybrid, it’s simply not as efficient. Granted, it’s superior to a gas-only version of this same sport utility by about 2.5 L/100 km, and that adds up quickly. What’s considerably less so is the amount of fuel the Santa Fe Hybrid consumes. Even the regenerative brakes are just right, with progressive pedal feel rather than the softness that’s typical to this class. Though slightly larger than the average entry in the segment, this easily counts among the most enjoyably alert sport utilities of its kind to drive. There’s even a surprising level of agility and responsiveness here. And since it uses a six-speed automatic instead of a CVT, this Santa Fe never strains itself to pull off a pass or accelerate from a stop the way rivals like the Toyota Venza or RAV4 Hybrid do.Įven more than the gas-electric version of the Ford Explorer, the Santa Fe Hybrid operates with little indication that it’s anything but a conventionally powered SUV. ![]() But even when it does, the 1.6L barely stirs before taking over driving duty. With that 44-kW electric motor under the hood, acceleration starts in pure silence just like any other hybrid before the gas engine kicks in. All together, net system output stands at 226 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. That’s the stuff that makes it go, and working alongside the gear ratios of the automatic transmission, this Santa Fe accelerates with little indication that there’s an extra dose of electrons on board. More crucially, peak torque kicks in at just 1,500 rpm. That four-cylinder makes 178 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque on its own – not a ton by modern standards, but more than enough. Utilizing the brand’s small-but-stout 1.6L turbo and a six-speed automatic transmission, as well as standard all-wheel drive, this powertrain behaves like a regular gas-powered sport utility and it’s better for it. While it’s typical for an automaker to pair a thermal-efficient four-cylinder – usually one running on the Atkinson cycle – with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) in a hybrid like this, Hyundai has gone with a far more conventional setup. ![]() In fact, it drives like any other SUV this size thanks to a unique combination of a turbocharged gas engine and traditional automatic transmission to go with its extra electrified goodies. So the automaker has done what it does best, with the 2021 version getting a few key tweaks in an attempt to turn heads.Īnd while the styling updates are noteworthy on their own, it’s the all-new 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid that should earn some extra attention, with near imperceptible operation that leaves very few hints about its gas-electric underpinnings. It seems one of Hyundai’s most popular products is in the midst of something of an identity crisis.Īfter all, it was only a couple years ago that the Santa Fe underwent a complete overhaul, though it wasn’t especially well received – at least not according to the annual sales charts.
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