By Amanda Mfuphi

The fifth-generation Hyundai Santa Fe 1.6T Hybrid, which was launched in South Africa in June 2025, recently made its way into our garage, and we must say it certainly made a bold entry and impressed on all fronts. As Hyundai’s first venture into hybrid drivetrains in South Africa, it immediately piqued our interest, and we were keen to experience what the fifth-generation Santa Fe has to offer.

Exterior styling

The fifth-generation Santa Fe is markedly different from its predecessor and features a bold exterior design that adopts a boxy character with square and rectangular cues. Up front, the new Santa Fe sports a slim, long black grille that stretches across the fascia. This grille is flanked by distinctive “H”-styled LED daytime running lights, which echo the Hyundai badge, and an LED light strip that connects the DRLs.

The side and rear profile of the new Hyundai Santa Fe follows a clean, straight-line design with minimal curves, aligning with the vehicle’s boxy and rectangular aesthetic. The side profile features angular wheel arches and roof rails, while the Santa Fe rides on 20-inch alloy wheels. At the rear, you are greeted by two “H”-styled taillights, a large Hyundai badge, the model designation, and a powered tailgate. The rear design is somewhat polarising, particularly due to the placement of the taillights low on the tailgate. Completing the exterior package is a large panoramic sunroof.

Interior

Inside, the cabin oozes premium luxury, modernity, and comfort for both the driver and all passengers. The new Santa Fe offers three rows of seating for up to seven occupants and provides ample headroom and legroom across all rows, including the third row.

Standard features include leather upholstery, electronically adjustable front seats with heating and cooling, heated second-row seats, and USB-C charging ports for all rows, including the third row.

The cabin is anchored by a 12.3-inch curved display that integrates the infotainment touchscreen and the digital instrument cluster, paired with a 12-speaker Bose sound system. The infotainment system supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Additional highlights include wireless charging for front occupants, a heated steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, and ambient lighting.

The interior not only looks premium but also feels premium, thanks to the plush materials used throughout. These include quilted Nappa-like leather, soft-touch trim, and brushed aluminium accents.

The Santa Fe is well equipped with standard safety and convenience features such as blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, forward collision avoidance braking, adaptive cruise control, park distance control with a 360-degree camera, and keyless entry and ignition.

The drive

The new Hyundai Santa Fe is powered by a hybrid powertrain that combines a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine with a 44 kW electric motor. Together, they deliver a combined output of 175 kW and 367 Nm, sent to all four wheels via a 6-speed automatic transmission.

We found the power delivery to be refined, smooth, and responsive overall. However, those familiar with the previous-generation 2.2-litre diesel engine will notice a difference when attempting quick overtaking manoeuvres, largely due to the lower torque output. That said, we do not see this as a deal breaker, and the overall driving experience remains enjoyable and well balanced.

Coincidentally, the Santa Fe arrived just in time for a wedding trip to Newcastle in KwaZulu-Natal, giving us the opportunity to experience it on a longer journey combined with suburban driving. The approximately 340 km drive from Johannesburg to Newcastle was handled with ease, and the Santa Fe delivered a relaxed and effortless drive without fatigue setting in. The 20-inch alloy wheels coped well with imperfect road conditions along the way.

From a full tank, we achieved an estimated driving range of around 890 km. Upon arrival in Newcastle, we had used just under a quarter of a tank and were left with a remaining range of over 600 km.

Price

The new Hyundai Santa Fe 1.6T Hybrid Elite is priced at R1,249,900. This includes a 6-year or 90,000 km service plan, a 7-year or 200,000 km manufacturer warranty, and an 8-year or 160,000 km battery