The five-row crossover SUV market now has at least four sub-categories. The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe resides in the on-pavement roomy five passenger crossover SUV category. It’s bigger than the compact vehicles in this category epitomized by the Toyota RAV4, and it has no real off-road capabilities like the Toyota 4Runner does or Ford Bronco or Bronco Sport do. Based on our testing, this category is one where value, comfort, and technology are all at their maximums.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe is a great vehicle for those who want a crossover in the shape of an SUV. The hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains are unique in many ways, and outstanding in daily use. The Santa Fe also has more space than most five-passenger SUVs, and it is laid out in a way that makes the most of that ample space. The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid feels upscale and modern, despite being on its way out as a new for 2024 generation is here. We also found the Santa Fe offered the perfect mix of modern touch-screen and ample buttons for things you might want to touch with one tap without looking while driving.

If you want a roomy five-passenger SUV, the Honda Passport delivers. It offers ample space, and the bigness is felt everywhere in the cabin. If size is what you are primarily seeking, Honda makes the choice very easy in this segment. The Passport also has an off-pavement trim that deserves respect for its ability to get you to the end of the trailhead or safely to your camping spot. What the Passport does not offer is a green powertrain, and Hyundai offers you two.

The 4Runner is a rugged body-on frame SUV with true off-road capabilities. Toyota has spent decades polishing this gem until it was exactly what many shoppers wanted. This is a great vehicle for mall crawls, or legit off-roading depending on what trim you opt for. With a big V6 engine and available low-range transfer case, it never fails to provide the torque and power needed to get the job done. No green powertrain because Toyota has a long list of other vehicles that scratch that itch. This SUV is more of a contrast than a comparison to the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe.

Hybrids are outselling all other green vehicles at Hyundai and nearly every other brand. The reason is that they offer a similar, sometimes lower cost for energy than battery-electric vehicles, and, at Hyundai, they have a low cost of maintenance as well. We recently tested the newly redesigned Honda CR-V and found that it most closely matches what the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid offers. Shoppers would be wise to check both out.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe has four powertrains from which to choose and many individual trim lines. The base Santa Fe starts at about $30K and comes with a ho-hum four-cylinder engine. The Hybrid is the one we most recently tested, and it has a price range from $38K to about $44K with every option. The plug-in hybrid Santa Fe ranges in price from $44K to about $50K.

The table below shows the most common trim levels and how much they will run you.

There isn’t much new for 2023, but we should note that Santa Fe is about to enter a new generation with its 2024 model year. The new styling is a big change from the generation you see in our images here, and many shoppers may find it a bit too different. Watch for it to appear on dealer lots in late fall.

Performance - How Does the Hyundai Santa Fe Drive? Over its current generation, we’ve driven the Santa Fe in various trims and with various powertrains. We most recently tested the Hybrid, and it is the one we would suggest buyers look at first. We found that the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid drives very nicely. It is Lexus-like in many ways. Smooth, quiet, substantial in a good way. The powertrain is very satisfying, and Sport mode picks up the pace a bit. In Normal Mode, we found it just right for almost all situations.

The best thing about the Hybrid is its affordability. We observed over 35 MPG. Where we live, that means it is a ten-cents-per-mile-for-energy vehicle. That rivals the cost per mile of battery electric SUVs in Metro Boston with our $0.36/kWh electricity rate.

The Hybrid has a turbocharged engine, a transmission with gears, plus the electric assist, and you never need to think about it. You just get in and go. No charging hassles, and you are saving roughly 35% of the fuel and carbon footprint you would with a traditionally-powered SUV this size. You cannot feel the shifts in normal driving. They are so smooth you can’t detect them. Pin the throttle, the engine wakes up, and then you can feel the shifts. It is the best possible combination for many.

Handling is cushy, and right for those who want comfort first. Braking is normal with no weird regeneration feel. Like the Honda CR-V Hybrid, this is not a sporty SUV, but that’s OK with us. It is very satisfying to drive like an adult.

The Santa Fe, in its current generation, has earned the Top Safety Pick+ designation from IIHS. NHTSA scored it five stars overall. It is not possible to buy a safer five-passenger SUV. We found all of the active driving nannies to be out of mind when we drove. No false positive alerts, no ghost braking, and no unusual or bothersome reminders or chimes.

Reliability & Quality - Is the Hyundai Santa Fe Reliable? Consumer Reports gives the Santa Fe its Recommended stamp, and the Santa Fe has averaged ⅘ stars for reliability over seven model years. In its 2023 Dependability Study, J.D. Power found that the Hyundai brand ranks among the top brands overall, just under Toyota and miles ahead of brands like Tesla, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz.

Based on our testing, we’d skip the trims with the base four-cylinder engine. We love Plug-in hybrids, but Hyundai makes very few of them. The Hybrid trims are the sweet spot in this lineup. Both the Hybrid Convenience and the Hybrid Limited trims get our nod of approval for overall content and for their outstanding powertrains. There are a few differences, so if you can find the Hybrid Convenience trim in stock, that one is our overall top trim to select.

Hyundai offers the very best warranty in America. Its 10-year warranty for original owners can’t be beaten. We also love that Hyundai offers three years of included maintenance. Since the brand includes five years of roadside assistance, you can drop AAA over that period and save $300.

• Basic: 5 years / 60k miles
• Powertrain: 10 years / 100k miles (original owner only)
• 3 Years 36K miles of included maintenance
• 5 years unlimited miles roadside assistance
• If buying used look at our best extended warranties

Given the solid seven-year history of great Consumer Reports reliability rankings the Santa Fe has earned, we would say the vehicle makes a good used vehicle choice. On the other hand, one of the things we like most about Hyundai is its fantastic warranty package, and that is only for the vehicle’s original owner. Buy used, and you miss out on a big part of what makes Hyundai stand out from the pack. It’s a shame the 10-year warranty does not extend to second and subsequent owners. If it did, Hyuandi vehicles would demand a very large used vehicle price premium.

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