2019 Hyundai Santa Fe

Standard naturally-aspirated 2.4L GDI I4 is the volume-trim engine (SE/SEL/SEL Plus/Limited); 2.0T is Ultimate-only.

Peak torque of the standard 2.4L engine used across the volume trim range.

Instrumented test of the volume 2.4L powertrain; the 2.0T is meaningfully quicker per Car and Driver testing.

The 2.4L is unremarkable off the line but smooth and well-matched to the new 8-speed under load; reviewers consistently called the non-turbo combination the more refined pairing versus the 2.0T.

2019 introduced a new conventional 8-speed automatic (replacing the prior 6-speed), widely praised for smooth, decisive shifts with no hunting.

Maximum rating across the configuration range, achieved on the 2.0T with the optional tow prep package; the standard 2.4L is capped lower.

HTRAC AWD is optional (not standard) across every trim in the lineup, but it is a basic on-demand system with no low-range, locking diff, or terrain-mode sophistication.

A pavement-oriented crossover with modest 7.3-inch ground clearance, no skid plates, no low-range gearing, and no dedicated off-road trim.

Two gas engine choices (2.4L and 2.0T) cover mainstream needs, but there is no electrified option in the 2019 lineup — hybrid/PHEV Santa Fe variants did not arrive until the 2021 facelift.

EPA combined rating for the volume 2.4L FWD configuration.

EPA city rating for the volume 2.4L FWD configuration.

EPA highway rating for the volume 2.4L FWD configuration.

Computed from the 18.8-gallon fuel tank and the EPA combined rating for the volume 2.4L FWD configuration.

EPA annual fuel cost estimate for the volume 2.4L FWD configuration at standard assumptions.

Both the 2.4L and optional 2.0T turbo run on regular 87-octane unleaded, with no premium requirement or recommendation.

The redesigned fourth-generation (TM) Santa Fe was tested by NHTSA for MY2019 and earned the maximum 5-star overall rating.

IIHS named the 2019 Santa Fe a Top Safety Pick+ (best available headlight/front-crash-prevention trims), with Good ratings across every crashworthiness test including the passenger-side small overlap front — the toughest test in the suite. The award is trim-gated on headlights, which is scored separately at 3.3.1.

Hyundai made SmartSense standard across every 2019 Santa Fe trim, including the base SE: forward collision-avoidance assist with pedestrian detection, blind-spot collision warning, rear cross-traffic collision warning, lane keeping assist, driver attention warning, safe exit assist, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go — a genuinely comprehensive suite standard on the volume (and every) trim, unusual for a mainstream mid-size SUV in this era.

IIHS rated the standard Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist system Superior for both vehicle-to-vehicle (avoided collisions at 12 and 25 mph) and pedestrian front crash prevention (avoided a crossing child at 12 mph, cut 25 mph impact by 23 mph; avoided a parallel adult collision at 25 mph and cut 37 mph impact by 36 mph). Score sits just below the ceiling because IIHS's 2019-era pedestrian protocol did not include a dedicated nighttime test for this vehicle.

Blind-spot collision warning and rear cross-traffic collision warning are standard on every 2019 trim (SE and up), ahead of most rivals that gate these to mid/upper trims. Coverage is alert-only — no active braking intervention or trailer-aware detection — which keeps it out of the top band.

Standard Lane Keeping Assist offers three intervention levels including an 'active' mode that reviewers described as smoothly and confidently centering the car, keeping it equidistant from lane markings even through mild curves — notably polished for a mainstream SUV of this vintage.

Smart Cruise Control with full stop-and-go is standard across the range, giving capable low-and-highway-speed following. There is no combined highway-assist/lane-centering package (Hyundai's Highway Driving Assist arrived on later Santa Fe model years), so it stops short of the top band reserved for integrated systems.

No hands-free highway driving system (BlueCruise/Super Cruise/FSD-class) was offered on the 2019 Santa Fe at any trim; all driver-assist features require hands on the wheel.

IIHS rated the standard halogen headlights on SE, SEL and SEL Plus — the volume trims — Marginal for insufficient illumination (no glare issue). Only Limited and Ultimate, with optional LED projector headlights, earned Good, which is what unlocked the Top Safety Pick+ award.

The redesigned TM-generation Santa Fe relocated its side mirrors to the top of the door (off the window frame), a deliberate change reviewers credited with opening up sightlines, especially at turns and intersections — a modest but genuine visibility improvement over the outgoing generation.

IIHS rated LATCH ease of use Acceptable, with two rear seating positions carrying full lower-anchor and tether hardware — workable but not the easiest-access anchors in class.

The redesigned 2019 Santa Fe (TM) is a strict two-row, five-passenger SUV for the US market; the three-row job is handled by the separate Santa Fe XL.

Manufacturer-published front headroom for the 2019 Santa Fe.

Manufacturer-published front legroom for the 2019 Santa Fe.

Manufacturer-published second-row headroom for the 2019 Santa Fe.

Manufacturer-published second-row legroom for the 2019 Santa Fe, class-leading for the segment.

The 2019 Santa Fe has no third row at all in North America — a strict five-passenger, two-row SUV. Buyers wanting a third row were directed to the separate Santa Fe XL nameplate.

Manufacturer-published cargo volume behind the second row.

Manufacturer-published maximum cargo volume with the second row folded flat.

Redesigned center console gained a larger bin and cupholders and the shift-by-wire-free console frees up storage on Ultimate, but nothing standout like a giga-console or in-bed trunk; reviewers called storage competitive but unremarkable.

Reviewers praised wide, supportive front seats over long stints but noted back support could be better; heated front seats standard from SEL up, heated rear/ventilated front only on Ultimate.

Well-controlled and composed on most surfaces but reviewers flagged an overly firm ride on 19-inch turbo-trim wheels — solidly average-to-good, not class-leading.

Reviewers described the cabin as quiet at cruising speed, with intrusion mainly limited to engine noise under hard acceleration.

Heated front seats and heated side mirrors from SEL up, dual-zone climate from SEL Plus up, but ventilated front seats and heated rear seats are Ultimate-only; no rear climate vents/controls on any trim.

All-new fourth-generation (TM) Santa Fe launched for MY2019, replacing the two-row/three-row split with a single 2-row 5-seat (SE/SEL) or optional 6/7-seat lineup; entry SE starts well under the mid-size SUV segment ceiling.

SEL is the typical volume trim for the Santa Fe (adds forward-collision assist, blind-spot/rear cross-traffic, Android Auto/CarPlay over SE) and AWD take rate is high in this segment; exact per-trim sales splits for MY2019 are not publicly reported.

RepairPal rates the Santa Fe's reliability 4.0/5 (2nd of 26 mid-size SUVs) with average annual repair cost of $515 versus a $573 mid-size-SUV average; projected over 5 years with routine maintenance this lands comfortably below the segment midpoint.

Depreciation estimates vary by source (CarEdge ~53% loss, iSeeCars ~45.6% loss over 5 years); splitting the difference lands the Santa Fe near the middle of the mid-size SUV band rather than at either extreme.

Hyundai's standard bumper-to-bumper coverage, unchanged for MY2019 and best-in-class alongside the powertrain warranty below.

Hyundai's "America's Best Warranty" powertrain coverage for the original owner, among the longest in the industry.

MY2019 predates Hyundai's complimentary scheduled-maintenance program (which began Feb 1, 2020 for MY2020+), so owners pay for routine service out of pocket; however Hyundai's warranty package includes 5-year/unlimited-mile complimentary roadside assistance, a real if modest perk.

$29,580 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (50% retained, or about $14,790) leaves about $14,790 in depreciation. Add the projected $4,200 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $18,990 in total.

The TM-generation Santa Fe was all-new for 2019, so first-model-year redesign risk applies; predicted reliability signals were mixed rather than top-tier.

Hyundai's initial-quality performance was strong in this era but its longer-term dependability standing slipped, giving a mid-pack rather than top-tier brand picture.

The 2019 Santa Fe carries two NHTSA recalls of note -- a minor side-curtain airbag bolt-cover fix and a more serious tow-hitch-harness fire-risk recall -- plus inclusion in Hyundai's Knock Sensor Detection System software campaign tied to the wider Theta II engine bearing-wear issue, which is more activity than a clean-record vehicle but short of a systemic safety failure on this generation itself.

Both available engines (2.4L GDI I4 and 2.0L turbo GDI I4) are Theta II-family units, the same engine family behind Hyundai/Kia's multi-million-vehicle connecting-rod bearing wear recalls, class actions, and extended 10-year/120,000-mile engine warranties across 2011-2019 Sonata and Santa Fe/Santa Fe Sport models; Hyundai added the Knock Sensor Detection System software as a precaution even on newer Theta II applications, which keeps the family's reputation depressed despite no confirmed systemic failure pattern specific to the 2019 Santa Fe redesign.

Reviewers consistently praised the redesigned cabin's soft-touch surfaces, two-tone leather, and upmarket detailing as beating the price class.

Launch-year reviews described tight, consistent assembly with only scattered hard-plastic criticism in low-touch zones, typical of a well-executed redesign rather than a standout or problem-plagued build.

Hyundai runs a dense, nationwide mainstream dealer network, but service-satisfaction studies of this era placed the brand mid-pack rather than at the top.

As a high-volume mainstream nameplate, parts supply and aftermarket support are broad and repair costs track segment norms, neither notably cheap nor expensive.

Volume trim (SEL/SEL Plus) carries the base 7-inch touchscreen; the 8-inch unit with embedded nav is Limited/Ultimate only.

Hyundai's 2019 touchscreen interface was well-regarded for logical menus and physical volume/tune knobs alongside the touch UI, though the base 7-inch unit felt basic next to the 8-inch nav screen.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across all trims but wired-only via USB — no wireless projection option existed on the 2019 Santa Fe.

Built-in navigation was available only on Limited/Ultimate's 8-inch screen; voice control was functional for basic commands but most owners defaulted to phone-projection navigation via CarPlay/Android Auto.

Base system is a standard 6-speaker setup; SEL Plus and up gain a 12-speaker Infinity-branded premium system that reviewers found solid but not segment-leading.

Base and mid trims use analog gauges with a small monochrome trip computer; Limited and Ultimate add a 7-inch color TFT multi-information display flanked by analog dials, not a full digital cluster.

2019-era Hyundai infotainment had no over-the-air software update capability; map updates, where offered, required a USB/dealer update rather than wireless OTA.

Blue Link-equipped trims include 3 years complimentary service with remote start/climate, remote lock/unlock, car finder, and stolen vehicle recovery via the MyHyundai app, Alexa and Google Assistant — solid core functionality though subscription-gated after the trial.

Four USB ports are standard (front and rear) which is generous for the class, but they are legacy USB-A, and wireless phone charging is Ultimate-trim only.

Proximity key and push-button start arrive at SEL, with a hands-free smart liftgate added at SEL Plus — good keyless coverage across most of the lineup, though SE (base) lacks proximity entry.

Standard rear camera on all trims with rear cross-traffic alert; a full surround-view camera is reserved for the range-topping Ultimate trim only.

A head-up display is offered only on the top Ultimate trim, unavailable on the SE-through-Limited trims that make up the bulk of sales.

Wide door openings, a hip-height seating position and class-leading 40.9 in of rear legroom make loading kids and car seats easy; LATCH anchors are standard, though the lack of a sliding second row limits ultimate flexibility versus minivans.

Hyundai made its full SmartSense suite — forward collision-avoidance with pedestrian detection, blind-spot with steering assist, lane keeping assist, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise with stop-and-go, driver attention warning, and safe exit assist — standard on every trim including the base SE, an unusually strong showing for a mainstream family SUV at this price point.

Quiet cabin and generous rear legroom support multi-hour trips for four occupants, but rear-seat amenities are thin on lower trims (no rear climate vents/controls on any trim, heated rear seats and rear USB charging limited to upper trims) and cargo behind the second row (35.9 cu ft) is modest for loaded road trips.

Reviewers found the Santa Fe taut, agile and confidence-inspiring at low and moderate speeds with responsive steering, though the firmer-riding turbo/19-inch setup adds some fatigue on rough city streets.

The volume 2.4L engine's real-world economy and the 2.0T's 19/24 mpg city/highway are average-to-below-average for the mid-size SUV class; no hybrid variant was offered for 2019, capping commuting cost efficiency versus segment leaders.

A roughly 37.5 ft curb-to-curb turning diameter is mid-pack for the segment, and only the top Ultimate trim gets a surround-view camera to ease tight parking — lower trims rely on a rear camera and sensors alone.

Max tow rating is 3,500 lbs with the 2.0T engine (2,000 lbs on the base 2.4L) and there is no factory payload/cargo bed — a crossover-level capability far below dedicated work vehicles.

The redesigned TM-generation platform and new 8-speed automatic were unproven at launch; Hyundai's warranty coverage is strong but the Santa Fe has no fleet/commercial-use reputation to draw on, and it is not marketed or built for hard work duty.

No onboard 110V power outlet, no factory tie-down/upfit ecosystem, and cloth/leather interiors on most trims are not built for jobsite abuse — a consumer crossover with essentially no work-oriented provisions.

Quiet cabin, adaptive cruise with stop-and-go standard fleet-wide, and comfortable front seats support highway touring, though the firmer ride on 19-inch wheels and back-support criticism temper long-haul comfort somewhat.

AWD is available across the lineup (not standard) for light gravel/snow duty, and roof rails support cargo boxes/bike racks, but ground clearance and off-road hardware are modest — a pavement-biased crossover suited to light adventure use, not serious off-roading.

60/40 split-folding rear seats and a flat load floor give 71.3 cu ft with the second row down, which is workable but middling for bulky gear versus larger three-row rivals in the same price bracket.

Reviewers found the redesigned Santa Fe taut and agile with limited body roll for a mid-size crossover, and prompt steering response inspired confidence through corners — above segment average but not a benchmark-setter.

Steering response was described as prompt and confidence-inspiring, though like most mainstream crossovers of its era it prioritizes light, easy effort over genuine road feedback.

Reviewers specifically called out excellent brakes as a highlight, saying the Santa Fe stops more like a sedan than a crossover, backed by standard forward collision-avoidance with autonomous braking.

The new-for-2019 8-speed automatic (replacing the outgoing 6-speed) shifts smoothly with either engine; the base 2.4L is adequate but works hard under load, while the 2.0T offers stronger, smoother response for merging and passing.

Cabin is generally quiet at cruise, with engine noise becoming noticeable mainly under hard acceleration or high revs on the naturally-aspirated 2.4L — inoffensive but not silent.

Mid-pack turning diameter for the mid-size SUV segment, consistent with the Santa Fe's footprint.

Large doors and a hip-height seat make ingress/egress easy, and the redesigned cabin retains physical controls alongside the touchscreen; power driver's seat and adjustable elements arrive at SEL, giving good adjustability across most of the lineup.

Competent and confidence-inspiring rather than genuinely engaging — the Santa Fe is a comfort-and-practicality-focused family crossover, not a vehicle enthusiasts seek out, even with the peppier 2.0T available.

Every 2019 Santa Fe trim, including the base SE, comes standard with forward-collision avoidance with pedestrian detection, driver attention warning, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto — safety tech many mid-size SUV rivals charge extra for or reserve for upper trims.

Reviewers consistently cited the redesigned Santa Fe's 'fresh design and excellent value,' pairing a roomy, quiet cabin and generous standard safety suite with pricing that undercuts several class benchmarks at comparable trim levels.

Five nameplate trims (SE, SEL, SEL Plus, Limited, Ultimate) plus a 2.0T variant on Limited/Ultimate span roughly $25.5K–$37K, with FWD/AWD available on most grades — a reasonably wide, well-spaced range though the turbo engine is gated to the top two trims only.

The redesigned Santa Fe set a new annual sales record in 2019 as part of a record year for Hyundai SUVs overall, marking it a strong, rising seller in the mid-size segment.

By 2019 Hyundai had built a solid value/reliability reputation and the best warranty in the mainstream segment, but the brand remained a mainstream, non-aspirational image rather than a beloved or premium halo brand.

Hyundai historically supports mainstream volume models like the Santa Fe with competitive financing offers and modest cash allowances, typical of the segment; specific MY2019 incentive terms were not independently verified.

MY2019 is the launch year of the all-new fourth-generation (TM) Santa Fe on a new platform, replacing the prior DM generation — as fresh as a nameplate gets, with no facelift due until MY2021.

The redesign earned an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ (Good in every crash test, though the Marginal-rated base halogen headlights are a real caveat) and generally positive reviews for ride, quiet cabin and value, but the 2.0T's inconsistent power delivery and unremarkable acceleration kept it out of outright comparison-test wins.