2022 Hyundai Santa Fe

Base 2.5L naturally aspirated engine is the standard powertrain on the volume SE/SEL/XRT trims; the turbo is limited to the two top trims.

Peak torque of the standard 2.5L engine on the volume trims.

Instrumented tests of the base non-turbo engine cluster around 9.3-10.0 seconds; the turbo cuts this to the mid-6s but is not the volume powertrain.

The base 2.5L four-cylinder delivers adequate but unremarkable power, with reviewers noting it can feel strained under load especially with AWD's added weight; the optional turbo is markedly smoother but isn't the scored volume trim.

The conventional 8-speed automatic paired with the base engine shifts smoothly with only occasional hesitation on kickdown; the 8-speed wet dual-clutch on turbo trims is sportier but shows some low-speed hesitation, which isn't the volume configuration.

Maximum manufacturer-rated towing across any 2022 Santa Fe configuration, achieved with the turbo engine and tow package.

HTRAC AWD is optional (not standard) across all five trims with basic operation and a drive-mode selector (snow/mud/sand on some trims), but no low-range gearing or torque-vectoring sophistication.

The 2022 XRT trim is primarily an appearance package (black cladding, wheels, roof rails) rather than a genuine off-road upgrade; ground clearance (~7.2 in) and approach/departure angles (17.9°/19.3°) are modest and unchanged from other trims.

Three distinct powertrains are offered across the range: the base 2.5L gas four, the 2.5T turbo gas four, and a hybrid, covering mainstream needs without a full electrified spread.

EPA combined rating for the base 2.5L engine, the volume powertrain, in front-wheel drive.

EPA city rating for the base 2.5L FWD configuration.

EPA highway rating for the base 2.5L FWD configuration.

EPA-derived total range on a full tank for the base 2.5L FWD configuration.

EPA estimated annual fuel cost at standard assumptions (15,000 mi/yr) for the base 2.5L FWD configuration.

Both the base 2.5L and the optional 2.5T turbo run on regular unleaded, with no premium recommendation or plug-in charging complexity.

NHTSA's maximum overall rating for the 2022 Santa Fe, unchanged from the facelifted (2021+) generation's earlier testing.

IIHS named the 2022 Santa Fe (built after July 2021) a Top Safety Pick+ with Good ratings across every crashworthiness test; the sole soft spot is headlights, which are only Acceptable on the SE/SEL/XRT volume trims.

Hyundai SmartSense is standard lineup-wide on the 2022 Santa Fe: forward collision-avoidance with pedestrian/cyclist detection, lane keeping/following assist, safe exit assist and automatic high beams are standard even on the base SE, and blind-spot/rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist became standard across all trims (including SE) as of the September 2021 running change for MY2022. SEL and up add Highway Driving Assist and nav-based Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go.

IIHS rated the Santa Fe's front crash prevention Superior for both vehicle-to-vehicle (avoided collision at 12 and 25 mph) and daytime pedestrian scenarios; nighttime pedestrian performance was not separately broken out as a weak point in IIHS's summary.

Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist are standard across the full 2022 Santa Fe lineup, and both are 'avoidance' systems capable of braking intervention, not alert-only; there is no trailer-aware coverage.

Lane Following Assist (centering) is bundled with Highway Driving Assist on SEL trim and up and is generally functional, but reviewers describe Hyundai's lane-centering of this era as competent rather than exceptional, with occasional correction rather than seamless tracking. Base SE gets lane keep assist (warning/correction) without full centering.

SEL trim and above get Navigation-based Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go plus Curve Control, paired with Highway Driving Assist; reviewers describe the combination as effective for a mainstream system, covering full-speed-range following with reasonably smooth resume behavior.

The 2022 Santa Fe's Highway Driving Assist is a hands-on Level 2 system (adaptive cruise + lane centering); Hyundai had no hands-free highway system in its 2022 lineup.

IIHS rated headlights Good only on Limited/Calligraphy's LED projector units; the volume SE/SEL/XRT trims (post-July 2021 build) carry LED reflector headlights rated Acceptable, matching the framework's 'Good on upper trims, Acceptable on volume trims' band.

Reviewers note good visibility with a decent-size rear window and minimal obstruction from rear headrests, with an optional surround-view camera further compensating for any blind zones.

IIHS rates the Santa Fe's LATCH ease-of-use Acceptable overall: two rear seating positions have complete, easy-to-use LATCH hardware, but the third position offers a tether anchor only, limiting simultaneous multi-seat installs.

The 2022 Santa Fe is a strict 2-row, 5-passenger mid-size SUV; a 3rd row is exclusive to the larger Palisade.

Generous front headroom for the mid-size SUV segment, though the optional panoramic sunroof trims about 1.2 in.

Class-leading front legroom for a mid-size SUV, near the top of the segment band.

Above-average 2nd-row headroom for the segment; the panoramic sunroof option reduces it slightly.

Among the most generous 2nd-row legroom figures in the mid-size SUV class, a longstanding Santa Fe strength.

No third row is offered on the regular 2022 Santa Fe at all — it is a 2-row, 5-passenger SUV. Buyers needing a 3rd row must step up to the Hyundai Palisade.

Mid-pack cargo volume behind the rear seats for a mid-size 2-row SUV, on the lower end of the segment band.

Solid maximum cargo capacity with the rear seats folded flat, middle of the segment band.

A large, deep center console bin, sizeable door pockets and a shelf-style dash tray are competitive for the segment, but there's no standout innovation like a giga-console or onboard household power.

Front seats are well-cushioned and supportive with available heated/ventilated function on upper trims; reviewers describe them as comfortable for most trips without singling them out as segment-best.

Multiple road tests describe the ride as firm and occasionally jittery over broken pavement, trading some comfort for composed handling; it settles down and rides well on smooth highways.

Average cabin isolation for the segment — acceptable wind and road noise suppression at highway speed with some tire roar on coarse pavement, nothing that stands out as class-leading.

Heated front seats, a heated steering wheel and rear air vents are available starting on the SEL trim, with ventilated front seats and rear sunshades on Limited/Calligraphy — solid but not standard on the volume SE trim.

Entry-trim MSRP for the 2022 model year, shown for reference only.

SEL is the volume trim, balancing added safety/convenience features (blind-spot monitoring, heated seats, wireless charging) against price; base SEL MSRP of $29,000 plus the $1,185 destination charge.

Blends CarEdge's ~$2,775 five-year scheduled maintenance estimate with RepairPal's $515/yr average unscheduled repair cost (~$2,575 over 5 years) for a combined figure; below the segment's higher end but not class-leading.

iSeeCars puts Santa Fe 5-year depreciation at 45.6% (54.4% retention), CarEdge at a steeper 53% depreciation (47% retention); midsize SUV segment average retains ~53.7%, so the Santa Fe tracks roughly at the segment norm.

Hyundai's standard 2022 New Vehicle Limited Warranty, at the top of the segment normalization band.

Hyundai's 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty (original owner only; 5yr/60k transfers to subsequent owners) is class-leading, at the top of the segment normalization band.

Includes 3 years/36,000 miles of complimentary scheduled maintenance (oil/filter changes, tire rotations) plus 5 years of unlimited-mileage roadside assistance — a multi-year package that beats many mainstream rivals' 1-year or no-cost coverage, though it stops short of Hyundai's own Genesis-level perks.

$30,185 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (54% retained, or about $16,300) leaves about $13,885 in depreciation. Add the projected $5,300 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $19,185 in total.

2022 was the mid-cycle refresh year introducing the 2.5L turbo Smartstream engine and new 8-speed wet-DCT on higher trims, and Consumer Reports rated the 2022 Santa Fe below-average/less reliable than other cars of that year in its predicted reliability data, consistent with the transmission and fuel-delivery issues that generated recalls the same year.

Hyundai Motor ranked 3rd overall (highest-ever finish) in the 2022 J.D. Power U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study, beating the industry average by 44 points, with Hyundai Motor Group (Hyundai/Kia/Genesis) taking the top spots and the Santa Fe itself earning a segment award in that same study.

The 2022 model year alone drew five NHTSA campaigns, three of them fire-risk related: a fuel-pump-to-rail leak on the 2.5T engine, a turbocharger oil supply pipe that can crack and leak onto hot engine components, and a trailer-hitch harness module that can short and ignite; a separate transmission recall covers fail-safe drive mode failing during an oil pump malfunction (complete loss of propulsion), plus a rearview-camera display recall. That is more than routine recall activity for a single model year.

The 2022 Santa Fe's 2.5L turbo Smartstream four plus 8-speed wet dual-clutch (on turbo trims) is a newer powertrain family with no long-mileage track record yet, and it already carries the turbocharger oil-pipe and fuel-pump-leak recalls plus a transmission fail-safe recall the same year, alongside owner reports of transmission and acceleration problems.

Reviewers praised the redesigned cabin's soft-touch surfaces and finely woven materials on higher trims (Limited/Calligraphy), but the volume trim carries more hard black plastic and durable-grade fabric in low-touch zones, competitive with mainstream mid-size SUV rivals rather than class-leading.

Assembly is generally solid with tight panel gaps and a quiet cabin thanks to thicker glass and sound-deadening materials, but some owners report scattered rattles and the model-year's mechanical recalls (transmission, turbo oil pipe) point to build-quality variance beyond pure trim/finish.

Hyundai runs a dense, mainstream nationwide dealer network with a service satisfaction record that has been trending upward alongside its J.D. Power dependability gains, comparable to other high-volume mainstream brands.

RepairPal puts the Santa Fe's average annual repair cost at $515, below both the mid-size SUV average ($573) and the all-vehicle average ($652), with normal mainstream parts pricing and a healthy independent-shop aftermarket.

The volume SE/SEL trims carry an 8-inch touchscreen; a larger 10.25-inch unit with embedded navigation is optional on SEL and standard on Limited/Calligraphy.

Hyundai's pre-facelift infotainment layout is logically organized with physical shortcut buttons alongside the touchscreen, which reviewers generally like, though the graphics and menu structure were showing their age versus newer rivals by 2022.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard with the base 8-inch touchscreen across every 2022 Santa Fe trim, a rarity at this price point.

Built-in navigation is limited to the 10.25-inch screen (optional SEL, standard Limited/Calligraphy) and Hyundai's native voice recognition is functional but basic; most owners default to phone-projected voice assistants instead.

Base audio is adequate for the class; a 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium system is available on Limited/Calligraphy and is well-regarded, but the volume SEL trim makes do with the standard system.

A crisp 12.3-inch fully digital cluster is available, but only on the Limited and Calligraphy trims; the volume SE/SEL trims use a conventional analog gauge cluster with a small supplemental display.

The 2022 Santa Fe predates Hyundai's broader whole-vehicle OTA rollout; Bluelink covers map updates and remote services but not comprehensive feature-adding software updates.

Bluelink offers remote start, lock/unlock, vehicle locate and status monitoring with a 3-year complimentary trial, then a subscription — solid core functionality without a digital-key feature at this generation.

USB-A ports are provided front and rear and a wireless charging pad is available from SEL up, which is competitive but not class-leading (no USB-C, no household AC outlet).

Proximity smart key with push-button start is standard from SEL up, and a hands-free smart liftgate is available on higher trims, giving solid everyday convenience.

A rearview camera is standard, and a Surround View Monitor plus front/rear parking sensors are available on Limited/Calligraphy, giving good high-trim capability though it's not standard fleet-wide.

An 8.5-inch color head-up display is offered, but only as part of the top Calligraphy trim's package — most buyers on volume trims never get it.

Wide rear door openings and class-leading rear legroom (41.7 in) make loading kids and car seats easy, with accessible LATCH anchors; the lack of a third row caps its ceiling for larger families.

The 2022 Santa Fe earned IIHS Top Safety Pick+ (built after July 2021) and comes with Hyundai SmartSense — forward collision-avoidance with pedestrian detection, blind-spot collision-avoidance, lane-keeping assist and driver attention warning — standard across every trim including the base SE.

Generous rear legroom and available rear vents/USB ports support multi-hour trips for four occupants, but rear entertainment and premium comfort amenities are absent even on higher trims, and cargo shrinks with all seats occupied.

The volume 2.5L/8-speed automatic powertrain is smooth and easy in stop-and-go traffic, with a comfortable driving position and good outward visibility, though the firmer suspension tuning transmits some road imperfections at low speed.

26 mpg combined (FWD) / 23 mpg combined (AWD) on the base 2.5L is average for a gas mid-size SUV — reasonable but not a standout for commuting costs versus the segment's hybrid options.

A 37.4-ft turning circle and mid-size footprint are typical for the class — manageable in most lots and garages with the standard rearview camera, though not as tight as compact-SUV rivals.

Maximum tow rating is only 3,500 lbs and requires the optional turbo engine plus a trailer brake controller; the base powertrain without a brake controller is limited to 1,650 lbs, and there's no cargo bed — this is not a work-oriented vehicle.

RepairPal rates the Santa Fe's reliability well above the midsize-SUV average, but it is a mainstream family crossover, not a vehicle proven under sustained fleet/commercial abuse, and some owners report transmission issues.

Beyond standard roof rails and basic cargo tie-downs, the Santa Fe offers no onboard power outlets, no upfit ecosystem, and no washable/rugged cargo surfaces aimed at work use.

Standard Highway Driving Assist and adaptive cruise control ease highway fatigue, and a 17.7-gal tank at 28 mpg hwy yields roughly 495 highway miles between fill-ups, though the firmer ride can add fatigue over rough sections.

HTRAC AWD is available and standard roof rails support roof-box/bike-rack use, but the 2022 XRT trim's off-road cues are cosmetic only — no meaningful ground-clearance or suspension changes — so this remains a pavement-biased crossover with light gravel-road ability.

60/40 split-folding rear seats, roof rails, and 72.1 cu ft of space with seats folded handle typical road-trip and gear-hauling duty well, though bulky items are still a squeeze without a third-row-SUV's max volume.

Reviewers describe composed, secure handling with well-controlled body roll in avoidance maneuvers, but the Santa Fe feels ordinary rather than engaging through normal turns.

Steering is accurately weighted and quick enough for easy low-speed maneuvering and stable highway tracking, but reviewers describe it as short on genuine road feedback.

No major complaints in reviews about pedal feel or stopping distances; brakes are adequate and consistent for a mainstream mid-size SUV without standing out.

The volume trim's 2.5L naturally aspirated four paired with the conventional 8-speed torque-converter automatic shifts smoothly with none of the low-speed hesitation associated with the optional turbo's dual-clutch transmission.

The base four-cylinder is audible under hard acceleration but settles to an inoffensive hum at cruising speed, typical for a mainstream 4-cylinder mid-size SUV.

Typical, middle-of-the-pack maneuverability for a mid-size SUV — neither notably tight nor cumbersome.

A commanding, SUV-appropriate seating position, wide adjustment range and clearly laid-out controls (helped by physical climate and audio buttons) make the cabin easy to settle into for drivers of varying sizes.

The Santa Fe is a pleasant, appliance-like family SUV rather than something enthusiasts seek out; nothing about the sound, response or chassis character invites spirited driving.

Even the base SE carries forward collision-avoidance assist, lane-keep assist, driver attention warning and adaptive cruise as standard, and SEL adds blind-spot monitoring and heated seats at a modest step up — generous by mainstream mid-size SUV norms, though short of loading every convenience feature at base like some rivals' top-spec-only items.

MotorTrend noted the range-topping Calligraphy undercuts similarly equipped rivals while offering a quicker, more efficient powertrain — a value proposition that holds across the lineup, from a well-equipped SE/SEL through a genuinely premium-feeling Calligraphy for well under luxury-brand money.

Five trims (SE, SEL, XRT, Limited, Calligraphy) span value-oriented to near-luxury, with FWD/AWD availability across most of the range and a turbocharged engine reserved for Limited/Calligraphy — a reasonably wide spread, though there's a noticeable equipment/price jump from SEL to XRT/Limited rather than a smoothly graduated ladder.

115,226 units sold in the US in 2022, making it one of Hyundai's two best-selling nameplates that year (alongside Tucson) — a steady, strong seller for the brand, though still behind segment volume leaders like the RAV4, CR-V and Grand Cherokee.

Hyundai's brand image improved steadily through the early 2020s on the strength of design and warranty coverage, but in 2022 it still read as a value-mainstream brand rather than an aspirational one next to Toyota/Honda in this segment — a neutral-to-positive perception, not a loyal-following halo.

2022 was deep in the pandemic chip shortage: Hyundai and most automakers pulled back incentives amid tight inventory, and dealer markups over MSRP were common on in-demand models — a seller's market with little room to negotiate.

The current (4th) generation launched for 2019 and received a substantial mid-cycle refresh for MY2021 (new N3 platform, revised styling, 10.25-in touchscreen, 12.3-in digital cluster) — 2022 is only the second year of that refreshed package, so it reads as current rather than aging, just not brand-new.

Earned IIHS Top Safety Pick+ for 2022, KBB named it to its Best Family Cars of 2022, and U.S. News gave it its 2022 Best 2-Row SUV for the Money award (finalist for Best 2-Row SUV for Families); Edmunds' instrumented test scored it 7.7/10 — consistently well-reviewed and a recurring award recipient, just short of being the outright comparison-test winner over class benchmarks like the Telluride or CR-V.