Used Hyundai Santa Fe for sale: everything you need to know
The Hyundai Santa Fe has been sold across five generations since its debut in the year 2000, with the latest model going on sale in 2024. We’re concentrating on the 2018-2023 car here though, which is the one you’ll find most abundantly in the used market - and it’s a great value way of getting a large seven-seat SUV.
Launched as a diesel, Hyundai introduced hybrid and plug-in hybrid petrols in 2021, and these are another string to the Santa Fe’s bow, promising great fuel economy returns. The Santa Fe also gets a modern and spacious cabin, and doesn’t even look too bad, with upmarket styling. Read on to find out more about the Santa Fe’s trim levels and engine options.
Should you buy a Hyundai Santa Fe?
The Santa Fe name conjures up images of the expansive, picturesque American west, but even in a rainy supermarket car park in Slough, Hyundai’s spacious SUV has plenty of appeal. By the standards of seven-seat machines, especially those in the popular SUV body format, it’s good value and promises relatively low running costs too.
The rearmost seats spring up out of the boot floor, and while they’re not full-size seats like those further forward, they’re more than sufficient for housing kids - while with the seats stowed, there’s a big boot, and the Santa Fe becomes a properly spacious five-seater. The interior is also comfortable and tastefully designed, taking some cues from the brand’s high-tech electric models in its layout, colour themes, and instrument graphics.
The high-tech displays feel especially at home with the hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains offered in the Santa Fe, which offer temptingly high economy figures and a smooth drive. Don’t overlook the diesel though, which is still the one to have if you plan on towing, as it’s rated for much higher trailer weights than the hybrids. The ride is best on smaller wheels (you’ll find 17-inch options on entry-level cars) and the handling is secure, with a planted feel at motorway speeds.
Kia’s Sorento is the most obvious alternative to the Santa Fe, given it’s effectively the same car under the skin, and Kia actually has a small advantage in terms of its warranty, with a standard seven years, rather than Hyundai’s five - worth knowing if you’re looking at an older car. Other seven-seat SUVs to consider include the Skoda Kodiaq, Peugeot 5008, or if your budget is a little higher, the Land Rover Discovery Sport.
What’s the best used Hyundai Santa Fe model to buy?
The only engine option for the 2018-2021 models was the 2.2-litre diesel, with the hybrid and plug-in hybrids joining the range in 2021. This will dictate your choice to some degree, though it does mean if you’re looking at the Santa Fe as a potential tow car, you can save a bit of money - the manual has a 2500kg rating and the automatic 2000kg, but both are greater than the 1500kg of the hybrids. The regular hybrid makes the most sense if towing isn’t a concern, and spec-wise, we’ve no real preference - all are well-equipped, though the Premium SE’s ventilated seats are a nice feature to have.
Used Hyundai Santa Fe fuel economy and performance
- Hyundai Santa Fe 1.6 T-GDi HEV petrol: You get just a 1.6-litre petrol engine in the hybrid Santa Fe, though electric assistance ensures there’s still a handy 230PS output to call upon, and a 0-62mph time of under nine seconds. There’s also a choice of two- or four-wheel drive, and the promise of 44.1mpg economy.
- Hyundai Santa Fe 1.6 T-GDi PHEV petrol: The plug-in hybrid makes up to 265PS from a similar drivetrain to the regular hybrid, though performance is similar, the extra weight pegging it back to 8.8 seconds from 0-62mph. A 36-mile electric range contributes to combined economy of 173.7mpg, and 37g/km CO2 emissions.
- Hyundai Santa Fe 2.2 CRDi diesel: The 2.2-litre turbodiesel four-cylinder produces 193PS through either a six-speed manual gearbox, or an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic, and four-wheel drive. It’ll do 41.5mpg combined and get from 0-62mph in around nine seconds - while there’s a 2500kg towing capacity too.
What used Hyundai Santa Fe trim levels are available?
- The Hyundai Santa Fe SE comes with seven seats, roof rails, front and rear parking sensors with rear view camera, privacy glass, dual zone climate control, heated front seats, drivers’ seat height adjustment, a leather steering wheel, auto wipers, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, cruise control, and a suite of safety features.
- The Hyundai Santa Fe Premium took over from the SE as the later entry-level model and comes with broadly the same equipment.
- The Hyundai Santa Fe Premium SE adds 19-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic sunroof, ventilated front seats with drivers’ seat position memory function, a head-up display, and 360-degree parking cameras on some models.
- The Hyundai Santa Fe Ultimate is even better equipped than the Premium SE, effectively ticking every option box as standard.
Used Hyundai Santa Fe dimensions and boot size
The Hyundai Santa Fe’s exterior dimensions are:
- Length: 4785mm
- Width: 1900mm
- Height: 1710mm
The Hyundai Santa Fe’s boot space is:
- 571 litres
- 1649 litres with rear seats folded
Used Hyundai Santa Fe road tax
All current generation Santa Fes are subject to a flat rate of VED or ‘road tax’, though this varies slightly depending on the model you’re looking at - petrol and diesel models come in at £190 per year, while hybrids are £10 cheaper. If the car you’re looking at cost more than £40,000 brand new though, that bill goes up to £600 a year, or £590 for hybrids, and only returns to a lower rate from the car’s seventh year on the road.
How much is it to insure a Hyundai Santa Fe?
The Hyundai Santa Fe range sits between insurance groups 22 and 40, depending on the model. These ratings aren’t unusual for a car in this class, so insuring a Santa Fe shouldn’t be appreciably more expensive than any of its rivals.
