Introduced in 2001, the Santa Fe is Hyundai’s best-selling SUV, with 1.6 million annual sales. We review its four generations to choose the best years of all.
During the boom of SUVs in the early 2000s, one company wouldn’t be left out of the race. Automakers began ditching the MPVs for more rugged designs that proved more versatile for consumers. Many car brands also shifted toward light off-road vehicles as the standard SUV we know today wasn’t established yet.
Hyundai was no different, and the South Korean automaker began selling the Santa Fe in 2001. Built on the same chassis as the Hyundai Sonata, the Santa Fe was a roomier SUV with sedan styling cues.
Thankfully, Hyundai made improvements almost yearly to appeal more to consumers. This attention to reviews and feedback was proved worthy when the Hyundai Santa Fe was selected as one of Consumer Reports‘ “Top Picks for 2008.”
Throughout four generations, the Hyundai Santa Fe has undergone many updates, which makes it hard to choose from such a wide range Santa Fes when car-shopping for a preowned vehicle.
So, we did some research and will break down the most important years of the Hyundai Santa Fe and give you the best option for used or new.
Hyundai Santa Fe 1st Gen. (2001-2006)
Beginning production in 2000 for the 2001 model year, Hyundai released the Santa Fe SUV into the world and set out to make a statement in the booming SUV market.
Unfortunately, the automaker got off to a rough start, as the Santa Fe only sold roughly 56,000 units for 2001 in the U.S., according to Car Sales Base. However, Hyundai waited for customers to flock to the SUV.
While spending a lot of time listening to its client base, Hyundai got straight to improving the SUV. For its first two years, the Santa Fe came with two engine and transmission options. Base models received a fuel-conscious 2.4L four-cylinder mated to either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic.
Higher models housed a 2.6L V6 engine but were only available with an automatic transmission. (Check out auto influencer Richard Hammond giving a 2001 Santa Fe a road workout in the video review below.)
For the 2003 model year, Hyundai made a few considerable changes to the Santa Fe. Some minor interior gripes were resolved with a better sound system and lighting. The biggest complaint from customers was that the car itself didn’t have enough power. Hyundai remedied this by adding a new 3.5L V6 engine option.
Along with the bigger engine, a new electronically controlled four-wheel-drive system was installed. High-performance sound systems were installed on the mid-level GLS models, and the top model LX received a six-disc CD changer.
The 2005 model year saw the first complete facelift for the Hyundai Santa Fe. Removing the radio antenna from the driver rear window to put it on the roof, adding painted bumpers, and adding painted side moldings rounded out the exterior.
Inside, you’ll find new silver gauge cluster rings, high-mounted seats for more legroom, and the new rear windscreen opening to make for more effortless loading. These are all improvements made with consumers in mind, proving Hyundai paid attention to its customer base. Base models were also discontinued this year, making room for the new Hyundai Tuscon.
Although the first generation Hyundai Santa Fe ended halfway through 2006, it had incredible sales in the newly competitive SUV market. The abundance of first generations means the used market is flooded with them.
At the time of writing, you can find a 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS that is around 100,000 miles for roughly $8,000. At that price range, the 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS is a surprisingly less valuable purchase than the second generation. What Hyundai decided next is to capitalize on newfound comfort for their popular SUV.
Hyundai Santa Fe 2nd Gen. (2007-2013)
Coming off of the resounding success of the first-generation Santa Fe, the second generation took what worked and improved upon it with an updated look. Shedding the odd styling of the first-gen, the 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe debuted with a more modern touch.
Coming off the tail end of the bio-design trend set by automakers, the improved Hyundai Santa Fe had a more subtle feel. Swept-back headlights, rising beltline, and curved surfaces made for a more friendly SUV. Where the Santa Fe began to shine for many consumers was with interior improvements and drivetrain updates.
With the second-generation Hyundai Santa Fe, the company began offering three-row seating for seven passengers. The added seating was a massive move for the vehicle, as Hyundai benefited from a higher sale price and added more value for the customers.
Inside you’ll find a more car-like styling. A large center stack separates the two front passengers. Lined with tall vents on either side, the center stack keeps a softer, more rounded feel throughout the cabin.
Materials improved slightly, with more soft-touch and wooden areas than the previous generation, but were still mainly hard plastics to keep costs down. In addition, leather seating became an option for SE and Limited models. These interior improvements moved the Santa Fe forward but not as much as the updated drivetrain.
Hyundai took a step back and assessed their power plants for the Santa Fe. The conclusion they came to was a resounding need for better fuel efficiency and more reliability.
Second-generation Santa Fe’s are offered with three engines, two transmissions, and two drive types. A refreshed version of the 2.6L V6 could be optioned with a manual transmission, but this was rarely selected for consumers.
A 3.3L V6 was standard for the SE and Limited models, which is the same engine found in the Hyundai Sonata. The 3.3L V6 has an EPA-rated mpg of 19 city and 24 highway, which surprisingly does not change for the FWD or AWD models.
Hyundai Santa Fe 2nd Gen. Safety & Pricing
The company ditched some older features for some new safety items to wrap up the second-generation Hyundai Santa Fe. Features like the tailgate flip glass and plastic lower body cladding were ditched for a heated windshield wiper grid, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), side curtain airbags, tire-pressure monitoring, and anti-lock brakes which now all come as standard equipment.
Overall, Hyundai continued to improve on the Santa Fe line by listening to consumers’ wants and needs. With the resounding success, this means that the used market is ripe for the picking.
At the time of this writing, you won’t be hard-pressed to find a well-optioned Hyundai Santa Fe SE for $10,000 or less. However, an extremely well-kept example will fetch the high end of that price, so if you’re okay with some miles, you’re looking at closer to $6,000.
Hyundai Santa Fe 3rd Gen. (2013-2018)
Desperately needing a fresh start, the Hyundai Santa Fe finally got a complete overhaul. Keeping consumers loved aspects of the car, such as seating for seven, Hyundai took what could be brought into the new era and ran with it. They began with giving the third-generation Santa Fe more aggressive styling.
A prominent three-row front grille flowed into the new smoothed front fascia. Angular fog lights, blacked body lining, and bolder style alloy wheels gave the Santa Fe a much-needed spring forward. Hyundai decided to step up their game even more, giving the Santa Fe more expensive features and competing above the market.
Inside you’ll find that Hyundai wanted to put themselves above their more budget-friendly competitors. As a result, the Hyundai Santa Fe is offered in a few distinct trim levels: SE (called GLS until the 2016 model year) and the Limited. SE/GLS models came standard with alloy wheels, Bluetooth, cloth seating, and Hyundai’s new infotainment system with reverse camera.
However, the Santa Fe truly began to shine with the Limited models. Housing more expensive SUV features like heated front and second-row seats, power-adjustable front seats, 12-speaker Infinity sound system, and blind-spot monitoring make the Limited trim an all-day comfort.
Drivetrain options continued with the V6 platform as standard. A 3.3L V6 was the standard for SE models, while the Limited received an improved and more powerful version of the 3.3L V6.
Limited models were pulled by 290 horsepower and 249 lb.-ft. of torque through a FWD or optional AWD power delivery. Smaller short-wheelbase models dubbed the Santa Fe Sport was offered with a four-cylinder 2.4L as standard. An optional 2.0L turbo engine would also be provided for the smaller Sport chassis, making it popular with consumers.
Hyundai Santa Fe 3rd Gen. Safety & Pricing
Safety improvements for the Hyundai Santa Fe intensely rose with the rise of technology. The 2014 model years saw blind-spot monitoring become a standard feature for any model.
Other features such as daytime running lights, cross-traffic alerts, integrated turn signal mirrors, and lane departure warnings were added until 2019, when the third generation ended production.
Overall reliability of the Hyundai Santa Fe proved well for the customers who loved them, as there aren’t many concerning recalls over the six-year-long run.
However, the impressive reliability and improvements mean that the used market can be tricky depending on what features you’re after.
At the time of this writing, low-end earlier models like a 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe SE fetches around $20,000 depending on mileage. Newer model years push close the price of a brand new vehicle still, as they are few and far between in the used market.
The Hyundai Santa Fe’s third generation, however, was not without as few recalls, which you can check out here. The 2017 model year is certainly one to carefully review before buying used.
Hyundai Santa Fe 4th Gen. (2019-Present)
After bouncing back in sales with the third generation, Hyundai wanted the Santa Fe to step away from its past. The previous Santa Fe Sport is now labeled as the standard Santa Fe.
Three-row Santa Fe’s were molded into the new Hyundai Palisade lineup. They began the new-age process by completely redesigning the exterior. Giving the Santa Fe a futuristic look made sure Hyundai wouldn’t be left behind in the current era of vehicles.
High-mounted foglights were kept but are now accompanied by flowing LED headlights and a more prominent grille to make up the front fascia. A tall belt-line is also saved from the older styling, but that is the last of the similarities as the Santa Fe smooths out even more exterior details to provide a classier look.
Setting a new standard for interior, the Santa Fe wasn’t overlooked by Hyundai designers. Similar to Mazda and a few other competitors, you’ll now find yourself surrounded by aluminum trim and angular-styled vents. Black leather seating and other soft-touch areas break up the striking silver accents.
Although the 2019 model faced a few recalls, Hyundai began focusing on the model’s 2020 facelift model, adding an improved 10.25-inch infotainment screen, with the driver having a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. Flowing underneath the infotainment screen is a user-friendly center stack, ending in a large push-button gear selector.
Additionally, the Santa Fe carried over features like heated and cooled seating, power adjustability, and a rearview camera as standard. Added features include a heated steering wheel, proximity keyless entry, wireless device charging, and a panoramic sunroof.
Along with all of the new age technology littered through the Santa Fe, the drivetrain options stayed relatively the same. Since the larger Santa Fe from the previous generation bumped into the new Palisade, the Santa Fe now only has two engine options.
As standard, the SUV is powered by a 185 horsepower 2.4L four-cylinder, as seen in the Santa Fe Sport. However, many critics like Drew Dorian and Eric Stafford from Car & Driver prefer the 2.0L turbocharged powerplant, as it provides the chassis with a much-needed 235 horsepower.
Both engine options are mated to an 8-speed automatic. The smaller engine options and optimized transmission make for excellent fuel economy. A base Santa Fe with the 2.4L engine gets an EPA estimated 22 mpg city and 29 mpg highway, some of the best in its class.
The turbocharged models get an EPA estimated 20 mpg city and 27 mpg highway, but we think a few mpg sacrifices are worth the gain in horsepower.
Hyundai Santa Fe 4th Gen. Safety & Pricing
Many of the safety features added throughout the previous generation carry over into the new models. Cross-traffic alerts, lane departure warnings, and daytime running lights are standard features. Not to say there aren’t any new safety features, as Hyundai added lane keep assist, enhanced blind-spot safety, forward collision warning, and even driver drowsiness monitoring.
Some optional safety features consist of Safe Exit Assist, which monitors rear traffic before you exit the vehicle, and Blind View Monitor, which gives the driver’s instrument screen a real-time image of the Santa Fe’s blind spots when the turn signal is activated.
Pricing on the new Hyundai Santa Fe is surprisingly good compared to its major competitors like Mazda or Honda. A base Santa Fe starts at $26,125 but carries the underpowered 2.4L engine and misses the most convenient features for passengers. SEL models start at just $27,875, but it is deceiving as the packages and turbo engine most consumers are after puts the base price at $34,725. Limited being the top model for the Santa Fe, the base price is set at $35,875.
However, this model gives you almost every feature available for the SUV, so you aren’t pushing over the $40,000 price range even with optional extras.
Which Hyundai Santa Fe is the Best Year?
We’ve covered quite a wide array of Hyundai’s most popular SUV line, the Santa Fe. But there are a few clear answers regarding which one makes the most sense when shopping around.
If you’re in the used market, an early-year third generation would be our choice, particularly any models from 2014 and 2015. You get the best of both worlds when it comes to newly integrated tech, but not having to fork over full price to get those comforts.
At the time of writing, we found the 2014 to 2016 models float between $13,000 and $16,000, depending on mileage and options selected. On the other hand, if you’re after a brand-new ride, the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe SEL specced out to have the turbo engine and Convenience and Premium packages seem to be the best value. You get many of the features included with the Limited but don’t have to pay the extra couple thousand dollars, unless you’re hungry for every option possible.
Photos: Hyundai
