If you are shopping for a practical mid-sized SUV, there’s a good chance that the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe is already on your radar. With bold boxy styling, efficient hybrid powertrains, and three-row seating, the Hyundai Santa Fe has a lot to offer to the right buyer.
The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe starts at about $35,000 and can climb up to almost $50,000 in the most loaded Calligraphy trim. That’s a lot of money for an SUV, so is it worth it? Well, whether you opt for the non-hybrid SE model or the luxury-adjacent Calligraphy trim, this Korean crossover is jam-packed with features likely to satisfy many buyers. If you want to learn if the Hyundai Santa Fe would be the right choice for you, follow along as we dissect its reliability, specs, and how much it’s worth today.
- Base Trim Engine
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Smartstream 2.5L ICE
- Base Trim Transmission
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8-speed auto-shift manual
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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Front-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
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277 HP @5800 RPM
- Base Trim Torque
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311 lb.-ft. @ 1700 RPM
- Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)
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20/29/24 MPG
- Base Trim Battery Type
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Lead acid battery
- Make
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Hyundai
- Model
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Santa Fe
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The 2025 Santa Fe Is A Fresh And New Take
The current fifth generation of the family-friendly Hyundai Santa Fe debuted as a 2024 model year. Compared to its predecessor, the new Santa Fe takes a completely different approach, which is clear from its revamped boxy exterior. This new focus appeals more to growing families with active outdoor lifestyles while keeping its core value and efficiency tenets untouched. No matter what your interests may be, there is a Hyundai Santa Fe model built to suit your needs.
What’s New With The 2025 Santa Fe
One of the most notable updates to the 2025 Santa Fe is its emphasis on hybrid powertrains. While Hyundai introduced hybrid powertrains to the Santa Fe model in the 2021 model year, the appeal of its electrification has never been greater. Considering that the base model 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe SE Hybrid starts at $36,400, only $1,350 more than the base model gasoline-powered $35,050 SE Santa Fe, the difference is certainly worth it.
In FWD configuration, the 2025 Santa Fe Hybrid can achieve 36 MPG combined, which is a massive jump compared to the 24 MPG combined offered by the more powerful but thirstier non-hybrid engine. Importantly, the 2025 Santa Fe also offers more interior spaciousness in every dimension compared to its predecessor, in addition to the standard third row. Interior packaging creates noticeably more room, even though exterior dimensions are similar to those of its predecessor.
First Impressions Of The 2025 Santa Fe
Now that the 2025 Santa Fe has been available for a year or two, it is clear that Hyundai did a good job fitting an ideal blend of practicality and luxury into its smallest three-row SUV. If you want a smaller three-row SUV that makes you feel like you got your money’s worth, the 2025 Santa Fe excels at just that. With new cars being so expensive nowadays in general, it is not uncommon for consumers to feel like value is no longer a priority for most automakers.
The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe is by no means cheap, but you definitely feel the quality you paid for. The interior of the 2025 Santa Fe specifically looks and feels a tier above what you’d expect at its price point. In the upper trims, the inside of the 2025 Santa Fe provides a luxury experience rivaling much more expensive SUV models. Though the cabin of the 2025 Santa Fe may not be as refined at highway speeds as a true luxury SUV, it’s still a very good experience overall for the price you pay.
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Details You Must Know About The 2025 Santa Fe
If you are cross-shopping the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe with other SUVs in its class, these are the pertinent details to consider. Let’s discuss MSRP, MPG, towing capacity, and factory warranty, and how these factors may affect your purchase decision.
MSRP Pricing And Resale Value
Offering nine different trim levels (five gasoline and four hybrid), the Hyundai Santa Fe is as versatile as a three-row SUV can get. No matter what your budget or interests may be, it is almost certain that one of these nine options will work for you. A base model 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe starts at $35,050, with well-equipped models floating in the $38,000 to $40,000 range. Above $40,000, we find the premium trims, including the $42,040 XRT model built specifically for an off-roading focus.
The Limited and Calligraphy trims are the cream of the crop, and all reside in the $45,000 to $50,000 range. Through our own independent research of current used models available on the market, we found that it is possible to find a used 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe for less than $30,000. Indeed, we found several certified pre-owned models (CPO) under the $30,000 mark, along with an even larger supply of non-CPO models at below this price point.
MPGs, Towing Capacity, And Factory Warranty
If fuel economy is an absolute priority, opting for the Santa Fe Hybrid is a no-brainer. In FWD configuration, the Santa Fe Hybrid offers up to 36 MPG combined, but current owners often state that achieving these figures requires an ultra-conservative driving technique. Even then, the 12 MPG point increase compared to the 24 MPG combined non-hybrid model is well worth it. The trim level not offered as a hybrid is the off-road-focused XRT, which is available exclusively in AWD. The Santa Fe XRT sacrifices even more fuel efficiency to accommodate its increased capability, achieving only 21 MPG combined.
The towing capacity of hybrid models is limited to 2,000 pounds, while non-hybrid models can tow up to 3,500 pounds with trailer brakes. The Santa Fe XRT offers a maximum towing capacity of 4,500 pounds with trailer brakes. Hyundai’s leading factory warranty is a big part of the Santa Fe’s appeal, with a ten-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty and a five-year, 60,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty. If you opt for the hybrid model, that also includes a ten-year, 100,000-mile hybrid powertrain warranty.
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The Reliability Of The 2025 Santa Fe
If you are shopping for a compact three-row SUV, the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe provides a compelling package that can suit a wide variety of families. However, buying a practical vehicle without understanding its reliability is not something we recommend. Here are the factors surrounding the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe’s reliability that must be taken into consideration, and whether to buy new or used, considering that information.
2025 Santa Fe Current Reliability Verdict
Currently, the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe has four active recalls, two of which are serious ongoing issues. The first is a manufacturing defect with a cover for the cables connected to the starter motor, which could lead to an electrical fire during certain crash scenarios. As a result, 135,386 2024-2025 Hyundai Santa Fe models were recalled. The second recall is related to an issue with the improper torque on connecting-rod fasteners during engine assembly, which can lead to catastrophic engine failure. Though only 29 Santa Fe models were potentially involved in the recall, the full investigation into this issue is still ongoing.
The final major known issue with the 2025 Santa Fe is the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission acting erratically and/or failing prematurely. Hyundai stated this issue had to do with a software issue and issued an update in 2024 to rectify the problem, and it is no longer an active recall. However, this update is not a permanent fix, and many owners continue to have ongoing issues with the transmission. Hyundai’s long-term solution to this problem was replacing the eight-speed dual-clutch with a standard eight-speed automatic in the 2026 model year.
2025 Santa Fe Hybrid Current Reliability Verdict
The 2025 Santa Fe Hybrid offers a very different set of reliability standards based on the current information we know about each platform. Simply put, if reliability is a major concern for you, the hybrid model has proven to be more reliable and has less catastrophic failure risks associated with it. Currently, the 2025 Santa Fe Hybrid only has two active recalls, neither of which is related to catastrophic powertrain failures. Instead of utilizing the issue-plagued eight-speed dual-clutch as found in the non-hybrid Santa Fe, the Santa Fe Hybrid uses a six-speed automatic known for its robustness. So, in short, the Santa Fe Hybrid hasn’t been tagged for having any type of major powertrain-related issues, whereas the Santa Fe has been the subject of several. Does this mean that every 2024-2025 Santa Fe model is bound to have powertrain issues? Not necessarily, but they are certainly a lot more likely to experience these kinds of major issues than the hybrid variant. If you are considering a used 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe out of warranty, your best bet for peace of mind is to avoid the standard Santa Fe and opt for a hybrid model.
Comparing The 2025 Santa Fe Trims
Depending on which features are must-haves, there is a wide variety of different 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe trims to choose from. Let’s break down which trims are best according to what you may be looking for in your ideal three-row SUV.
The 2025 Santa Fe Offers Something For Everyone
While the base model SE trim is the most affordable, the next level up, the SEL trim, offers the best overall value. The most significant differences are within the interior, where it matters the most. Specifically, the SEL trim offers H-Tex trimmed seats, heated front seats, third row USB ports, wireless charging, dual automatic temperature control, and third row HVAC vents. If you actually plan to have human beings in the third row, the third-row HVAC vents make the upgrade to the SEL trim a no-brainer alone.
If you plan to spend your time with the family off the beaten path more often than not, then the XRT trim is the clear favorite with its standard AWD, all-terrain tires, and significantly increased towing capacity. If you want all the bells and whistles, then the Limited and Calligraphy trims will have you feeling like the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe is a full-blown luxury SUV for a fraction of the price of most luxury SUVs. No matter how you swing it, the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe is a compelling three-row SUV that offers bold styling, a spacious and feature-packed interior, and great efficiency and reliability in hybrid trim.
Sources: Hyundai, NHTSA, Kelley Blue Book, Consumer Reports