Experienced by Kimatni D. Rawlins
I already knew that the 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Limited AWD was pretty good in the wild with its impressive off-road attributes. This is due to the HTRAC AWD system with torque vectoring for front to rear and left to right traction, helpful for wheel slippage to help keep fit families heading into the heart of Mother Nature safe and sound. Yet, after a road trip to NY and back from Washington, DC, I can attest to its overt efficiency in extending your fuel range and savings at the pump.
My Hybrid Limited AWD model came in a Quartz White exterior hue and beige-on-beige interior with practically every amenity you can imagine. Features included wireless charging, a color Heads-up Display, dual automatic temperature control, a panoramic sunroof, LED lights, and the 12.3′ digital instrument cluster. Of course, this rendition will cost you $40,310 compared to the mid-twenty thousand for the Santa Fe SE. But of course, some of the main appeals of purchasing a Hyundai vehicle are the 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty and the 5-year/60,000-mile new vehicle warranty.
I was delighted with the extended range of the upgraded 1.6-liter 4-cylinder Turbo gas engine and 6-speed automatic transmission with SHIFTRONIC and paddle shifters. As a result, I did not have to refuel during the 10-hour roundtrip up North and back. The Santa Fe can be set in COMFORT, SMART or SPORT where 50% of the power can be delivered to the rear. Expect 32 combined mpg. With the sale percentages of all Hyundai SUVs and crossovers up, the latest Santa Fe is most certainly set to continue the momentum, even with tough competition from the likes of the Ford Edge, Nissan Murano, Jeep Cherokee, Subaru Outlook, Kia Sorento, and Chevy Blazer. Comprised of 67% Advanced High Strength Steel, the 2022 model has grown in length, shed some weight, received a copious amount of standard safety technologies dubbed SmartSense, and drives tauter due to stiffening the chassis.
Offered in nine exterior hues, the SUV’s grille is grittier, the shoulders are stronger, and the 19” alloy rims are sportier. The cabin is quieter thanks to lamented acoustic glass to shield excess road noise and the leather-trimmed, enhanced 8-way driver power seat features a cushion extension. Actually, the level of firmness is automated by your exact seat position. Storage is omnipresent, including rear underfloor bin, which I used for all of our cleaning and car care supplies, an external glove box slot for phones, large door pockets, and the added cubby-hole in the second row embedded with the extra USB ports needed for connected families. The second row also provides passengers with privacy shades and sliding seat adjustments for more legroom.
When behind the wheel, which has excellent on-center steering, the driver will be appeased by the 10.25” multimedia display that sits atop the dash and features Apple CarPlay or Android Auto and Blue Link Connected Services and Blue Link Remote Start. The Harman Kardon Surround Sound with Clari-Fi music restoration sounds fancy in name but not in performance. In this case, audio becomes distorted at higher volumes and the speaker grilles are basic. The 115-volt AC power outlet in the second row was helpful for one of my passengers who needed to charge their laptop. Other technology pluses include a digital key, a hands-free smart liftgate, and a proximity key with a push-button start.
Advanced safety systems elevate the Santa Fe by way of Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Safe Exit Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Driver Attention Warning, and Highway Driving Assist to name a few. Overall, the product is on point and made for an enjoyable week of test driving on the East Coast. It seems the designers and engineers thought of everything with fit families in mind during the rebuilding of the all-new Hyundai Santa Fe. As a result, the 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Limited AWD is refreshing, stylish, and tougher than expected.
