2024 Hyundai Santa Fe: New Looks Outside and Inside, Carryover Powertrains

Competes with: Chevrolet Blazer, Ford Edge, Honda Passport, Toyota Venza, Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

Looks like: A Lexus LX for about a third of the price

Powertrains: Turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder hybrid or turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine; six-speed automatic (hybrid) or eight-speed dual-clutch automatic (gas) transmission; front- or all-wheel drive

Hits dealerships: Spring 2024

What Hyundai has done with the Santa Fe for 2024 is not so much a redesign as it is a reimagining. Visually, there’s nothing to connect the sleek 2023 model with the blocky and aggressive look of the new SUV. But now that Hyundai has released some preliminary information on the new Santa Fe, we can find a few commonalities with its predecessor.

Related: 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe Unveiled, Gets Extreme Makeover

Familiar Engines

The majority of what Hyundai has released on the 2024 Santa Fe so far are basic specifications. Only two engine offerings are confirmed at this point, which both seem to be carryovers. Hyundai will fit the redesigned SUV with either a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder or a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder hybrid. While the specs the brand released are global, it feels safe to expect the output of these two engines to remain the same as 2023. Hyundai says it will release more information closer to the Santa Fe’s North American debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November.

The gas-only engine will once again be paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, and the hybrid gets a six-speed automatic. Standard front-wheel drive and available all-wheel drive with both engines is all but certain.

Growth, Internal and External

Based on the global figures the company has released at this point, the Santa Fe will grow about 2 inches in overall length and wheelbase and around 1.5 inches in height. The company is claiming class-leading interior volume and seems to have cribbed some space from the front row to distribute between the enlarged second row and new third row; the outgoing Santa Fe only offered five seats in two rows.

It remains to be seen how many seating configurations will be available in the U.S., but in at least some markets, it will be offered in a six-seat configuration (two seats each in three rows) that will feature power-adjustable second-row seats. The front passenger gets a lounge-style seat with a leg rest, and the third-row seats will offer 10 degrees of recline.

Tech, Features, Equipment — The Good Stuff

We do expect at least most, if not all, of the Santa Fe’s luxury and safety features to make it to the U.S. That includes dual 12.3-inch screens, one for the instrument panel and a touchscreen for the infotainment system, as well as a dedicated 6.6-inch touchscreen for the climate controls. The shifter moves from the center console to the steering column to open up interior space, and owners will be able to pair their smartphone to the car for keyless entry and starting. Hyundai is promising dual wireless charging pads for front-row occupants. A digital rearview mirror will use a camera to provide a clear view out the back of the vehicle even if the cargo area is loaded to the ceiling.

Hyundai will also offer a full suite of safety tech on the Santa Fe. We expect some systems to be standard, such as forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection; blind spot monitors and cameras that display in the instrument panel; rear cross-traffic alert with rear automatic braking; lane departure steering assist; and front and rear parking sensors. Other systems seem more likely to be available on higher trim levels or as part of larger option packages. These include Hyundai’s Highway Driving Assist 2 semi-autonomous driving, which bundles adaptive cruise control with lane-centering steering, a 360-degree parking camera and Remote Smart Parking Assist.

More to Come

As noted, we will learn more about the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe closer to its reveal at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November, including finalized U.S. specs and pricing. But from what we’ve seen so far, it’s shaping up to be a very appealing package.

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