Hey everyone! Just got my first hybrid less than a day ago, and I’m excited but also a little nervous. It’s the rockwood green with pecan interior, which I love! I was also considering the Mazda CX-90 but ended up going with this Santa Fe.
I’m coming from a 2012 Mazda 3 hatchback (manual), which I bought for 18k back in the day. So this is a big jump for me in both price and tech.
Here’s my concern: During the test drive, I pulled out of the dealership onto a 4-lane highway. When I pressed the accelerator all the way down, the car didn’t respond for a few seconds. Then it suddenly kicked in and started accelerating. The salesperson said this was normal and switched it to sport mode, which made it more responsive for the rest of the test drive.
Is this normal for hybrids, or should I be worried? I thought it might just be how automatic cars work, but now I’m seeing posts about these cars losing power on highways, and I’m feeling uneasy. If you’ve had no issues with yours, please share to help me feel better!
Congrats on the new ride! I have the same Limited Hybrid, and what you experienced is completely normal.
Hybrids often rely on the electric motor when decelerating or at a stop, which only provides about 70 horsepower. When you press the accelerator hard, the gas engine needs a moment to start and deliver extra power, which can cause that lag you felt. Switching to sport mode keeps the engine running more often, so it’s more responsive, but you’ll burn more gas.
If you’re okay with toggling modes, you can use eco most of the time and switch to sport when you need quicker response. It takes some getting used to, but you’ll adjust!
Totally normal for hybrids. It’s like the car is relying on just the electric motor at first, and you’re waiting for the engine to kick in. When you switch to sport mode, it’s way more responsive because the gas engine stays on. I’ve gotten used to the delay and just drive accordingly.
Try easing into the accelerator instead of flooring it. That works better for me. The paddle shifters also help if you want to downshift and get more control. I usually keep mine in a custom drive mode with eco driving and sport steering. Also, regenerative braking is awesome for fuel efficiency and extending brake life—it’s like downshifting when driving on curves.
Koa said: @Fin
Thanks for the tips! There’s so much I need to learn about this car. I didn’t even have time to go through all the features at the dealership.
You’ll pick it up! I learned a lot from reading this forum and the manual. I even convinced my partner the car sends me speed alerts when they’re driving, and now they drive extra carefully.
What you’re describing is typical and could also happen if the battery was low and the gas engine (ICE) was doing all the work. I’ve never found mine to be slow, though. Coming from a twin-turbo V8 BMW, I love my hybrid Limited! Already put 11,000 miles on it in 6 months.
The car actually accelerates better if you press the gas smoothly instead of flooring it. It’s different from your Mazda, but you’ll get used to it. The extra weight and automatic transmission take some adjusting, but it’s worth it. We absolutely love ours!
