I’m thinking about getting the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid. I’ve driven Honda and Toyota for most of my life, and they’ve been solid for me. But when I saw the new Hyundai Santa Fe, I was impressed. I love being in the mountains, snow, and off-road, so I want something that handles well. However, I’ve never owned a Hyundai, and I have a few questions if anyone here could help out:
How much does maintenance cost?
Is it a reliable vehicle?
Do you regret buying yours?
Would you still choose the same car if you could go back?
What do you love about your Santa Fe, and what do you dislike?
Are these cars still vulnerable to theft or being hacked by high schoolers with USB drives?
Finally, do you think switching from Honda or Toyota to Hyundai is a good move?
If I had the chance to go back, I’d definitely pick the Limited or Calligraphy trim. Those models have extra safety features like side cameras, auto parking, and a camera in the center mirror. They also have a 620-mile range, which beats both the CR-V hybrid and Rav 4. Plus, Hyundai offers these features at a lower price than Honda or Toyota would. The only thing I’d avoid is the gas model because the transmission isn’t great, and you don’t get that 620-mile range. Hope this helps!
Pax said: @Corey
Thanks for the info! This is really helpful. I’ll definitely keep that in mind when deciding on the trim level.
Yeah, I wish I’d chosen a higher trim, but the SEL Hybrid was more affordable for me. It was $38,000 compared to $42,000 for the XRT or $52-58,000 for the Limited/Calligraphy.
@Corey
To be honest, the SEL model still has most of the safety features you’d find on the higher trims, except for side cameras and the 360-degree view. The auto parking and narrow space feature are nice, but I think it’s more about convenience than real safety. We decided that we didn’t need them, and the price difference wasn’t worth it for us.
@Cleo
Same here, I have a 2024 SEL Hybrid. Love the gas mileage – I’m getting about 36 mpg after 5,000 miles. The price for the Limited/Calligraphy is a bit much for the features, but I still think the SEL is a great deal compared to other makes. Not sure about its off-road performance in the snow, but it should handle light off-roading fine. I mainly went with it for the great mileage.
I forgot to mention – one thing I liked about the Santa Fe compared to other hybrids is the extra features. For example, it has AC vents on the sides of the doors in the middle row, AC control for the last row, USB ports on the sides of the front seats, and a dual-opening center console.
I traded in my 2012 Silverado for a 2024 hybrid Santa Fe. I usually keep my vehicles for over 10 years, so I’m a bit worried about reliability. I’ll update my thoughts when the 5-year warranty ends (Canada has a 5-year warranty). Overall, I’ve enjoyed the Santa Fe so far, but the HVAC system isn’t great. The wireless charging pad overheats my phone, so I turned it off. The HVAC has some bugs too; the fan randomly blows at different speeds, and the second-row vent blows warm air even when the AC is on. Other owners have had similar issues, so hopefully, Hyundai fixes it with a software update.
I’ve had a 2006 Honda Pilot, which I thought was the best car I’ve ever owned. So switching to a Hyundai was a big decision. I tried out several brands before settling on the Santa Fe Limited. It took over 4 months to get the exact model I wanted, but so far, it’s been everything I hoped for. The quality, trim, and safety features are great, and I’m really enjoying it. I haven’t driven it in snow yet, but I’m looking forward to it.
@Addison
Do you have any concerns about Hyundai’s reputation for reliability, especially with their hybrid system compared to Toyota, Honda, or Ford’s hybrid systems?
Pax said: @Addison
Do you have any concerns about Hyundai’s reputation for reliability, especially with their hybrid system compared to Toyota, Honda, or Ford’s hybrid systems?
Hyundai has come a long way in terms of reliability in the last 15 years. While reputations change slowly, I think any concerns are no longer warranted. I haven’t heard much about issues with Hyundai’s hybrid system, and I don’t think it’s been any less reliable than the others.
I switched from my 2017 Toyota Tacoma, which was super reliable, but I wanted something with more features and comfort. My family has had Kias and Hyundais for years with no real issues, so I’m not too worried about reliability. I’m really enjoying the Santa Fe Hybrid. The ride is much smoother than the Tacoma, and my wife doesn’t get carsick anymore. The interior is way more spacious, which is great when we have four adults in the car. The Limited trim has a nice, luxury feel. I’m at 700 miles so far, so I can’t speak to long-term reliability yet, but Hyundai has a good warranty. I’m not concerned about theft either – I’ve read that cars with push-start buttons are harder to steal. I haven’t tested its off-road capabilities yet, but the AWD worked fine on some gravel roads I’ve driven.
I switched from a 2014 Honda Accord and a 2014 Toyota Tacoma. I almost went with a CRV or RAV4, but the Toyotas and Hondas felt too boring. The 2025 Santa Fe has been awesome so far. It’s well-designed, and everything just works great. The HVAC works perfectly for me here in Arizona – it cools quickly and comfortably. I also added a 10-year, 120k-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty for peace of mind. One of my favorite features is the HDA2 on the Calligraphy model – it practically drives itself on highways and city streets. The USB-C charging ports for each row are a nice touch too, and it supports PPS for fast charging. The digital key is fantastic; I can leave my key fob at home and just use my phone. My only concern is the service experience – I’ve heard complaints about long repair times, but so far, the car’s been great.
I’ve only had my Santa Fe for 5,000 miles, so I can’t comment on maintenance costs yet, but I have 3 years/36k miles of complimentary service. So far, it’s been very reliable. I have no regrets about buying it. It’s my wife’s primary car, and we both love it. I initially wanted the Palisade for more space, but the hybrid made me choose the Santa Fe. My favorite thing about it is the comfortable ride, the quiet cabin, the tech, and the gas mileage. I don’t really have any major complaints. I’m not sure about the theft issue, but I haven’t heard anything about it being a big concern. As for switching from Toyota to Hyundai, I used to own a Toyota 4Runner and Lexus GX460. I really wanted the Toyota Grand Highlander, but with the stop sale and inventory issues, I went with the Santa Fe. Ask me again after 50, 70, or 100k miles, and I’ll have more to share.
The digital key is a bit unreliable, and the physical keys aren’t great either. The trunk is a bit annoying because you have to step back farther than most SUVs to open it, thanks to the boxy design. Also, Hyundai requires you to hold the trunk button to close it. But overall, it’s a great car. In my opinion, the interior is the nicest you can get in this price range and size class.