I’ve been reading a lot about the 2024/2025 Hyundai Santa Fe on this forum. My PriusV broke down, and we’re now looking for a new hybrid. Can anyone share their experience buying a 2024 or 2025 Calligraphy Hybrid or Limited Hybrid? What made you pick one over the other? We have a 60lb dog, no young kids anymore, but we do have a cello to carry around. Appreciate any advice!
We picked the Limited over the Calligraphy mainly for two things: the bench seat and the Pecan interior. I would’ve liked the heads-up display and digital rear view mirror that come with the Calligraphy, but I preferred the interior color and the bench seat more.
@Aspen
I hear you, there’s not a big difference in features between the Limited and Calligraphy. Glad to hear you’re happy with your choice!
@Aspen
I went for the Limited too for the same reason. Someone mentioned that in Australia, the Calligraphy also comes with the Pecan color. Kinda wish we got that too!
I bought the Limited because even though I liked the wheels on the Calligraphy more, the other upgrades didn’t really matter to me. Also, I have a 50lb dog who’s a nightmare in the car, so I bought a crate to put in the back for him.
@Luca
My dog is pretty calm in the car, and I love the captain’s chairs. I’m thinking of keeping the third row down and putting my dog back there in a travel crate. We do a lot for our fur babies, don’t we? lol
@Jordan
Haha exactly 
The trunk area with the third row down is perfect for a big dog. I was also thinking of a Mazda, but the crate I wanted wouldn’t fit there.
@Luca
The only thing I don’t like about the Limited is the wheels.
Kiran said:
@Luca
The only thing I don’t like about the Limited is the wheels.
I actually think the Limited wheels look more luxury because of the color. I wish the US got the Calligraphy wheels with the same finish as the Limited’s. They look amazing.
For us, the real decision was whether to go with the bench seat or not. The extra features in the Calligraphy looked nice, but they didn’t matter enough for us to choose it over the Limited. Also, how your dog likes to ride could definitely influence your decision.
@Remy
My dog’s comfort is definitely a big factor in this decision. There are so many features I like about the Calligraphy, but they don’t really affect my dog. Tough choices, haha.
I picked the Limited. The only feature I really cared about from the Calligraphy was the digital rear-view camera. The other tech upgrades like HDA2 vs HDA1 didn’t matter to me. I’m not a fan of the black wheels either—they’re hard to clean and any tiny curb rash stands out like crazy. Also, I prefer the bench seats over captain’s chairs, especially since I need to fold both rows down for my dogs. The biggest factor was the 6-passenger vs 7-passenger seating. My family is small, but when my kids and grandkids visit, I need the extra seating, so the Limited was my only real option.
@Huxley
I never thought about the curb rash issue… Hmm, I love the black wheels, but not if they’re going to show damage easily. Thanks for sharing!
Jordan said:
@Huxley
I never thought about the curb rash issue… Hmm, I love the black wheels, but not if they’re going to show damage easily. Thanks for sharing!
They do look good, but if you get a little curb rash, it shows up really clearly. The black wheels stand out even from a distance, so just be careful. Learned that the hard way.
I personally preferred the Calligraphy because I love the blacked-out rims and trim. I also like the advanced driver assistance features and the heads-up display, which has improved a lot since my 2020 Limited model.
@Farrell
The heads-up display sounds pretty awesome. Does it show turn-by-turn directions if you’re using CarPlay or Android Auto maps?
Jordan said:
@Farrell
The heads-up display sounds pretty awesome. Does it show turn-by-turn directions if you’re using CarPlay or Android Auto maps?
Yes, it does! In my 2020 model, the heads-up display only showed directions for Hyundai’s navigation, but now it works with Android Auto too. It’s a nice upgrade!
I chose the Limited. I wish I had captain’s chairs, but I still think the Limited gives the best value for the money. The Calligraphy looks great, but I’m just getting tired of the black wheels and all the ‘murdered-out’ finishes. I also don’t think any of the wheels on the trims are that great.
@Bryce
Yeah, it comes down to the bench vs captain’s chairs. I’m sure my dog would be fine in any of them since she’s so calm. Wish I could just bring her to the dealership for the test drive, haha.
I would have been fine with the SEL, but my wife wanted the Limited.