What’s the fuel reserve like on the Santa Fe hybrid?

I’ve had my 2024 hybrid Santa Fe for a few months now, and I’ve noticed that even though the fuel tank is 17.7 gallons, I’ve never added more than 15 gallons when I fill it up. On my old car, when you got close to 0 miles left, a full tank would actually get close to the full capacity. From what I gather, the Santa Fe has a virtual reserve that reduces the miles left by 1-2 gallons when calculating range, and it seems like after hitting 0 miles, the hybrid could go another 30-60 miles. Has anyone tested this out?

I’ve noticed when the low fuel light comes on, I still have about 15-17 liters left when I fill up, which is about 22% of the tank. I feel like the fuel tank is a bit small, though.

Perrin said:
I’ve noticed when the low fuel light comes on, I still have about 15-17 liters left when I fill up, which is about 22% of the tank. I feel like the fuel tank is a bit small, though.

The gas version probably has a slightly below-average range for its size class in the US, but nothing out of the ordinary. The hybrid, though, should have a better range.
Europe has more efficient cars with smaller engines, so the Santa Fe might not have as much range there.

@Shawn
I get 300 to 350 miles on a single tank, mostly city driving. It’s not bad at all, probably better on the highway.

Perrin said:
I’ve noticed when the low fuel light comes on, I still have about 15-17 liters left when I fill up, which is about 22% of the tank. I feel like the fuel tank is a bit small, though.

I think the hybrid has a good tank size. For the hybrid, I should be able to go over 500 miles (800 km). That feels like plenty to me.

@Ray
I get around 960 km with the hybrid. It’s great!

Perrin said:
I’ve noticed when the low fuel light comes on, I still have about 15-17 liters left when I fill up, which is about 22% of the tank. I feel like the fuel tank is a bit small, though.

If your warning light is on and you still have 15-17 liters left, something might be wrong. You should take it to the dealer.

Perrin said:
I’ve noticed when the low fuel light comes on, I still have about 15-17 liters left when I fill up, which is about 22% of the tank. I feel like the fuel tank is a bit small, though.

The warning light is just an estimate of how much further you can drive based on remaining fuel and current efficiency. It doesn’t show exactly how much gas is left, and it can vary depending on driving conditions. For example, if you’re driving uphill, you might have more fuel left when the light comes on than if you’re on a downhill drive.

You shouldn’t let the tank run completely empty. Try to keep it above 1/8 to avoid any fuel pump issues.

Conn said:
You shouldn’t let the tank run completely empty. Try to keep it above 1/8 to avoid any fuel pump issues.

I agree, running on fumes isn’t great. My question, though, is whether the reserve tank affects how much you have left when you reach 1/8th of a tank.

@Shawn
Just aim for 1/8th on the gauge and don’t worry about it.

Conn said:
@Shawn
Just aim for 1/8th on the gauge and don’t worry about it.

That’s fine, but whether you fill up at 1/8th or when it’s empty, you’ll still lose 30-60 miles of range. I know not everyone cares about that, but it does affect your decision-making.

I got 580 miles on a tank in my hybrid by accident. I love this car!

Wylie said:
I got 580 miles on a tank in my hybrid by accident. I love this car!

Mine shows a range of 577 miles, but I typically get about 524 miles before the warning light comes on. When full, the range shows 544 miles. My average is 31 mpg after 3,800 miles. It’s not as high as other people report, but I usually get around 32 mpg, sometimes up to 34 mpg. I mostly drive in eco mode.