The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) is a growing family’s dream vehicle. It offers room for five and all their gear, comes loaded with features, and travels up to 30 using only the electricity stored in its lithium-ion battery pack.
In typical Hyundai fashion, the Santa Fe PHEV touts head-turning styling, a refined and luxurious interior, plus cutting-edge technology and driver-assist features. Offered in just two trims, the Santa Fe PHEV costs a fair bit more than the entry-level Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV or Ford Escape PHEV. But it remains on a pricing par with the Toyota RAV4 Prime while being less expensive than the Volvo XC60 PHEV.
Among its competitive set, only the Outlander PHEV can match Hyundai’s 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. But the Mitsubishi can’t match the Santa Fe’s electric range of 30 miles.
2023 Hyundai Santa Fe SEL Convenience PHEV: $41,860
The Hyundai Santa Fe SEL Convenience PHEV is surprisingly well-equipped and should satisfy the needs of all but the most demanding buyers. The standard powertrain includes a turbocharged 1.6-liter gas engine paired with a 67-kW electric motor good for a combined 261 horsepower. Mechanical all-wheel drive (AWD) comes standard, along with a 6-speed automatic transmission.
Plugging into a standard 220/240-volt home charger gets you a fully charged battery pack in about four hours.
The SEL Convenience comes standard with 19-inch alloy wheels, power heated side mirrors, LED auto on/off headlights, and a hands-free power liftgate with an auto-open feature.
A proximity key fob allows locking and unlocking the doors by simply touching the handle. Hyundai also includes a built-in remote start button.
Additional exterior features include side-mirror puddle lamps, roof side rails, variable intermittent front wipers, a rear wiper/washer, rear privacy glass, and a trailer prep package.
The SEL Convenience has the bases covered on the safety and driver-assist front. Along with the standard traction control, airbags, and anti-lock brakes, the SEL includes a rear backup camera, a tire pressure monitor, trailer sway control, and an electric parking park with auto vehicle hold.
Standard driver-assist systems include forward collision warning with pedestrian, cyclist, and junction-turning detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, a blind-spot monitor, and rear cross-traffic detection.
Adaptive cruise control with stop/go comes standard, along with Highway Driving Assist, which can maintain a constant safe distance from the traffic ahead, keep the vehicle centered in its lane, and even adjust speed to the legally posted limit.
Other standard systems include lane-keeping assist, rear cross-traffic braking, automatic high-beam headlights, a rear occupant detection system, and a driver alert monitor. There’s even a system that will proactively lock the doors to prevent passengers from exiting when it detects a dangerous vehicle or object approaching the Santa Fe PHEV from behind.
Moving to the cabin, we find numerous standard features and amenities, some of which are optional on Santa Fe’s competitors. Some, like the large 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, are not offered.
Stain-resistant cloth upholstery is easy to clean and stays cooler than vinyl or leather on hot summer days. The SEL Convenience includes an 8-way power driver’s seat with 2-way power lumbar support, heated front seats, a tilt/telescoping leather-wrapped steering wheel, a push-button starter, and auto up/down front power windows.
Rear seat passengers enjoy console-mounted air vents, manual side window sunshades, and power-release split-folding second-row seatbacks.
Dual-zone automatic climate control helps keep front passengers comfortable, while a wireless charging pad permits smartphone charging without the need to plug in.
A sizeable 10.25-inch center touchscreen gives access to the feature-rich infotainment setup, which includes navigation, dynamic voice recognition, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM satellite radio, Bluetooth streaming, and over-the-air map updates. Quiet Mode mutes the rear speakers and sets the front speaker level so sleeping kids won’t be disturbed.
Hyundai’s Bluelink connected services are also available, with a complimentary 3-year package containing Connected Care and Remote. These services allow you to start the vehicle remotely, set the climate controls, locate your car, slow or immobilize a stolen car and notify emergency assistance when a collision occurs.
Curve Control works in conjunction with adaptive cruise control and navigation. It alerts the system to upcoming curves and slows the vehicle to a safe speed.
Hyundai Digital Key lets owners use their smartphone like a key, granting access to the vehicle and allowing for remote start. The owner even has the option to share the key with a friend or family member so they can drive the car without needing to obtain the key physically.
With the $1,295 delivery fee, the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe SEL Convenience PHEV costs $43,155. On a 60-month loan at 3% financing and zero down, the monthly payment comes to about $775. See 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe SEL Convenience PHEV models for sale near you
2023 Hyundai Santa Fe SEL Convenience PHEV includes:
- Digital instrument cluster – This large color cluster replaces traditional analog gauges, allowing for better driver customization and information display.
- Driver assists – The Santa Fe’s numerous assists help keep everyone safe by keeping the driver informed of the environment around the vehicle and intervening when necessary.
- Navigation – Standard GPS navigation doesn’t require a smartphone hookup and includes such conveniences as voice-activated search, points of interest, and preset locations.
2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited PHEV: $47,120
The Limited builds off the SEL Convenience, adding more luxury features and driver aids.
Safety systems include front and rear parking sensors, reverse automatic emergency braking, a 360-degree surround-view monitor, and a blind-spot monitor that displays an image of what’s beside the vehicle when signaling a lane change.
Remote Smart Parking Assist allows the driver to move the Santa Fe forward or backward while outside the vehicle, a welcome feature if you return to find your car tightly wedged between vehicles.
Additional upgrades include projector-style LED headlights, a panoramic roof, rain-sensing wipers, power-folding side mirrors, and memory for the driver’s seat and side mirrors.
The Limited’s interior gains leather upholstery, an 8-way power passenger seat, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, LED interior lighting, and a 115-volt outlet.
The driver’s seat gains 4-way power lumbar and an extendable power seat cushion.
Finally, a 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, a must-have for music lovers, replaces the standard audio.
With the $1,295 delivery fee, the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited PHEV costs $48,415. On a 60-month loan at 3% financing and zero down, the monthly payment comes to about $870. See 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited PHEV models for sale near you
2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited PHEV includes:
- Panoramic sunroof – A massive glass panel roof lets the sunshine in. And when it’s open, it puts the wind in your hair.
- Harman Kardon audio – The 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system delivers a powerful performance with booming bass, bright highs, and excellent clarity.
- Ventilated front seats – The Limited’s ventilated front seats circulate cold air through the perforated leather, helping occupants remain cool and dry.
