2024 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy Review

There was a time when buying a Hyundai meant one thing: you were being sensible, cautious and - let's be honest - a bit boring.

But not anymore.

The Korean brand has just launched the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe and this one we're driving is the Calligraphy edition. And guess what? It would seem that Hyundai suddenly decided it was time to crash the luxury SUV party.

Yes, Hyundai has sprinkled a touch of grandeur into its SUV lineup and we've entered a world where Santa Fe owners now sip fine wine and discuss art.

Pricing starts from $60,650 for the entry-level Hyundai Santa Fe, however for this premium "Calligraphy" experience, you're looking at a price tag of $81,126 driveaway. It's not pocket change, sure, but when you look at what you're getting, it doesn't seem quite so outrageous.

It's not just a family SUV dressed up for a night out. Hyundai has made sure the Calligraphy edition fully feels like it is competing with established luxury brands.

From the distinctive "H" design elements, from the intricate front grille to the sleek headlights and the boxy design, you can see this car is trying to stand out.

Under the hood, there's a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine pushing out 132kW and 265Nm of torque. There is also an e-motor which produces 44.2Kw and 265Nm of torque, meaning the entire system outputs 172Kw and 367Nm.

More than enough grunt to get you to the school pick-up line just in time.

What's the Hyundai Santa Fe like to drive?

For a car weighing as much as a small planet, the Santa Fe Calligraphy moves surprisingly well.

The turbocharged engine does its job, but it's not exactly inspiring. It will get you from zero to 100 km/h in a respectable time, but this isn't the sort of SUV that's going to give you that "glued-to-the-seat" feeling. It is more of a fast-moving lounge room with cup holders.

However, the hybrid system does work in harmony with the petrol unit and you'll be hard-pressed to notice the system switching between petrol and electricity.

The steering is light, the handling is competent and the suspension smooths out the rough patches.

So while you're not going to take it for a joyride around twisty mountain roads, it's perfectly suited for navigating suburban streets and country highways.

The 6-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly enough - it occasionally feels like it's taking a moment to think about what it wants to do next, but overall feels like a good combination.

Hyundai has thrown in enough safety systems and sensors to make Big Brother blush. The Santa Fe's driver monitoring system is always watching - you can't really look anywhere other than the road, unless you enjoy being nagged by a series of bongs and beeps.

You'll get warned for just about everything, from lane changes (there is automatic lane changing too) to straying from your lane, to travelling too close to the vehicle in front. And you'd better not think about changing the radio station too aggressively.

What's the Santa Fe calligraphy like inside?

The Calligraphy interior is Hyundai's way of saying, "Look, we can do luxury too!" To be fair, they've done a pretty decent job. The Nappa leather is soft, the finishes are plush and make you feel like you're sitting in something much more expensive.

The seats are both ventilated, heated and there's a massage function for the driver just to elevate things that little bit further. Seating in the second row offers enough space for the kids or your in-laws to sit comfortably without complaining about legroom (too much.) The outboard seats are heated back there too.

The rear row is adjustable, sliding back and forth to give the second row more leg room, while also being slightly reclinable if there is no one behind you for added comfort.

With the second row in place, the third-row seating is best suited for children and even though an adult can fit back there, maybe save that option when giving rides to people you don't particularly like.

The 12.3-inch digital display behind the steering wheel looks the part and is full of advanced features and information.

To its left is another 12.3-inch display, this time touchscreen. It is laid out logically, has sharp graphics and is snappy too with none of that frustrating lag between actions.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard (as they should at this price), so you can blast your Spotify playlist while pretending not to be stuck in traffic. Music rings out through the impressive 12-speaker Bose sound system.

There's also yet another touchscreen, this time a 6.6-inch unit that allows you to control all the air conditioning and seat features, so you won't spend ages trying to figure out how to turn on the cooling.

What's the Hyundai Santa Fe boot like?

Pop the boot and you'll find a very respectable 629 litres of space with the third-row seats folded down. Plenty of room for the weekly grocery haul, a couple of suitcases. If you're on a spontaneous IKEA trip that you'll immediately regret, the Santa Fe has you covered with a large 1,949 litres of space with the back two rows folded down.

If you decide to haul the kids and leave the third row up, boot space shrinks to what is roughly enough for a couple of shopping bags or backpacks.

The power tailgate is a handy touch, especially when you've got your hands full of bags, children or existential dread.

How safe is the Santa Fe calligraphy?

You'd expect a vehicle this luxurious to come loaded with safety features and the Santa Fe Calligraphy doesn't disappoint.

Hyundai has thrown the full alphabet of driver-assistance acronyms at this thing: AEB, LKA, BCA, SCC and whatever else they could think of. It's got everything from autonomous emergency braking to lane-keeping assist and blind-spot monitoring, ensuring that even the most distracted driver has a fighting chance of avoiding disaster.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe remains unrated by ANCAP and Euro NCAP, however it has just about the highest amount of safety systems you're going to get fitted in the SUV world.

Ownership/warranty

Hyundai offers a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. They also offer capped price servicing to lock in the costs over over 3, 4 or 5 years. You're looking at $1487 for the 3-year plan, $1,946 for the 4-year plan or $2,405 for the 5-year plan.

You will also get free roadside assistance for 12 months, which gets extended every time you get your Santa Fe serviced at a authorised Hyundai dealer.

The verdict on the Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy edition is a curious beast. On one hand, it's a Hyundai - practical, reliable and sensible.

On the other hand, it's $81,126 for a family SUV that's pushing its way into the luxury realm. But here's the thing - once you sit in it, take a look at the refined finishes and feel the level of tech and comfort, that price starts to feel justified.

Plus, at the BBQ, you get to smugly say, "Yes, it's the Calligraphy edition," while your mates try to figure out how Hyundai managed to build something so premium.

Is it worth $80,000? Given the inclusions and the level of finish, it's hard to argue otherwise.