2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy test drive review

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe may look demure and unassuming on the outside, but don’t let it fool you. This car’s got plenty of reasons to brag. For one thing, Kelley Blue Book named it their highest rated two-row, midsize SUV for 2023 and a Best Buy Award winner. And with a starting MSRP under $29,000, how can you go wrong? KSL Cars spent a week with the all-wheel drive, top-of-the-line 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy trim and put all of its features and amenities to the test. 

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Price and value 

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe comes in six trims, excluding the hybrid and plug-in hybrid options, with an MSRP range of $28,750 for the base-level SE to $42,600 for the top-tier Calligraphy. Each Santa Fe model has standard front-wheel drive and available all-wheel drive. Some of the major differences among trim levels are noted below.

• SE: $28,750 See listings

8-inch alloy wheels

8-inch touch screen 

6-way adjustable driver seat 

• SEL: $32,450 See listings

Hands-free liftgate

10.25-inch touch screen

8-way power driver seat

• XRT: $34,250 See listings

Black lower front and rear fascia trim

XRT exclusive side moldings 

Side steps

• Limited: $40,600 See listings

12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system

12.3-inch digital instrument cluster

Panoramic sunroof

• Calligraphy: $42,600 See listings

8-speed wet dual clutch transmission 

20-inch alloy wheels

Quilted premium Nappa leather seats

Our Calligraphy tester came with the turbocharged engine and all-wheel drive for a grand total of $45,255 after freight and handling fees. Given all the features and luxuries Hyundai managed to include at that price point, it’s hard to criticize the value. But if you really want to save money, the lower trims still pack an impressive punch for a much lower price.

Performance

Overall, the Santa Fe Calligraphy was a pleasant car to drive. At higher speeds it performed well, but it often felt a little overeager to prove itself and didn’t seem to enjoy being forced to take things slowly.

Engine and drivetrain

Equipped with the 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder turbo engine, the Santa Fe Calligraphy put out 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, which we definitely felt when we mashed the throttle. The 8-speed automatic transmission was a little less smooth, particularly at lower speeds. The Calligraphy kept wanting to bolt instead of glide, which made stop-and-go traffic a little jerky sometimes. Still, its power felt impressive for a car of its class.

Fuel economy 

The Environmental Protection Agency rates the turbocharged Santa Fe at 21 mpg in the city, 28 mpg on the highway and 24 mpg combined. Our numbers were pretty close to these. Of course, if you want to maximize fuel economy, you can always check out the hybrid and plug-in hybrid models of the Santa Fe.

Acceleration and handling

If you want something quick off the line, opt for the turbocharged Santa Fe models. Car and Driver found that the turbocharged Calligraphy went from 0-60 mph in just 6 seconds. By comparison, the regular, non-turbo XRT took 9.6 seconds to do the same.

Braking 

In our weeklong test drive, we never experienced any issues with braking. The brakes were responsive without being overly sensitive.

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Interior comfort and convenience 

The interior is definitely a strong suit for the Santa Fe — and Hyundai in general. How it manages to include so many luxuries at such an affordable price is anyone’s guess. Some might feel that the Santa Fe’s interior is a miniaturized version of the Palisade, which isn’t a bad thing.

Seats 

With the Calligraphy trim, you’re about as spoiled as can be when it comes to seats. With premium Nappa leather, heating and ventilation up front (as well as heating in the back) and power adjustability, there’s really nothing to complain about. There’s even a generous amount of legroom in the back.

Climate control

Driving in the heat of the summer, we were pleased with the Santa Fe’s responsive climate control system. Thanks to dual pane front windows, the cabin managed to stay fairly insulated from the sun, but we also appreciated the manual sun shades for our kids in the second row.

Cargo space and cabin storage 

The Santa Fe has a fair amount of cargo space, with 36.4 cubic feet when the seats are up and 72.1 cubic feet with them down. As for cabin storage, we’d rate it better than average for a two-row midsize SUV. The center console cubby up front was fairly deep, and the extra storage space under the center console was a nice bonus.

Infotainment system 

The 10.25-inch touch screen was user friendly, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is always a welcome feature. The only complaint we had was that the audio, which was the upgraded 12-speaker Harman Kardon system, seemed a little too quiet — or the road noise was perhaps just a little too loud.

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Exterior appearance and functionality 

If you’ve seen Hyundai’s announcement about the up-and-coming redesign of the Santa Fe, you’ll know it’s headed for a radical transformation. Some may welcome its bold, new look for 2024, but for those who prefer something a little more elegant and understated, the 2023 model is still a great pick.

Wheels

Admittedly, the 20-inch Calligraphy exclusive alloy wheels on our tester felt a little busy with their overlapping spokes, but they grew on us over time. There was still a bit of road noise within the cabin, so that left us wondering if a slightly smaller wheel with a thicker tire would’ve absorbed more sound.

Lights and turn signals

The projector style LED headlights kept things illuminated nicely on the road at night and the turn signals functioned as expected.

Front and rear windshield 

Visibility out the front and rear windshields was good, but the surround-view camera system offered additional peace of mind.

Cameras and side mirrors

You can’t ask much more from Hyundai in terms of camera views and side mirror visibility. The Calligraphy’s surround-view system was among the best we’ve used in test cars, and it made parking and reversing a breeze.

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Safety

On top of everything, the Santa Fe also comes loaded with advanced safety technology and features that should add to your sense of security on the road. These included:

• Forward collision avoidance assist

• Blind spot collision avoidance assist

• Rear cross-traffic collision avoidance assist

• Parking collision avoidance assist

• Lane following assist

• Lane-departure warning 

• Driver attention warning 

• Automatic emergency braking

• Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go technology

Awards and ratings 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe a five-star safety rating overall and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety named it a Top Safety Pick in the midsize SUV/four-door SUV category.

Final impression

When it comes to finding an affordable midsize SUV with a decent amount of passenger room, cargo space and creature comforts, the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe is hard to beat — especially if you want something smaller than a Palisade but larger than a Tucson. Adding up its list of standard safety and tech features, its minor flaws are easy to forgive.

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FAQs 

How does the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe compare to the 2024 model? 

First of all, you may not even recognize the 2024 Santa Fe compared to the previous generation. It’s been completely redesigned to look much more modern and squared off than the 2023 version. The 2024 model is 1.8 inches longer and offers a hair more legroom. The interior is also described as more “upscale” and will now offer a third row. Official pricing hasn’t been released as of this writing, but you can expect the upgrades to come at a higher cost than the outgoing model. Check out all Hyundai listings

Should you buy a Tucson or a Santa Fe?

In terms of value, the Santa Fe may actually be your best bet. It has more interior space and more power than its smaller sibling. But the Tucson still offers a lot of cargo room at a lower price, so take your pick.

Is the Hyundai Santa Fe a good family car?

This will obviously come down to personal preference, but the Santa Fe definitely deserves to be on the list when it comes to good cars for small families. It’s less expensive than others in its class and still manages to load you up with a generous suite of standard features.

If you’re anxious to get your hands on a 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe before the refreshed (and more expensive) version hits the market, KSL Cars has several options available.

*KSL Cars does not endorse any vehicles. The views or opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer and do not reflect the views or opinions of KSL.com or its employees.