2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy in Stormy Sea
2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy 2.5T AWD
Class: Midsize Crossover
Coloration: Stormy Sea
Miles pushed: 144
CG Report Card
Room and ComfortA-
Energy and PerformanceB+
Match and FinishA
Gas EconomyC
ValueA
Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus different automobiles in the identical class. Worth grade is for particular trim stage evaluated, and should not mirror Client Information’s impressions of the complete mannequin lineup.
Huge & Tall Consolation
Huge GuyA
Tall GuyA
Huge & Tall consolation rankings are for entrance seats solely. “Huge” score primarily based on male tester weighing roughly 350 kilos, “Tall” score primarily based on 6’6″-tall male tester.
Drivetrain
Engine Specs277-hp 2.5-liter
Engine TypeTurbo 4-cyl
Transmission 8-speed dual-clutch automated
Drive WheelsAWD
Noticed gas economic system: 21.2 mpg
Driving combine: 80% metropolis, 20% freeway
EPA-estimated gas economic system: 21/28/24 (mpg metropolis/freeway/mixed)
Gas sort: Common fuel
Snow Efficiency: Glorious
Base worth: $43,750 (not together with $1295 vacation spot cost)
Choices on check automobile: Carpeted flooring mats ($210)
Value as examined: $45,255
Fast Hits
The good: Luxurious crossover expertise for mainstream cash
The nice: Ample area for 4 passengers, glorious snow efficiency
The not so good: Transmission will be clunky in gradual driving
Tom Appel:
Keep in mind when TV was free? Certain, we needed to watch regardless of the huge networks have been exhibiting at any given time, however we didn’t pay something to take action. Issues change. In 2022, the common American month-to-month cable invoice got here to $83 {dollars}, with many households coughing up as a lot as $350.
2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy
And, as a nation, we’re shopping for extra automobile than we used to as effectively. Much more. It wasn’t that way back that air con was optionally available, even on some premium-brand automobiles, and many people made do with out energy home windows or FM radios.
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2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy
In comparison with automobiles of simply twenty years in the past, all automobiles within the U.S. now include antilock brakes, traction management, an anti-skid system, side-impact safety, some type of mobile-device connectivity, voice recognition, a collection of superior driver-assistance methods (ADAS), plus the aforementioned Air situation, energy home windows, and energy door locks.
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2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy
And, just like the 93 TV stations all of us now have entry to, we’ve turn into a bit callous about what now’s customary tools on our automobiles and crossovers. Certainly, we not solely anticipate lots of stuff on our automobiles, we anticipate that stuff be offered effectively, in a vogue as soon as reserved for luxury-brand automobiles. Which brings us the Hyundai Santa Fe.
Few new automobiles are supplied in a broader array of configurations than is the Santa Fe midsize crossover. Customary 4-cylinder fashions are supplied in entry SE, midlevel SEL, and trail-ready XRT trim. Turbocharged fashions are available more-premium Restricted and Calligraphy trims.
Additionally obtainable are a hybrid model of the Santa Fe supplied in Blue, SEL Premium, and Restricted ranges. Lastly, plug-in hybrid variants of the Santa Fe are supplied in SEL Comfort and Restricted trims. Add to the combo possibility packages and colours, and we surprise how a vendor decides what number of of every model of the Santa Fe to maintain in inventory.
Whereas even lower-level variations of the Santa Fe current effectively, it’s the surprisingly fashionable topline Calligraphy we’re going to speak about immediately. New for 2021, the Calligraphy—which begins at $43,895 with front-wheel drive—is positioned above the Restricted mannequin ($41,895). Word that the Santa Fe is obtainable solely with seating for 5 passengers. Hyundai buyers in search of a Third-row might want to step up the model’s glorious Palisade.
For the additional cash Calligraphy homeowners get head-up show, cool-looking ambient lighting, and, amongst different issues, an upgraded cabin which features a micro-fiber headliner and Nappa-leather seating. Twenty-inch alloy wheels (up from 19-inchers) and distinctive exterior trim are additionally a part of the deal.
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2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy
Just like the Restricted, the Calligraphy is powered by a turbocharged 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine. The 277-horsepower powerplant mates completely to 8-speed automated transmission. Entrance-wheel drive is customary. Including AWD pads the underside line by an inexpensive $1700.
Client Information just lately spent per week with an AWD 2023 Santa Fe Calligraphy in Stormy Sea (that’s the colour). Little modified for 2023, the Calligraphy returns because the Santa Fe flagship, and is obtainable just about absolutely outfitted. Our check automobile got here to $45,255, together with supply and optionally available carpeted flooring mats.
Once we discuss American customers anticipating extra “stuff” in and on their popular-price automobiles, the Santa Fe Calligraphy is strictly what we’re speaking about. We’ve stated it earlier than, Hyundai cabins—particularly higher trim-level cabins—current as legitimately premium. Certainly, trying round our test-car’s inside, it’s tough to simply accept that this crossover is available in underneath $50,000.
The perforated leather-based seats and quilted door-trim accents look as in the event that they belong in one thing on the order of an Audi or BMW, and the workmanship is outwardly prime notch. However, in contrast to many luxurious automobiles, the Santa’s controls are elegantly easy to make use of. We’re grateful that many oft-used capabilities are dealt with by way of old-school knobs and buttons, with most less-used operations relegated to touchscreen menus.
The cabin is greater than good-looking, it’s very roomy, with this huge creator discovering ample area in all 4 outboard seating positions. Moreover, getting out and in of the Santa Fe is fairly simple too, because of giant door openings and ample door peak. A cabin problem famous by considered one of our drives: Visibility from the motive force’s seat to the rear corners is compromised considerably by the automobile’s thick rear pillars.
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2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy
Underway the Santa Fe continues to really feel upscale. Although falling somewhat brief within the space of sportiness, the crossover handles effectively, and rides particularly effectively. Including to the sense of chassis sophistication is the cabin’s general quietness. Greater trim-level Santa Fes are handled to further laminated aspect glass, which appears to go a long way in direction of holding issues hushed when in movement.
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2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy
The massive turbocharged 4-cylinder engine gives loads of energy, and the 8-speed dual-clutch transmission is usually clean and refined in operation. We famous just a few awkward, ill-timed shifts at low velocity in stop-and-go visitors, however usually contemplate this drivetrain a part of the posh equation.
We aren’t usually afforded the chance to guage automobiles in severe snow, we received an opportunity with our check Santa Fe. Our check automobile endured a few days of deep-snow—and later slush—commuting, and faired impressively effectively. The fundamentals of Hyundai’s branded HTRAC AWD system range in design primarily based on the automobile in query, however on the Santa Fe we discovered the system to work impressively effectively in accelerating from a cease, in deep snow, and in cornering underneath throttle.
That snow possible took successful on our noticed gas economic system, although given the ability obtainable, our 21.2 mpg efficiency feels fairly cheap.
We named the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe a Client Information Finest Purchase and stand by the glory. If you happen to haven’t come to anticipate luxury-level content material out of your popularly priced midsize crossover, you could be higher served by an SEL or Restricted as a substitute of the Calligraphy. However, given the content material and refinement of the Santa Fe in Calligraphy trim, now we have no downside with the worth. It’s like paying for HBO when Deadwood was nonetheless in first run—and getting Showtime free of charge.
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2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy
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