Hyundai Santa Fe review - Interior & comfort (2018-2023)

​While it doesn't exactly set adrenaline pumping on a twisty road, the Hyundai Santa Fe makes amends by being a quiet and relaxing car to travel in when all you want to do is cover long distances. There's a little wind noise from around the windscreen and mirrors once you reach motorway speeds, and the engine can become loud when full acceleration is called for, but cruising is relatively peaceful.

The ride is fairly smooth, too, and we expect Premium versions with smaller alloy wheels to be even more comfortable. This commendable level of refinement gels well with an interior that's among the best-looking and most lavishly equipped yet seen in a Hyundai.

Hyundai Santa Fe dashboard

Beyond the stylish way the door trim flows into the upper dashboard, the Santa Fe is quite conventionally laid out inside, and will be familiar to drivers of other Hyundai models. Good use is made of pleasingly tactile soft-touch materials, which grace all those areas where fingers frequently roam, and quality doesn't feel far behind Land Rover.

The high-mounted infotainment touchscreen - 10.25-inches in size on all new models - dominates the scene, and is attractive and straightforward to use, but its graphics and menus can't quite match the latest setup in the Land Rover Discovery Sport.

A 12.3-inch digital display takes pride of place in the centre of the instrument cluster, replacing the conventional analogue display found in most versions of the previous Santa Fe.

Given the prominence of the screens, the centre console of the Santa Fe feels stuffed with buttons. There are separate buttons for the heated and ventilated seat functions, for example, several rows of buttons above those and even buttons in place of a gearlever. It all looks a bit daunting at first, but should be easier to live with than having to use the touchscreen for everything - once you’ve remembered where to find each control, that is.

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Equipment

The starting price of the latest Santa Fe seems quite steep, shrinking the financial advantage the model previously offered against better-known rivals. However, the standard equipment level is high across the range.

The entry-level SE is no longer available, so Premium is the cheapest way into Santa Fe ownership. It has full-LED headlights, heated front seats with electric adjustment, adaptive cruise control, a rear-view camera and a 10-speaker premium Krell audio system. Premium is available with front or four wheel-drive and an automatic gearbox is standard.

The top-of-the-range Ultimate is distinguished by 19-inch alloy wheels, and has a panoramic sunroof, ventilated front seats with memory settings, and a head-up display, which is adjustable to suit your driving position. There's also an around-view monitor to help with manoeuvring. It also displays video of the car's blind spots while changing lanes to help you avoid danger.

Options

If the standard leather interior isn't distinctive enough for you, there's an optional 'Light Grey' two-tone Nappa leather for £2,000. Metallic or pearlescent paint costs around £700.