Adventurous drivers who enjoy leaving the pavement in the rearview mirror love the Hyundai Santa Fe. The Santa Fe offers a spacious cabin for five people with elevated comfort and convenience features and a capable powertrain to handle the road less traveled. Plus, you get all the latest must-have technology in a stylish package.
Hyundai engineered the Santa Fe to take you places other SUVs can’t. However, you have ten exciting trim levels to choose from, which some people might find challenging. So, we asked our SUV experts at Koons Woodbridge Hyundai to review the different Santa Fe models, paying particular attention to their respective off-road capabilities.
2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Trim Levels and Pricing
Hyundai makes ten Santa Fe models, five of which use a traditional gas powertrain. In addition, you have three hybrid trims and two plug-in hybrid variants. Here’s a look at the Santa Fe Pricing breakdown by vehicle.
| 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Trim Level | 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe MSRP |
| 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe SE | $28,450 |
| 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe SEL | $32,150 |
| 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT | $33,950 |
| 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited | $40,300 |
| 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy | $42,300 |
| 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Blue | $35,910 |
| 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid SEL Premium | $39,770 |
| 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Limited | $41,570 |
| 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid SEL Convenience | $42,110 |
| 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid Limited | $47,370 |
As you can see, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get a reliable SUV. So, let’s look closer at what makes the Santa Fe an excellent off-road vehicle.
2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Drivetrain
On the gas-powered Santa Fe models, you get a front-wheel drive system capable of handling dirt roads and wet, slippery pavement. However, you can upgrade to Hyundai’s HTRAC all-wheel drive (AWD), a system designed to get you where you need to go. HTRAC’s advanced system uses sensors monitoring 50 vehicle inputs at a rate of over 100 times per second. The system uses this data on the fly to calculate how much torque each wheel needs for maximum traction.
And, if the wheels do slip, HTRAC intelligently transfers power between the front and rear axles and uses subtle brake input to the left and right wheels to help your vehicle’s tires stay in contact with the road. Additionally, if you choose a hybrid or plug-in hybrid Santa Fe model, you get the HTRAC AWD standard.
Front-wheel-drive models feature four selectable drive modes — Smart, Eco, Sport, and Comfort — that tune your Santa Fe’s throttle, steering, and suspension to match your mood and driving conditions. For example, Comfort mode provides regular driving performance and efficiency. However, Sport mode modifies your steering effort, gear shift points, and throttle responsiveness for a more exciting drive.
Eco mode offers the most efficient performance settings for more eco-friendly driving by adjusting your throttle, shift points, and air conditioning system. Smart mode capitalizes on all three modes, automatically switching between Sport, Comfort, and Eco based on your current driving style.
In addition, AWD models add three Terrain modes — Snow, Sand, and Mud — for enhanced traction and control in harsher conditions. For instance, the Sand mode adjusts throttle response for a smooth take-off and driving in soft, high-resistant road conditions. Mud and Snow modes change throttle response and torque delivery to allow better traction in wet, soft, and slippery conditions.
2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Powertrain
Hyundai has three engine options for the Santa Fe lineup. The lower models SE, SEL, and XRT use a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine with dual overhead cams and 16 valves with gasoline direct injection and multi-port fuel injection technology. Hyundai paired this engine with its eight-speed SHIFTRONIC automatic transmission. As a result, this powertrain produces 191 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque and can tow up to 2,000 pounds when properly equipped.
The Santa Fe Limited and Calligraphy trims upgrade to a turbocharged 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine. However, Hyundai mated this engine with its wet dual-clutch SHIFTRONIC transmission. This powertrain configuration puts out an impressive 281 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. And with the right equipment, this powertrain enables a towing capacity of up to 3,500 pounds.
Hybrid Santa Fe trims use a 1.6-liter inline four-cylinder engine and a 44.2 kW electric motor paired with a six-speed SHIFTRONIC automatic transmission. The gas engine makes a combined 178 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, while the electric motor adds 60 horsepower and another 195 lb-ft of torque.
In the plug-in hybrid Santa Fe, you have the same 1.6-liter gas engine but a larger 66.9 kW electric motor capable of producing 90 horsepower and 224 lb-ft of torque.
2023 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT Trim
We recommend the Santa Fe XRT model equipped with AWD if you plan on taking your Santa Fe off-road. The XRT trim offers exclusive equipment designed for the adventurous driver, like Dark Silver front and rear skid plates. You also get signature black, lower side moldings and stylish black front and rear fascia trim. Other standard equipment includes roof rails with cross bars to carry gear, trim-exclusive side steps, and 18-inch dark alloy wheels with a rugged design.
Hyundai’s HTRAC AWD delivers confident driving on every trim, so you won’t have to worry if the road suddenly turns challenging. Your Santa Fe is up for it. In addition, the hybrid and plug-in hybrid models have significantly higher torque output than the gas models. That added torque with the HTRAC AWD improves off-road performance, especially when the going gets rough.
Test Drive a 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe in Woodbridge Today
At Koons Woodbridge Hyundai, we know what drivers want in an SUV. For that reason, we stock an expansive selection of Santa Fe SUVs in all trim levels. And our convenient Opitz Boulevard location and competitive prices make us the logical place to shop.
If you’re ready to upgrade your Woodbridge commute with a stylish, capable SUV like the Santa Fe, we invite you to shop our virtual inventory. Then, once you find a vehicle or two you like, come to our dealership and sit with one of our SUV professionals. They’ll answer all your questions and let you take your preferred Santa Fe for a test drive.
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