Hyundai Santa Fe review

Overview

The original fourth-generation Santa Fe offers seven-seat family accommodation with a substantial diesel rather than electrified power. This review covers a 2019 UK Premium 2.2 CRDi 200 PS, four-wheel drive and an eight-speed conventional automatic. It predates the heavily revised facelift, its diesel DCT and petrol hybrid choices, and is not the later box-shaped generation. The strongest case is regular distance use with occasional extra passengers. Its useful equipment and relatively grown-up cabin do not make it a cheap car to run. Check that your routes, luggage needs and maintenance budget suit the exact diesel configuration before being persuaded by the size.

Exterior and interior

The original TM's split front lamps and broad grille create a distinct identity without the later facelift's face. Premium uses eighteen-inch wheels and leather seat facings, while its cabin combines a central screen with separate physical controls. Try the front-seat adjustments and preferred steering position, and inspect the driver's bolster and rear trim for family wear. A panoramic roof and ventilated memory seats are Premium SE territory, not guaranteed here. Check door seals, headlining and powered-tailgate operation. The cabin's generous appearance should be backed by comfortable access for your passengers, rather than treated as proof that every seating position is equally usable.

Practicality

This is a seven-seater, but the manufacturer brochure's 547-litre boot figure describes the five-seat luggage arrangement with the third row folded. It must not be presented as available while carrying seven people. Raise both rear chairs and load the actual bags for the trips you plan. The sliding and reclining second row lets occupants share space, but access and comfort in the third row require a personal trial. Check every latch, headrest and belt, especially if seats have rarely been used. Family packaging includes passenger fit, luggage and payload together; a large empty folded cabin is not evidence that a full holiday load will work.

Driving experience

The original UK Auto Express assessment and Autocar road-test context support comfortable distance use, while their different ride impressions reinforce the need for an actual demonstration. RoadMatch has not driven this car. Test manoeuvring in realistic spaces, low-speed surfaces and a faster road with the car's own wheels and tyres. HTRAC four-wheel drive is road-traction assistance, not proof of specialist off-road capability. Check steering consistency, braking and suspension noise, and demonstrate the automatic's warm behaviour without abrupt inputs. A large crossover can make ordinary travel restful, but its physical width and mass remain relevant in narrow streets, parking bays and sharp direction changes.

Performance

Hyundai's original UK technical table gives this drivetrain 200 PS, approximately 197 bhp, and 9.4 seconds from 0–62 mph. The automatic has eight ratios and is not the later dual-clutch transmission. Its useful diesel torque suits normal loaded travel, but overtaking still needs space and suitable gearing. Assess response with realistic passengers and investigate hesitation, smoke or warning messages. Do not substitute a reviewer's measured 0–60 timing for the manufacturer's different measure. If towing is central to the purchase, confirm the individual plated limits: the period automatic specification differs from the manual, so a headline maximum for the range may be inappropriate.

Fuel economy

A sizeable four-wheel-drive diesel is most convincing on regular fully warmed journeys. Urban cold starts, heavy loads and towing can erode the fuel case, while the DPF and SCR emissions systems bring their own operating requirements. Exact official mpg is omitted because period UK documents span NEDC and WLTP figures rather than one securely isolated 2019 Premium claim. Check the registration for clean-air eligibility and learn the correct AdBlue procedure from the handbook. Build a fuel budget from your actual annual use. A later hybrid's urban economy or an older manual Santa Fe's certification figure cannot settle what this automatic diesel will cost you.

Reliability

RoadMatch's moderate-confidence editorial assessment is not a measured failure probability. The diesel, emissions hardware, automatic and four-wheel-drive system merit a proper inspection rather than reassurance from an expired warranty headline. Obtain invoices, check cold starting and fluid condition, and ask a qualified workshop to review DPF, SCR, AdBlue and transmission fault records. Inspect underside damage and evidence of heavy towing, without assuming a fitted towbar means abuse. Check the suspension's condition and tyre wear across all wheels. Ask Hyundai for VIN-specific campaign completion, including safety electronics. Maintenance detail is more persuasive than an advertisement saying fully serviced without dates, mileage and identifiable work.

Safety

The exact Euro NCAP Santa Fe 2018 record provides the original TM generation's historical assessment context and identifies the 2.2 CRDi test vehicle. It is not a modern-protocol result, and no numerical rating is reproduced. The period UK brochure documents emergency braking and lane assistance, with blind-spot brake assistance on the selected Premium automatic. Confirm warning lights clear and inspect repair records around cameras, sensors and windscreens. Check the restraints and child-seat positions for the actual passenger arrangement; do not assume every rear position has identical fittings. Manufacturer recall clearance and sound individual condition remain necessary alongside the model's original safety design.

Technology and features

Premium's original UK specification includes Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, front and rear parking sensors, a reversing camera and heated seats. Automatic models receive adaptive cruise, while Premium adds the eight-inch navigation and audio package. Test projection with your own phone, safe cruise operation, both seat heaters and the powered tailgate. The surround-view system and head-up display of Premium SE should not be credited to this car without proof. Check the physical climate buttons and cooling as well as the screen. Useful equipment becomes a cost if faults are ignored, and old maps or connected services should not be assumed maintained just because navigation is installed.

Running costs

The £17,000–£24,000 purchase band is RoadMatch's planning estimate dated 3 October 2026, not a live valuation. At an illustrative 10,000 miles, 38 mpg and £1.55 per litre, diesel costs around £1,854. Add £200 tax planning and £650–£1,350 routine service, MOT and wear for approximately £2,700–£3,400 before insurance, depreciation, finance, clean-air charges or major repairs. Verify actual tax, including any applicable list-price treatment, and obtain personal insurance terms. Large tyres, emissions work and drivetrain repairs can exceed a routine allowance. A lower used purchase price does not remove the operating costs of a large, well-equipped diesel seven-seater.

Advantages and disadvantages