The Santa-Fe is built on the same platform that underpins the Kia Sorento. The two vehicles share the same wheelbase and other dimensions are similar. The Santa Fe is exclusively three row in either six or seven seat configurations. Styling is very elegant and the crossover has a very Range Rover air to it. Some fun style flourishes include the front and rear lighting units shaped in an “H” pattern. Like the Ioniq 5, the Sana Fe uses a shallow, rectangular computer tablet in place of a conventional gauge package. The tablet is installed in blocky, 1980s style dashboard. The climate and infotainment functions use a variety of touchscreens and physical controls. Cabin design is both fresh and modern. Cabin space is good in the first two rows and competitive for third-row riders.

While the Sorento is offered with a normally-aspirated 2.5L four and a plug-in hybrid powertrain, the Santa-Fe is limited to a 2.5L turbo four and a 1.6L turbo four hybrid. The 2.5L turbo is hooked up to an eight-speed dual clutch automated manual transmission with the hybrid sending power to the wheel via a conventional six-speed automatic. All-wheel drive is standard.

Driven briefly, the 2.5L turbo XRT delivers quick acceleration with reasonable refinement when accelerating and quiet cruising. Ride is firm but resilient. The steering has a pleasing heft to it, is precise and holds its line well on the highway. The brakes are strong and easily modulated.

Baffling, muddled model range. The XRT, Luxury and Ultimate trims are powered by Hyundai’s 2.5L turbo four, with the Preferred model exclusively motivated by the 1.6L turbo hybrid.

The Preferred hybrid is nicely equipped. The Trend package on the Preferred includes wireless cellphone charging, a dual-panel sunroof, a power driver’s seat, bigger wheels, remote-fold centre row seat and a large format gauge package and is reasonable value. Moving from the Preferred to the XRT “sport” trim adds wireless cellphone charging, auto-dim rearview mirror, garage door opener buttons, a dual-panel sunroof and a large format digital dashboard. The additional equipment is combined with the 2.5L turbo four and roughly $3000 of additional equipment for $5500 more than the Preferred hybrid. Moving up from the XRT to the Luxury adds turn signals to the door mirror, power-fold mirrors, additional cabin trim, navigation, a 360 degree camera system, leather seating, ventilated front seats, a memory system and a 115 volt receptacle and is good value. The top trim, the bizarrely named Ultimate Calligraphy, includes an extra wireless cellphone charging pad, a Bose-branded audio system, a head-up display system, Nappa-processed leather, remote parking pull in and pull out and is worth taking if you like the equipment.

Reliability should be average during the five year/100,000 kilometer warranty. The 2.5L turbo four is unproven. The APA has received complaints about Hyundai’s hybrid system developing problems around the three-year market that Hyundai is unable to fix. The eight-speed DSG transmission powering the 2.5L turbo four has been pretty reliable in the past but initial new-generation Santa Fes suffered transmission failures that could not be rectified leading to a number of cars being replaced. Some complaints have been received regarding the high-tech BlueLink system attached to the vehicle not functioning, as well as issues regarding the climate control with owners unable to get the air distribution patterns they want.