2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Receives Considerable Updates Including Hybrid Version

HEV features a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine. A PHEV is on the way too.
New turbocharged 2.5-litre replace 2.0-litre.
Facelifted and updated on the inside as well.

Some manufacturers do less for their “all-new” vehicles. Seriously, the number of upgrades, changes, and improvements on every level for the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe could quite nearly make it an all-new model.

The modifications for 2021 are far more than skin-deep. The Santa Fe’s outer shell gets new front and rear bumper fascia, grille, headlamp, skid plates, tail lamp, muffler and LED lighting signatures. There are new wheel designs to select from as well. From a distance, it’s gone upscale to meet the very popular Palisade.

Depending on trim, the cabin gains premium Nappa leather surfaces, door panel accents, along with a revised centre stack and console with new lower instrument panel designs. Also based on trim, an 8-inch touchscreen becomes standard, a new larger 10.25-inch replaces the previous upgraded 8-inch unit, and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster display also becomes available.

The big news comes from what lies beneath the bonnet for the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. The new base engine, which replaces the 2.4-litre mill, is a 191-horsepower and 182 lb.-ft. of torque 2.5-litre 4-cylinder engine. Replacing the turbocharged 2.0-litre 4-cylinder engine is a boosted 2.5-litre unit that develops 277 horsepower and 311 lb.-ft. of torque. Mated to an all-new 8-speed wet dual-clutch transmission (DCT), performance should be quite spritely.

For the first time ever, the Santa Fe will be offered with a hybrid propulsion system which combines a turbocharged 1.6-litre 4-cylinder engine with a new HEV-tuned six-speed automatic transmission. Total system output is rated at 225 horsepower 195 lb.-ft. of torque. Also included with the Hybrid is Hyundai’s HTRAC all-wheel-drive system.

Numerous further changes were done to the chassis as the 2021 Santa Fe’s body structure and braking system are also upgraded. As well, it features Hyundai’s latest SmartSense advanced driver assistance systems.

The new 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe arrives in the first quarter of 2021. Later in 2021, a Santa Fe Plug-in Hybrid model will also be offered.