There's actually a spare tire underneath the car - not sure how you wouldn't know that unless your goal was to make this car seem as bad as possible which seems like it was the case...
You have two videos on the same car ..the other is the santa fe calligraphy and the only thing different is not a hybrid..same car look and design but there you praise that car the look the design ...😂😂😂😂
Actually, a lot of people want a mid-sized SUV without a third row. A third row in this thing would be tiny, only for small kids. And for safety reasons, kids in such a small third row so close to the rear of the car would be a scary proposition. So if you want a mid-sized SUV but don’t need a third row, why would you want a third row that just takes up cargo space, adds cost, adds mechanical complication, and would spend its life in the down position anyway?
My partner bought a Santa Fe recently and we love it, there is a spare wheel it's located under the car just inside the rear bumper, you use the wheel nut wrench to lower it down, many car maker's have this type of system.
The spare tire is located under the back of the car and I have driven 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe and it drives a lot better than the rav4, less wind noise, no rattling, engine not loud. Hyundai gives you more bang for your buck than Toyota. I hope Toyota learns a thing or 2 from them. Hyundai car doors in general feels more solid then Toyota thin/hallow door
The third row seat is available in the European models. If you want a third row, go to the Palisade. I’m getting 230 mpg with my plug-in Hybrid. I’m on my 6th new Hyundai. My 4th Santa Fe. This is the best one I’ve owned by far.
I highly disagree regarding the looks. First, great content. Great review, and sure reviews of the cosmetics are subjective, but I believe otherwise. The Santa Fe manages to create a relatively distinct style while still remaining restrained. The Palisade looks more generic IMO. This looks nothing like the Kona, but shares the same design elements (depending on the generation/model). You wanna talk about generic? The last gen Honda Pilot, Passport, and Ridgeline were the same frontend. I can barely tell the difference between the Acura RDX and MDX. BMW's are so generic, they have the same grill except for the hideously oversized ones on each model and same generic-shaped headlights. No hate against any car, and cosmetics are subjective. Whatever makes people happy. I just find the Santa Fe to not be generic, just not groundbreaking. It may be a little polarizing but shouldn't offend too many people too much. The Tucson on the other hands, way more polarizing.
If I wanted the 3rd row seat, I'd get a Palisade. Glad they offer such variation and I can choose the smaller Tucson, Mid-Sized Santa Fe or larger Palisade.
We just picked up a 2020 Limited AWD about 2 weeks ago, traded in the much smaller 2018 Tucson 1.6t AWD Ultimate, we needed the extra storage space for travel. I do not regret my Santa Fe purchase at all, and BTW this is our 4th Hyundai product, we still own my husband's 2018 Sonata Limited. You can say all you want about looks but when it comes down to the warranty what other manufacturer warrants subsequent owners for the remainder of the original warranty period...5 years/60,000 miles? Only Hyundai and Kia!
All rather subjective, I am loving my Hybrid Limited. I think the car looks different to anything else on the road, is smooth and quiet along with the features and technology that aren't even available on luxury brands, the turn signal cameras are genius and the pano roof is great. The car fits a niche between compact and larger suv's that don't need a third row. I personally don't need a third row and I dislike that most of them have captain seats anyway. Also this is a hybrid that doesn't have a whiny CVT like most, but a regular transmission. Btw, also my 2023 has illuminated buttons on the roof, you should see the Rav 4, even the doors have no illumination, just saying.
I concur. I am absolutely loving my 2023 hybrid limited Santa Fe. It's packed up with so much tech, and silky smooth ride with hybird 1.6T engine. Very roomy interior and absolutely quiet when driving when compared to my 2017 Accord.
Not advocating for manufacturing errors but everyone keeps complaining about Hyundais engine fire recalls which I will admit they haven’t taken accountability for most of the time but this literally affects 2 engine. The 2.0 and the 2.4. Which are old engines. Other than that their other engines have known to be very reliable if well taken care of. Transmissions are also pretty solid other than the Dual clutch transmission that has absolutely no business being in a mainstream brand car. I’ve actually seen those 2.0 and 2.4 engines go for a very long time if well taken care of. Not all engines involved in the recall will blow up
There's a group on Facebook dedicated to this. The stories are heart breaking and KIA/Hyundai do next to nothing and everything to deny replacement. if you're lucky to get a new engine it's more likely to fail again and it will take months due to the backlog
@@wyw201 the Theta II engine itself wasn’t a bad engine it was pieces left inside during the manufacturing process. They can actually last a long time if taken care of and it doesn’t blow up
Have a 2023 Santa Fe limited hybrid (not plug in) and its fantastic. Always punches above its rated MPGs and there is nothing that comes close at the price point, in regards to luxury, MPGs, and size. Ps. If you want a 3rd row, get the sister car, the kia Sorento. Same body, cramped 3rd row you seem to be missing.
Hehehe what? You sound rather biased here. Santa fe in limited or caligraphy is one of a better looking mid size SUVs out there. The "fake" chrome as you call it, is pretty standard plastic silver trim feature (noone uses chrome anymore). I test drove the limited edition with 2.5 turbo and i was impressed. The engine is peppy, interior is quiet and made with high quality materials (yea, like real leather on the seats). 12 speaker HK sound system is not top shelf but close to that (much better than standard Bose 8-10 speaker used in 90% of all other cars). The wet DTC that you hate so much is heaven compared to most CVTs and 6 speed auto trannies. Will it last, time will tell but i wouldnt worry about it considering 100k warranty. Cameras are top notch, as crisp as they can get. I havent noticed any lag and Infotainment system takes around as long as any other car to load. I ultimately went with 3 row cx-9 but the Santa Fe was tough to ignore. Base Lexus RX that costs 3-5k more pales in comparison, Honda Passport looks and feels 3 years behind the santa fe, and even acura rdx felt cheap compared to limited trim of the santa fe. At around 41-42k for limited trim, you just cant compete really. Closest would mazda cx5 turbo signature but it is a smaller car.
I used to work for the Hyundai Kia Corporation at one of their big nice corporate buildings in Southern CA. I spoke with customers from all around the country all day, I was a bill collector. Hyundai Kia has their own bank and would of course give out loans to purchase vehicles. I had many customers who said they are not going to pay a dime until the dealer honors their warranty. If the warranty wasn't going to be honored then they can come pick up the car, that's what the customer would say. One red flag was the warranty issue on how it wasn't being honored and the second red flag was how the car was obviously screwing up and needed warranty assistance. We have two Toyotas at home and never had any major issues with them and one of them is 17 yrs old. My cousin has a Kia and she already had the warranty put in a new engine in her Optima. I would stay away from Kia Hyundai.
AMD, I don't usually venture into questions of design aesthetics but I will say, when it comes to Hyundai/Kia, I prefer bland and generic over creased and crinkled. One design feature we can all agree on is that Hyundai, Kia, Honda and Nissan have all left Toyota in the dust when it comes to generous interior space. Very sadly, the new Prius and Crown show no indication Toyota is getting the message on accommodating North America's Plus-Sized people. I hope they turn it around by the time the RAV4 is due for an update.
The vehicle DOES have a spare tire and it is fitted underneath the vehicle under the trunk, like, on the absolute bottom. (so you will need to get under the car to see it.)
Say what you want about the Sante fe but I haven't been pulled over once since owning it lol. Honestly I like the design since it doesn't stand out that much and when you get inside there's tons of features.
Hmmm..i sense a bit ( a lot ) of harsh complaints. LOL My one complaint is around 45k for the hybrid calligrapy is too much. Get the mid level trim starting around $28k. great value.
This video is not up to your usual standard. Did it have spare or not? Several of the other comments said it is under he back of the car. Did you even look? And I think the vehicle looks great although I'm not a big fan of lots of chrome.
Very disappointed. You didn't talk about the engine and the hybrid system and how it works in details and what can one expect like you did in the Chrysler Pacifica hybrid. This is a plug in hybrid too and spent less than 30 seconds to talk about the engine and the systems. You should make a new video and cover it like you did in the Pacifica video and put it on a lift and look at the bottom and the hybrid components in details from a mechanics view.
I have just bought the hybrid limited in red and it is a Gorgeous Vehicle!! This guy could not be more wrong!! Nobody could possibly dislike this car as he does. He must be getting paid to bash this car, thats the only reason possible for him to dislike this Beautiful vehicle!!
AMD, I have to disagree with you regarding some features of this vehicle. For instance the creases in he body panels/fenders. One of the reasons that body panels have creases in them is to provide greater strength. Flat sheet metal is floppy until it has bends in it, then it becomes more rigid. The design team at Hyundai may have been looking for a particular strength factor when adding those bends to the fenders. The placement of the turn signal/stop lights is within Federal guidelines. Dave B of Dave B sells Chevy did a video on just this design element in regards to the 2023 Bolt EV. He discussed at length the placement of the turn signal/brake lights at the lower end of the rear of the vehicle. You can actually see the lights unless you are on top of the vehicle, and no one should be following that closely. Additionally there is the high mounted 3rd brake light. I do enjoy all your videos.
More of a style review than a mechanic's review, wish you got into the mechanic end of it like you do with your other videos. Also a bit weird that you go off about how much you dislike the stying on this car and then with the nearly identical Calligraphy model you heap praises on it?!? Anyway, I enjoy your channel.
You comment that the turn signals can barely be seen from the car in front of you. Really? What chance would the car in front of me have the opportunity to see turn signals on the back of the Santa Fe????!!! I've driven behind a 2022 Santa Fe and got within 10 feet of the rear of the Santa Fe at an intersection where the Santa Fe was making a left turn. I had absolutely NO problem seeing the turn signal from 100 feet to 50 feet to 25 feet to 10 feet. OK, if I was wiping the dust off his license plate with my front bumper, then yeh, his turn signal would be difficult, at best to be seen. If you are going to knock the vehicle, at least check your facts first!
Hyundai stopped offering 3rd row in the Santa Fe when the Palisade came out. The Kia Sorento still offers 3rd row seating. Overall good review although biased like most of your non-Toyota reviews. 🤷♂️
UK gets third row seats, right hand drive market… And they’re big enough for most adults. But we don’t get larger Pallisade, which has the extra seats in the LHD market. The 6 speed auto with the hybrid is PERFECT
This .....🤡.... obviously biased everyone can figure out easily it doesn't have a third seat did you ever think maybe someone doesn't want a third seat or doesn't need a third seat most third seats in a vehicle this size good for maybe kids under 5 obviously it's just his opinion please check all the manufacturers and compare what you're going to get at this price point and no one comes close
I enjoyed a non-hybrid turbo Santa Fe rental, with similar trim in Jan 2023 on vacation in Orlando. The rental had plenty of power, drove well, had lane assist, adaptive cruise control, front and rear camera. I love your presentation style, but wish you gave a mechanic's opinion as well. For example, your recent Trax review showed inadequate undercarriage protection, in my opinion. Now, 2025 models are appearing. Many models in this category come with 3rd row seats (standard I think). I want cargo space, not extra seats. My 2nd row is folded for every day use. I would not buy 3rd row models.
I'm replying to my own post here where I said I wish you gave a mechanic's opinion. Well, right now I'm watching your thorough 2023 Santa Fe review where you do exactly what I hoped! You talk about the engine, the turbo, the transmission. I'm still watching and paused with the car up on the lift. This is just what I want. Thank you so much!
Nice review. However, I disagree with several things. I have a 2022 hybrid model. It has a 3rd wow seat. Maybe not the biggest, but offers more space then the 3rd row seats on most SUV’s, including a Volvo XC90. The spare tire is simply underneath the back of the car. As you claim to be a mechanic, I can’t understand how you missed that. I think the drive is pretty well, considering the price. And the look of the car is far from boring in my opinion. Off course that’s a personal opinion for everyone. But I think both the inside and outside look pretty damn great.
Your reviews should not be about what. you like or dislike, to me, this car is beautiful. I've said before, you should stop reviewing the cars and stick to your mechanical expertise.
If you want a Santa Fe with a third row, you should order the version that has it! It's called the Kia Sorrento 😉Of course if you had that, I'm sure you'd be complaining about the fact that there's no space to store anything behind the third row.
It's beyond me why people pay so much money for a car or SUV without doing their due diligence, I saw other automotive "journalist" give praise to this SUV and the KiA version like it was the best thing since aliced bread, needles to say I ended up buying a 21 highlander.Thanks to people like you AMD I made the right choice.
Awesome review! At 5:45 regarding the “driver only” climate control, I’m surprised you didn’t mention that we have S-FLOW for some Toyota/Lexus cars. It functions the same but even smarter because it detects which seat is occupied and directs HVAC to them.
Some models use DCT transmission. Horrible reliability. My Kia sorento Xline left me in the middle of the road with no power with only 6,000 miles. Avoid DCT
You are doing a great service for car owners thank you. I have a wonderful new Lexus RX350L it did not come with fog lights I am considering purchasing OEM fog lights and hooking them up to come on with the headlights is this possible?
They’re not supposed to come on with the headlights, they’re for fog. Sound like another driver who likes to blind oncoming traffic. Don’t be an idiot.
I tried to test drive a Highlander at my local dealer where I had bought two Toyotas before and the conversation began with how much above MSRP are you willing to spend? I just left the showroom without bothering with a test drive and they lost a customer.
3:45 bingo. People who say ' i never use any of those buttons, or i like a simple design' are too dim to utilize any of the premium option controls imho. I used to love the 2011-2016 Volvo button layout. I used to be a Volvo die hard fan but no more after I tried a 2019 xc40 and 2022 Volvo xc60.
You should start off by reminding people that in an earlier video you said that you really dislike Hyundai-Kia because of something that happened years ago. You review of this car is so obviously slanted. This car is so much better design than the Venza in everyway other than mileage for the same money. I have unsubscribed from watching any of your reviews.
Exactly. My Santa Fe phev is damn near perfect for this kind of car. Yes, the back is ugly. Everything else imparts a serving of luxury you don't expect to get at this price and is much nicer overall than the Tucson's interior, for example. If it were perfect, it would have a larger electric motor, adding both hp/torque and EV range. That would help offset the weight gain that makes the Tucson feel faster. Otherwise, the car is like a mini Palisade, minus the third row, with far better mileage.
@andybub45 Consumer Reports and damn near every other YT reviewer likes the hybrid the best of the trim lines. Ours has been fantastic. An unusable 3rd row is completely unneeded. I'll have to see if he has reviewed Kia Sorento to see if he likes the unusable 3rd row in it. I guess at 5''7" he might actually fit back there. I find the power train to be seamless...and THAT is the truth.
If an SUV this size, being midsize, only 188.5 inches long, shorter than many midsize sedans, had a third row of seats, then a rear-end collision would readily maim those passengers.
I have the 22 Santa Fe Plug in limited. I love the vehicle. It drives very smooth and is very responsive. I take it on many long trips. I don’t need a third row. If I wanted a third row I would have bought a palisades. The only draw back is you must use a LEVEL 2 charger and that can take up to 4 hours to charge so if you let it run to empty and want to recharge be prepared to stay 4 hours. I have learned when taking long trips put in hybrid mode and when i am local I put it on automatic. Also be advised the gas tank is smaller than regular Santa FE. Plug in has 12gal tank and a regular Santa Fe I believe is 16. I still love the vehicle and do no not regret it
I had 2022 Santa Fe limited, and after 20,000 miles, I felt like I was sitting on the floor, feeling every little rock and pump on the road; it's deafening; my mechanic told me once it gets to 50k, it will be unbearable to drive, it will become extremely loud, and I felt so cheaply made. So I sold it, and I got a 2022 Lexus GX 460. The only thing I liked about it was the 2.5 turbo; it was fast once it was in sport mode.
did you try sportage ? how do you feel sportage? LEXUS is definitely is best and i also have GX460 to be honest i like the appearance of sportage but have no idea for reliability
Also even tho this car is spacious it's not big enough to have a useful 3rd row, it would be one of those seats with very little legroom rendering it basically useless. Llau that's what the palisade is for. The Sorento has a 3rd row and can probably only fit an anorexic 5 yr old
I think the Hyundai's real move is definitely more towards EVs and not so much HEV/PHEVs since many of them are half baked, while Toyota has perfected the tech and no other company can match. I hope Hyundai doesn't take this review so harshly, since I want AMD to still get their press cars (as a current Hyundai owner and past owner of two Toyotas but always fan) and hopefully get an Elantra N (manual preferably) as a press vehicle, which they seem to have done a great job with given the rave reviews.
Hyundai/Kia might have a long warranty, but good luck using it. They'll pull out every excuse under the sun to not honor their warranty. I dealt with it when my Sonata started burning oil, first it was them telling me it's "normal" to burn a quart every 1k miles, it kept getting worse...burning 3-4 quarts every 1k miles. It got to the point where my oil light started coming on because it was unexpectedly burning so quickly. Well, because it had gotten so low, now Hyundai claims that I was neglectful in ensuring the oil was filled up, they said I should be checking it every time I fill my gas tank. Because of that, it was now *my* fault if there was any engine damage and now my warranty is void. I sold that piece of crap.
Nice critical review of this SUV! It makes me wonder if the designers actually USE these vehicles before committing to a design. Hyundai/Kia has some wonderful features - (Love the center design stack WITH BUTTONS!!!) Love the battery is in the back of the vehicle. It feels they get 90% right and then fail on the last 10%. The interior is far better designed than the exterior. I owned a KIA Sportage for five years and wouldn't purchase another KIA based upon the trouble and repairs I had. It's too bad they aren't up to Toyota quality. I'll stick with my Mazda.
All subjective on style and design but to me it appears Hyundai has lost their way. Too many rumors on build quality issues that will keep me looking at the big 3 Japanese brands.
@@pkdude5334 I suppose you’re right but I meant Honda, Mazda, and Toyota. And Subaru, forget about them. Other than their trucks and the new Z, I would not buy a Nissan.
@@EchoSigma6 ohhh I gotchya. yeah Mazda is good. I don't trust Subaru anymore. Check out all the transmission problems with the new Ascent. Some people are on their 4th CVT.
My wife and I test drove a new Santa Fe this past February. It was a 2.5 na with the 8 speed auto. The transmission shifted poorly/roughly when accelerating quickly (passing) and didn't give a sense it was well sorted. The vehicle was nice and drove well otherwise. Not much power but ok for in town. Typical Hyundai/kia. Wow you with tech and bling but it seems the critical components (engine/driveline) aren't built to last. With the recent recall issues and engine fire and engine failure problems it's best to look at other vehicles.
Nah bro. Your wife doesn't know how to drive, that's why the car didn't shifted good. Also what you said about Hyundai horrible reliability is a damn lie. Try trolling better next time
You're basing your whole opinion on a short test drive obviously you know nothing they have the best warranty in the business I've had a Hyundai Sonata 5 years no no problems whatsoever and with the Santa Fe that engine has plenty of power 277 horsepower 311 ft lb of torque my Hyundai Sonata has 110,000 MI
Turn signals that low need to be forbidden. I almost ran into a Kona or Tucson, God knows what models they all have. I hope the lock of the rear automatically unlocks in case of an accident? Long time ago, I did buy a new SantaFe and it was a nice SUV, engine was strong (6 cylinder) and I had the upgraded wheels, sunroof and so on. I loved it from the beginning I test drove it. Now they have way too many gimmicks on the car. This would no longer be my first choice. I need screens that respond quickly, I do not have time for all the bluetooth and mapping stuff to start and specifically while I am driving I need to switch quickly with controls on the steering wheel. I do not like a button shifter, just immediate turn off (of course personal choice). I think they have done themselves a disservice.
Very biased comment. I've owned both Hyundai and Toyota vehicles. My 2017 Sonata was a reliability nightmare, it burned oil like crazy, almost left me stranded, and the engine was on the verge of knocking and blowing up before I sold it. The initial quality was pretty decent, but it started to quickly go downhill in only 4 years of ownership. In contrast, I just bought a 2023 Highlander. It also has a traditional transmission, but 8 speed instead of 6, and also drives like a normal car. It has less noise and drone than the Sonata had as well. I've driven a RAV4 Hybrid with the CVT, and I'll honestly say it wasn't too bad. It has decent acceleration and excellent fuel economy, it was just different because it didn't shift like a normal transmission...once you get past that, they're also very nice. In comparison, Toyota does CVTs 1000x better than Nissan or Honda in my opinion. While my time in my Toyota is still fairly short, I've noticed that many people who buy Toyota's stick to the brand because of the reliability, value retention, and overall quality. My family started with their first Toyota when my Grandmother bought a new Camry in 2001, since then, my mother, sister, aunt, and grandfather have all bought a Toyota or 2. Most of them have put 150k-200k miles on their vehicles and never had a single issue, my Sonata started having issues at 80k, and was on the verge of dying at 115k.
I have to agree with you AMD, on the exterior design. The Koreans have always and continue to overstyle their vehicles. The front of this vehicle is horrendous. Way to much chrome with a huge ugly grill. Oh well, if you don't like it just hang in there, because Hyundai restyle their vehicles about every 3 weeks and this front end will be gone (hopefully!!!!)
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
There's actually a spare tire underneath the car - not sure how you wouldn't know that unless your goal was to make this car seem as bad as possible which seems like it was the case...
You have two videos on the same car ..the other is the santa fe calligraphy and the only thing different is not a hybrid..same car look and design but there you praise that car the look the design ...😂😂😂😂
I like your take on the mechanical parts and how things work. I blow off your opinion of how it looks.
Actually, a lot of people want a mid-sized SUV without a third row. A third row in this thing would be tiny, only for small kids. And for safety reasons, kids in such a small third row so close to the rear of the car would be a scary proposition.
So if you want a mid-sized SUV but don’t need a third row, why would you want a third row that just takes up cargo space, adds cost, adds mechanical complication, and would spend its life in the down position anyway?
My partner bought a Santa Fe recently and we love it, there is a spare wheel it's located under the car just inside the rear bumper, you use the wheel nut wrench to lower it down, many car maker's have this type of system.
It's an absolutely awful system that invites tire rot and corrosion on the lowering mechanism.
Jajaja! No spare! But it has a jack & stuff! I lost faith in you brother!!!
The spare tire is located under the back of the car and I have driven 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe and it drives a lot better than the rav4, less wind noise, no rattling, engine not loud. Hyundai gives you more bang for your buck than Toyota. I hope Toyota learns a thing or 2 from them. Hyundai car doors in general feels more solid then Toyota thin/hallow door
Until the engine blows up
@@Mortalomena well at least they have a 10 year warranty vs 5 years for Toyota
How long after the warranty will they last before they blow up time will tell
@@thomasdeady4491 that’s every new cars now. No new cars are going to last 10 years because everyone is copying and in competition with each other
@@ceejaycampbell4489 Wrong. Ive seen newer camrys with over 200,000 miles on them and they run great, Hyundai just sucks.
The third row seat is available in the European models. If you want a third row, go to the Palisade. I’m getting 230 mpg with my plug-in Hybrid. I’m on my 6th new Hyundai. My 4th Santa Fe. This is the best one I’ve owned by far.
I highly disagree regarding the looks. First, great content. Great review, and sure reviews of the cosmetics are subjective, but I believe otherwise.
The Santa Fe manages to create a relatively distinct style while still remaining restrained. The Palisade looks more generic IMO. This looks nothing like the Kona, but shares the same design elements (depending on the generation/model). You wanna talk about generic? The last gen Honda Pilot, Passport, and Ridgeline were the same frontend. I can barely tell the difference between the Acura RDX and MDX. BMW's are so generic, they have the same grill except for the hideously oversized ones on each model and same generic-shaped headlights. No hate against any car, and cosmetics are subjective. Whatever makes people happy. I just find the Santa Fe to not be generic, just not groundbreaking. It may be a little polarizing but shouldn't offend too many people too much. The Tucson on the other hands, way more polarizing.
If I wanted the 3rd row seat, I'd get a Palisade. Glad they offer such variation and I can choose the smaller Tucson, Mid-Sized Santa Fe or larger Palisade.
Or the even smaller Kona!
We just picked up a 2020 Limited AWD about 2 weeks ago, traded in the much smaller 2018 Tucson 1.6t AWD Ultimate, we needed the extra storage space for travel. I do not regret my Santa Fe purchase at all, and BTW this is our 4th Hyundai product, we still own my husband's 2018 Sonata Limited.
You can say all you want about looks but when it comes down to the warranty what other manufacturer warrants subsequent owners for the remainder of the original warranty period...5 years/60,000 miles? Only Hyundai and Kia!
All rather subjective, I am loving my Hybrid Limited. I think the car looks different to anything else on the road, is smooth and quiet along with the features and technology that aren't even available on luxury brands, the turn signal cameras are genius and the pano roof is great. The car fits a niche between compact and larger suv's that don't need a third row. I personally don't need a third row and I dislike that most of them have captain seats anyway. Also this is a hybrid that doesn't have a whiny CVT like most, but a regular transmission. Btw, also my 2023 has illuminated buttons on the roof, you should see the Rav 4, even the doors have no illumination, just saying.
I concur. I am absolutely loving my 2023 hybrid limited Santa Fe. It's packed up with so much tech, and silky smooth ride with hybird 1.6T engine. Very roomy interior and absolutely quiet when driving when compared to my 2017 Accord.
Not advocating for manufacturing errors but everyone keeps complaining about Hyundais engine fire recalls which I will admit they haven’t taken accountability for most of the time but this literally affects 2 engine. The 2.0 and the 2.4. Which are old engines. Other than that their other engines have known to be very reliable if well taken care of. Transmissions are also pretty solid other than the Dual clutch transmission that has absolutely no business being in a mainstream brand car. I’ve actually seen those 2.0 and 2.4 engines go for a very long time if well taken care of. Not all engines involved in the recall will blow up
There's a group on Facebook dedicated to this. The stories are heart breaking and KIA/Hyundai do next to nothing and everything to deny replacement. if you're lucky to get a new engine it's more likely to fail again and it will take months due to the backlog
Aren't their new Smartstream engines built on the foundation of the old Theta II engines?
@@wyw201 the Theta II engine itself wasn’t a bad engine it was pieces left inside during the manufacturing process. They can actually last a long time if taken care of and it doesn’t blow up
@@JDMSwervo2001 Do you know which specific engine component had pieces left inside?
@@wyw201 honestly idk I just know those pieces would clog stuff up restricting oil flow.
Have a 2023 Santa Fe limited hybrid (not plug in) and its fantastic. Always punches above its rated MPGs and there is nothing that comes close at the price point, in regards to luxury, MPGs, and size.
Ps. If you want a 3rd row, get the sister car, the kia Sorento. Same body, cramped 3rd row you seem to be missing.
Hehehe what? You sound rather biased here. Santa fe in limited or caligraphy is one of a better looking mid size SUVs out there. The "fake" chrome as you call it, is pretty standard plastic silver trim feature (noone uses chrome anymore). I test drove the limited edition with 2.5 turbo and i was impressed. The engine is peppy, interior is quiet and made with high quality materials (yea, like real leather on the seats). 12 speaker HK sound system is not top shelf but close to that (much better than standard Bose 8-10 speaker used in 90% of all other cars). The wet DTC that you hate so much is heaven compared to most CVTs and 6 speed auto trannies. Will it last, time will tell but i wouldnt worry about it considering 100k warranty. Cameras are top notch, as crisp as they can get. I havent noticed any lag and Infotainment system takes around as long as any other car to load. I ultimately went with 3 row cx-9 but the Santa Fe was tough to ignore. Base Lexus RX that costs 3-5k more pales in comparison, Honda Passport looks and feels 3 years behind the santa fe, and even acura rdx felt cheap compared to limited trim of the santa fe. At around 41-42k for limited trim, you just cant compete really. Closest would mazda cx5 turbo signature but it is a smaller car.
I used to work for the Hyundai Kia Corporation at one of their big nice corporate buildings in Southern CA. I spoke with customers from all around the country all day, I was a bill collector. Hyundai Kia has their own bank and would of course give out loans to purchase vehicles. I had many customers who said they are not going to pay a dime until the dealer honors their warranty. If the warranty wasn't going to be honored then they can come pick up the car, that's what the customer would say. One red flag was the warranty issue on how it wasn't being honored and the second red flag was how the car was obviously screwing up and needed warranty assistance. We have two Toyotas at home and never had any major issues with them and one of them is 17 yrs old. My cousin has a Kia and she already had the warranty put in a new engine in her Optima. I would stay away from Kia Hyundai.
The spare tire is underneath the back of the vehicle. And in some trim levels, it has no spare tire, but it has a fix a flat kit.
That's what Scotty Kilmer says too about this company.
Did you use to work for Hyundai Capital?
@@trdrav4 No, Hyundai Motor Fiance USA
Scotty Kilmer agrees with you.
dont care about what you think about its looks.. you might not like it, thats fine.. I think you should be focus only on how mechanically this car is
looks awful. like your last date
Great mechanic maybe, no automotive design critic. The Santa Fe is gorgous.
AMD, I don't usually venture into questions of design aesthetics but I will say, when it comes to Hyundai/Kia, I prefer bland and generic over creased and crinkled. One design feature we can all agree on is that Hyundai, Kia, Honda and Nissan have all left Toyota in the dust when it comes to generous interior space. Very sadly, the new Prius and Crown show no indication Toyota is getting the message on accommodating North America's Plus-Sized people. I hope they turn it around by the time the RAV4 is due for an update.
@rightlane what does “AMD” mean?
We older folks like chrome on a vehicle like we had in the past.
Chrome bumpers were a real eye catcher ........
The generic styling has one advantage: it's a very low observable SUV. Does not attract attention. Often that is a good thing.
The vehicle DOES have a spare tire and it is fitted underneath the vehicle under the trunk, like, on the absolute bottom. (so you will need to get under the car to see it.)
Say what you want about the Sante fe but I haven't been pulled over once since owning it lol. Honestly I like the design since it doesn't stand out that much and when you get inside there's tons of features.
Hmmm..i sense a bit ( a lot ) of harsh complaints. LOL My one complaint is around 45k for the hybrid calligrapy is too much. Get the mid level trim starting around $28k. great value.
This video is not up to your usual standard. Did it have spare or not? Several of the other comments said it is under he back of the car. Did you even look? And I think the vehicle looks great although I'm not a big fan of lots of chrome.
Very disappointed. You didn't talk about the engine and the hybrid system and how it works in details and what can one expect like you did in the Chrysler Pacifica hybrid. This is a plug in hybrid too and spent less than 30 seconds to talk about the engine and the systems. You should make a new video and cover it like you did in the Pacifica video and put it on a lift and look at the bottom and the hybrid components in details from a mechanics view.
The grill is what makes it standout imo. I just bought a 22' XRT.
I have just bought the hybrid limited in red and it is a Gorgeous Vehicle!! This guy could not be more wrong!! Nobody could possibly dislike this car as he does. He must be getting paid to bash this car, thats the only reason possible for him to dislike this Beautiful vehicle!!
Agree 100% paid by Toyota
Make a video for the 2023 Kia Telluride and other kia’s please. Love this one!
AMD, I have to disagree with you regarding some features of this vehicle. For instance the creases in he body panels/fenders. One of the reasons that body panels have creases in them is to provide greater strength. Flat sheet metal is floppy until it has bends in it, then it becomes more rigid. The design team at Hyundai may have been looking for a particular strength factor when adding those bends to the fenders. The placement of the turn signal/stop lights is within Federal guidelines. Dave B of Dave B sells Chevy did a video on just this design element in regards to the 2023 Bolt EV. He discussed at length the placement of the turn signal/brake lights at the lower end of the rear of the vehicle. You can actually see the lights unless you are on top of the vehicle, and no one should be following that closely. Additionally there is the high mounted 3rd brake light. I do enjoy all your videos.
More of a style review than a mechanic's review, wish you got into the mechanic end of it like you do with your other videos. Also a bit weird that you go off about how much you dislike the stying on this car and then with the nearly identical Calligraphy model you heap praises on it?!? Anyway, I enjoy your channel.
You comment that the turn signals can barely be seen from the car in front of you. Really? What chance would the car in front of me have the opportunity to see turn signals on the back of the Santa Fe????!!! I've driven behind a 2022 Santa Fe and got within 10 feet of the rear of the Santa Fe at an intersection where the Santa Fe was making a left turn. I had absolutely NO problem seeing the turn signal from 100 feet to 50 feet to 25 feet to 10 feet. OK, if I was wiping the dust off his license plate with my front bumper, then yeh, his turn signal would be difficult, at best to be seen. If you are going to knock the vehicle, at least check your facts first!
Hyundai stopped offering 3rd row in the Santa Fe when the Palisade came out. The Kia Sorento still offers 3rd row seating. Overall good review although biased like most of your non-Toyota reviews. 🤷♂️
Please talk about the Hybrid system between Hyundai Santa Fe and Toyota Hybird. For starters, Toyota uses CVT and Hyundai uses 6 Dual Clutch Auto.
UK gets third row seats, right hand drive market…
And they’re big enough for most adults.
But we don’t get larger Pallisade, which has the extra seats in the LHD market.
The 6 speed auto with the hybrid is PERFECT
did you look under the car to find the spare? you should try next time
I always love your "final verdict" and "things I don't like about it"! It summarizes your review like no other! Thank you!
Except, he failed on this one!!!
This .....🤡.... obviously biased everyone can figure out easily it doesn't have a third seat did you ever think maybe someone doesn't want a third seat or doesn't need a third seat most third seats in a vehicle this size good for maybe kids under 5 obviously it's just his opinion please check all the manufacturers and compare what you're going to get at this price point and no one comes close
I enjoyed a non-hybrid turbo Santa Fe rental, with similar trim in Jan 2023 on vacation in Orlando. The rental had plenty of power, drove well, had lane assist, adaptive cruise control, front and rear camera. I love your presentation style, but wish you gave a mechanic's opinion as well. For example, your recent Trax review showed inadequate undercarriage protection, in my opinion. Now, 2025 models are appearing. Many models in this category come with 3rd row seats (standard I think). I want cargo space, not extra seats. My 2nd row is folded for every day use. I would not buy 3rd row models.
I'm replying to my own post here where I said I wish you gave a mechanic's opinion. Well, right now I'm watching your thorough 2023 Santa Fe review where you do exactly what I hoped! You talk about the engine, the turbo, the transmission. I'm still watching and paused with the car up on the lift. This is just what I want. Thank you so much!
You have forgotten about engine, transmission, AWD system, ride quality, etc..
Let's see all the hybrid lovers and plug in hybrid lovers will still be in love when they're told the price to replace the hybrid battery
Hybrid system is covered for 10 years/100K miles. Nice try.
I think they are one of the best looking SUVs...lol!
Nice review. However, I disagree with several things. I have a 2022 hybrid model. It has a 3rd wow seat. Maybe not the biggest, but offers more space then the 3rd row seats on most SUV’s, including a Volvo XC90. The spare tire is simply underneath the back of the car. As you claim to be a mechanic, I can’t understand how you missed that. I think the drive is pretty well, considering the price. And the look of the car is far from boring in my opinion. Off course that’s a personal opinion for everyone. But I think both the inside and outside look pretty damn great.
Your reviews should not be about what. you like or dislike, to me, this car is beautiful. I've said before, you should stop reviewing the cars and stick to your mechanical expertise.
Love is in the eye of the beholder...
I say it is a unique and a good looking crevasses SUV.
Not like the average run of the mill styling !
thigh extender was available on some highlanders of previous gen, the seat bottoms in highlander or rav for are too short
Looks are subjective but the mechanical aspects are factual . Engineers a lot of times get it wrong
If you want a Santa Fe with a third row, you should order the version that has it! It's called the Kia Sorrento 😉Of course if you had that, I'm sure you'd be complaining about the fact that there's no space to store anything behind the third row.
The map light? You literally just press on the light itself and it turns on.
I think he meant it isn't illuminated, so you don't see it at night.
Dear AMD there is third row in Middle East version
The Australian version has got a 3rd row to.
spare tire is under the car .... have you put it on the hoist yet hahahahaha
It's beyond me why people pay so much money for a car or SUV without doing their due diligence, I saw other automotive "journalist" give praise to this SUV and the KiA version like it was the best thing since aliced bread, needles to say I ended up buying a 21 highlander.Thanks to people like you AMD I made the right choice.
Spare tire is under the car. It lowers via a screw in the trunk
Awesome review! At 5:45 regarding the “driver only” climate control, I’m surprised you didn’t mention that we have S-FLOW for some Toyota/Lexus cars. It functions the same but even smarter because it detects which seat is occupied and directs HVAC to them.
Some models use DCT transmission. Horrible reliability. My Kia sorento Xline left me in the middle of the road with no power with only 6,000 miles. Avoid DCT
Fake news
You are doing a great service for car owners thank you. I have a wonderful new Lexus RX350L it did not come with fog lights I am considering purchasing OEM fog lights and hooking them up to come on with the headlights is this possible?
They’re not supposed to come on with the headlights, they’re for fog. Sound like another driver who likes to blind oncoming traffic. Don’t be an idiot.
I would like see a Mitsubishi outlander review!
I tried to test drive a Highlander at my local dealer where I had bought two Toyotas before and the conversation began with how much above MSRP are you willing to spend?
I just left the showroom without bothering with a test drive and they lost a customer.
Spare tire is underneath the vehicle. Is a compact spare.
In Europe a third row is available as an option. But we alas do not get the Palisade.
3:45 bingo. People who say ' i never use any of those buttons, or i like a simple design' are too dim to utilize any of the premium option controls imho.
I used to love the 2011-2016 Volvo button layout. I used to be a Volvo die hard fan but no more after I tried a 2019 xc40 and 2022 Volvo xc60.
You should start off by reminding people that in an earlier video you said that you really dislike Hyundai-Kia because of something that happened years ago. You review of this car is so obviously slanted. This car is so much better design than the Venza in everyway other than mileage for the same money. I have unsubscribed from watching any of your reviews.
You don’t like the truth about these cars. Hyundai obviously appreciates the feedback because they keep sending him cars.
Exactly. My Santa Fe phev is damn near perfect for this kind of car. Yes, the back is ugly. Everything else imparts a serving of luxury you don't expect to get at this price and is much nicer overall than the Tucson's interior, for example.
If it were perfect, it would have a larger electric motor, adding both hp/torque and EV range. That would help offset the weight gain that makes the Tucson feel faster. Otherwise, the car is like a mini Palisade, minus the third row, with far better mileage.
You’re right sir! I disliked this video and unsubscribed this channel!
@andybub45 Consumer Reports and damn near every other YT reviewer likes the hybrid the best of the trim lines. Ours has been fantastic. An unusable 3rd row is completely unneeded. I'll have to see if he has reviewed Kia Sorento to see if he likes the unusable 3rd row in it. I guess at 5''7" he might actually fit back there. I find the power train to be seamless...and THAT is the truth.
Ohhhhh nooooowhat is he going to do with 1 less person , 😂😂😂
If an SUV this size, being midsize, only 188.5 inches long, shorter than many midsize sedans, had a third row of seats, then a rear-end collision would readily maim those passengers.
I have the 22 Santa Fe Plug in limited. I love the vehicle. It drives very smooth and is very responsive. I take it on many long trips. I don’t need a third row. If I wanted a third row I would have bought a palisades. The only draw back is you must use a LEVEL 2 charger and that can take up to 4 hours to charge so if you let it run to empty and want to recharge be prepared to stay 4 hours. I have learned when taking long trips put in hybrid mode and when i am local I put it on automatic. Also be advised the gas tank is smaller than regular Santa FE. Plug in has 12gal tank and a regular Santa Fe I believe is 16. I still love the vehicle and do no not regret it
Does your PHEV have a Heads up display? Can't tell if it has one or not? Some videos have it others dont. Very confusing
I had 2022 Santa Fe limited, and after 20,000 miles, I felt like I was sitting on the floor, feeling every little rock and pump on the road; it's deafening; my mechanic told me once it gets to 50k, it will be unbearable to drive, it will become extremely loud, and I felt so cheaply made. So I sold it, and I got a 2022 Lexus GX 460. The only thing I liked about it was the 2.5 turbo; it was fast once it was in sport mode.
did you try sportage ? how do you feel sportage?
LEXUS is definitely is best and i also have GX460
to be honest i like the appearance of sportage but have no idea for reliability
Got 2021 for 30k miles. I don't rly know what do you mean? My car doesn't feel like that at all.
The spare tire is underneath the car
You used to be all about Toyota and now you are branching out quite a bit into other brands.
Hello AMD! would you mind doing a review of a mazda 3 or 6?
2023 Telluride?
The screen above the steering wheel has more functions on the steering wheel 😅😅😅 So there are more functions there.
Finally verdict. The best copy is worst than original. If you want Toyota, buy Toyota. Thank you AMD.
Toyota junk. I rather get a Hyundai
@@darkivaz-aaa1145 Good for you!
Low mounted brake / turn lights should be not allowed. They are dangerous
What happened to the live streams?
Awesome review , AMD !
How does the Hyundai interiors compare the the Toyota interiors in terms of quality in your opinion?
Also even tho this car is spacious it's not big enough to have a useful 3rd row, it would be one of those seats with very little legroom rendering it basically useless. Llau that's what the palisade is for. The Sorento has a 3rd row and can probably only fit an anorexic 5 yr old
I don't even get the suggestion of having a third row.
There is 7 Seats option, you're wrong
Let's see what all these people say when the car get 100k plus mileage.
Hyundai no way. AMD what do you think about Subaru cars?
I think the Hyundai's real move is definitely more towards EVs and not so much HEV/PHEVs since many of them are half baked, while Toyota has perfected the tech and no other company can match. I hope Hyundai doesn't take this review so harshly, since I want AMD to still get their press cars (as a current Hyundai owner and past owner of two Toyotas but always fan) and hopefully get an Elantra N (manual preferably) as a press vehicle, which they seem to have done a great job with given the rave reviews.
Hyundai/Kia might have a long warranty, but good luck using it. They'll pull out every excuse under the sun to not honor their warranty. I dealt with it when my Sonata started burning oil, first it was them telling me it's "normal" to burn a quart every 1k miles, it kept getting worse...burning 3-4 quarts every 1k miles. It got to the point where my oil light started coming on because it was unexpectedly burning so quickly. Well, because it had gotten so low, now Hyundai claims that I was neglectful in ensuring the oil was filled up, they said I should be checking it every time I fill my gas tank. Because of that, it was now *my* fault if there was any engine damage and now my warranty is void. I sold that piece of crap.
Thanks
Nice critical review of this SUV! It makes me wonder if the designers actually USE these vehicles before committing to a design. Hyundai/Kia has some wonderful features - (Love the center design stack WITH BUTTONS!!!) Love the battery is in the back of the vehicle. It feels they get 90% right and then fail on the last 10%. The interior is far better designed than the exterior.
I owned a KIA Sportage for five years and wouldn't purchase another KIA based upon the trouble and repairs I had. It's too bad they aren't up to Toyota quality. I'll stick with my Mazda.
All subjective on style and design but to me it appears Hyundai has lost their way. Too many rumors on build quality issues that will keep me looking at the big 3 Japanese brands.
you mean big 2? Nissan hasn't been good in awhile
@@pkdude5334
I suppose you’re right but I meant Honda, Mazda, and Toyota. And Subaru, forget about them. Other than their trucks and the new Z, I would not buy a Nissan.
@@EchoSigma6 ohhh I gotchya. yeah Mazda is good. I don't trust Subaru anymore. Check out all the transmission problems with the new Ascent. Some people are on their 4th CVT.
With these hybrids, I'm not concerned about the smoothness or lack thereof during the shifting. I'm happy with the amount of gas I'm saving
My wife and I test drove a new Santa Fe this past February. It was a 2.5 na with the 8 speed auto. The transmission shifted poorly/roughly when accelerating quickly (passing) and didn't give a sense it was well sorted. The vehicle was nice and drove well otherwise. Not much power but ok for in town. Typical Hyundai/kia. Wow you with tech and bling but it seems the critical components (engine/driveline) aren't built to last. With the recent recall issues and engine fire and engine failure problems it's best to look at other vehicles.
Nah bro. Your wife doesn't know how to drive, that's why the car didn't shifted good. Also what you said about Hyundai horrible reliability is a damn lie. Try trolling better next time
Hyundai KIA new smartstream engine is quite reliable
i think you need not worry about your new engine
before 2022 kia hyundai engine was trash
You're basing your whole opinion on a short test drive obviously you know nothing they have the best warranty in the business I've had a Hyundai Sonata 5 years no no problems whatsoever and with the Santa Fe that engine has plenty of power 277 horsepower 311 ft lb of torque my Hyundai Sonata has 110,000 MI
We know it is not a Toyota
have look under you might see the spare tire or maybe your kindda lazy bending...
The front end looks very much like a Chinese knock off brand that just mashes several best sellers together
Turn signals that low need to be forbidden. I almost ran into a Kona or Tucson, God knows what models they all have. I hope the lock of the rear automatically unlocks in case of an accident? Long time ago, I did buy a new SantaFe and it was a nice SUV, engine was strong (6 cylinder) and I had the upgraded wheels, sunroof and so on. I loved it from the beginning I test drove it. Now they have way too many gimmicks on the car. This would no longer be my first choice. I need screens that respond quickly, I do not have time for all the bluetooth and mapping stuff to start and specifically while I am driving I need to switch quickly with controls on the steering wheel. I do not like a button shifter, just immediate turn off (of course personal choice). I think they have done themselves a disservice.
You almost run into a car? Looks like you lack road awareness lol.
Very biased video. Toyotas are load and drone. The Hyundai has a conventional 6AT and it drives like a normal car not a CVT
Very biased comment. I've owned both Hyundai and Toyota vehicles. My 2017 Sonata was a reliability nightmare, it burned oil like crazy, almost left me stranded, and the engine was on the verge of knocking and blowing up before I sold it. The initial quality was pretty decent, but it started to quickly go downhill in only 4 years of ownership. In contrast, I just bought a 2023 Highlander. It also has a traditional transmission, but 8 speed instead of 6, and also drives like a normal car. It has less noise and drone than the Sonata had as well. I've driven a RAV4 Hybrid with the CVT, and I'll honestly say it wasn't too bad. It has decent acceleration and excellent fuel economy, it was just different because it didn't shift like a normal transmission...once you get past that, they're also very nice. In comparison, Toyota does CVTs 1000x better than Nissan or Honda in my opinion.
While my time in my Toyota is still fairly short, I've noticed that many people who buy Toyota's stick to the brand because of the reliability, value retention, and overall quality. My family started with their first Toyota when my Grandmother bought a new Camry in 2001, since then, my mother, sister, aunt, and grandfather have all bought a Toyota or 2. Most of them have put 150k-200k miles on their vehicles and never had a single issue, my Sonata started having issues at 80k, and was on the verge of dying at 115k.
Smart driving mode lol -
I don’t think he likes this car 😂
Jinerik.
i agree. dont like the interior either.
The Santa Fe's grill looks industrial not sporty or even elegant.
Not my car
I have to agree with you AMD, on the exterior design. The Koreans have always and continue to overstyle their vehicles. The front of this vehicle is horrendous. Way to much chrome with a huge ugly grill. Oh well, if you don't like it just hang in there, because Hyundai restyle their vehicles about every 3 weeks and this front end will be gone (hopefully!!!!)
Looking at the amount of them on the road they are selling very well.
You might be a good mechanic but stop commenting on the aesthetics of the cars .......PLEASE
Great detailed review 👌
Keep up the great work. Find out how your competition ranks better = 'Promo SM'!!