For more than 20 years, the Hyundai Santa Fe has been one of our favorite SUVs on the road, delivering gorgeous style and terrific features inside and out. Such a tremendous pedigree means you can find a lot of different Santa Fe models here at your favorite used Hyundai dealer, which can make it tricky to check them all out and find exactly what you’re looking for. Fortunately, however, we’re ready to help and make things a lot easier; here at Rusty Wallace Hyundai, we’re always happy to answer any questions you have and make sure you find the perfect vehicle.
Since the Santa Fe has been around for so long, trying to dig into what each model year and generation has brought to the road would be an exhausting task. It would also be pointless since you’re probably not interested in a 2004 model—instead, we’ll check out the last few big milestone years for the Santa Fe. Today, we’re looking at the 2017 model, which gave the third-generation Santa Fe a facelift, the 2019 model, which launched the fourth generation, and the 2021 Santa Fe, which gave the third generation a major update. We’ll also briefly check out the redesigned 2024 Santa Fe to see what the future of this amazing SUV has to offer.
The 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe: Updates for the Third Generation
When you look at Santa Fe models prior to 2019 and the start of the fourth generation, you’ll find a three-row SUV with seating for up to seven people inside it. That will change as we get into the fourth generation, but more on that in a moment. The 2017 model year saw a facelift and major update for the Santa Fe, though it remained in its third generation so this didn’t mark a full redesign.
Powering the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe is an impressive V6 engine that makes it quite fun to drive and ensures you have plenty of power for daily driving and enjoying your time off. This is a 290 hp engine that comes paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, providing a smooth and responsive experience. Plus, this beauty can handle up to 5,000 lbs of towing. While not everyone interested in this SUV will take advantage of the towing capacity, it’s a nice option to have and can be great if you have a boat or camper you want to take with you somewhere.
The 2017 update mostly consisted of a facelift to the front and rear of the Santa Fe, which gives it a cleaner, more modern look that we’re big fans of. It’s not as dramatic as a full redesign, but it’s certainly noticeable compared to 2016 models and makes this family-friendly SUV more of a head-turner than you might expect. One thing we should note as you look at 2017 models is that you might also find a Hyundai SUV called the Santa Fe Sport—that’s not a trim of the Santa Fe but a different model. The Santa Fe Sport is a smaller SUV that was produced until 2018 and only has two rows of seats inside it rather than three, so if you have a big family, then that can be a problem.
Inside, Hyundai gave the Santa Fe a refresh for 2017 including a new seven-inch standard infotainment display with an eight-inch screen available. Both options are great, providing functionality that’s quick and easy to use, plus they support Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A six-speaker sound system is standard on the 2017 Santa Fe, but you can find some models with the available 12-speaker premium audio system, so keep that in mind. Perhaps best of all, Hyundai added a number of active safety technologies as available options for 2017, like automatic emergency braking, so look for that in different used models.
The 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe: Launching the Fourth Generation
There were some big changes for the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe and the launch of this impressive model’s fourth generation, all of which are important to note as you’re shopping for a used SUV. For starters, this model year sees a full redesign that includes new looks and different engineering throughout. Perhaps the biggest change is a major shift in naming for the two Santa Fe models that you can find—this is where people end up wasting time looking at the wrong one.
Prior to 2019, the Santa Fe was a three-row model with seating for more than six people inside, and the Santa Fe Sport (as we said) was a smaller two-row SUV. Starting with 2019, Hyundai made the Santa Fe the two-row model, and the three-row option was renamed the Santa Fe XL. Is that needlessly confusing for people looking at different used models and trying to compare similar ones? Yes, it is—and in case it wasn’t confusing enough, the Santa Fe XL was only around for one model year before being replaced in 2020 with the new three-row Palisade. But now that you know when these changes occurred, you can make sure any Santa Fe you’re looking at will meet your needs.
Both Santa Fe models were redesigned for this fourth generation with new looks and overall styling, so you don’t have to worry about that. The redesign for the standard Santa Fe shifted the windshield and front end a bit to improve visibility, which we always love. Also, two engines are offered on 2019 models: a standard 2.4L option and an available 2.0L turbocharged beauty. This turbocharged engine is our favorite, even if it’s not quite as powerful as we might like. The big win here is that advanced safety features like automatic emergency braking are now standard on all Santa Fe models.
The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe: Refreshing the Fourth Generation
For the 2021 model year, the Santa Fe enjoyed another update and facelift, though not a full redesign, as it remains part of the fourth generation. Most importantly, the two available engines have both been improved. There’s a standard 191 hp 2.5L I-4, which is a great start, and a turbocharged version that boosts things up to 281 hp. We won’t lie: while both engines are a lot of fun to drive, the turbocharged one is our favorite and transforms this little SUV into a sporty beast ready to tear up the road.
Other updates for this refreshed model include the larger eight-inch infotainment display becoming standard, while a gorgeous 10.3-inch screen was made available. When paired with the available 12.3-inch digital gauge display for you as the driver, you’ve got something quite special here and well worth looking for as you consider different used models. The most enhanced experience can be found in the new Calligraphy trim that elevates the interior to the next level with quilted leather upholstery, a full-color head-up display, and more.
A Sneak Peek at the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe
Even though you might not be too worried about the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe right now if you’re looking at pre-owned models, it’s still worth having on your radar. The big news for the 2024 model is that it’s been redesigned for an all-new fifth generation that’s bigger than before. That’s because Hyundai has decided to keep confusing future drivers and make the Santa Fe a three-row SUV once again. This new design includes bold looks with sharp angles and strong features like nothing we’ve seen from Hyundai in recent years, and we’re incredibly excited to see the brand taking such a remarkable direction with this gorgeous SUV. Just remember that it’s becoming a three-row model again if you find yourself looking at used options in the years ahead.
How Can You Find the Perfect Used Santa Fe?
As you can see with even a somewhat casual glance, it’s easy to tell that your choice of model year has a huge impact on the kinds of features and overall design you’ll find with a used Santa Fe. This isn’t completely unheard of for the auto industry, but it is a clear example of how doing some research ahead of time is an important part of making your shopping experience as easy as possible. The big thing to remember is how the Santa Fe has changed in size over the last half-dozen years, directly affecting the seating inside. Keep this in mind as you look at different options to find what you need. Once you know which Santa Fe generation and style will work best for you, then you can look at engines, infotainment systems, and safety tech to find everything you need.
Connect with us
Archives
Categories
