Why the 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe is the Year’s Best Buy SUV

The arena of so-called car experts is crowded, indeed. Yet, in a field of thousands, few have earned the level of trust and respect that Kelley Blue Book has. That’s why we’re so proud to announce that the 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe has won the Kelley Blue Book Best Buy Award in its class, for the third year running!

Why should you trust KBB over all the other auto critics putting out their yearly best-of lists? For starters, KBB has been one of the foremost authorities on cars for almost as long as there have even been cars. Aas a research company, they’ve been evaluating just about every consumer vehicle on the market for over 90 years. Their annual Best Buy Award is the culmination of this historic expertise.

Let’s take a closer look at why the experts think the new Santa Fe is the best SUV to lease or purchase.

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

To other automakers, Santa Fe topping the list may not even seem fair because it’s practically 3 different SUVs in one. In addition to the standard gas model, a hybrid and new plug-in hybrid (PHEV) are all available in 2022, each with multiple trim levels to choose from. (It even comes with the choice between front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) drivetrains, as well two different engine options for the gas edition.)

Santa Fe PHEV

First, let’s touch on KBB’s favorite iteration: the Santa Fe PHEV. This Santa Fe model is a huge reason why it won the Best Buy award. The plug-in version of the acclaimed SUV allows you to charge the lithium-ion battery at home, which in turn enables the vehicle to run on battery power alone. When fully charged, the PHEV can drive more than 30 miles without burning a drop of gasoline, meaning you might be able to make your commute to work and back without ever even sipping unleaded. Think of the money you’ll save month to month!

Santa Fe Hybrid

Returning 36 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway, the Hybrid Santa Fe boasts impressive fuel economy for a hybrid SUV. Since it doesn’t have to make room for a rechargeable battery, it has a much bigger tank than the PHEV, meaning a single fill-up has a potential range of nearly 600 miles. It’s a true road warrior.
Santa Fe

The ICE (internal combustion engine) Santa Fe boasts the greatest level of customization, with five trim levels ranging from the base SE to the luxurious Santa Fe Calligraphy model, the latter of which includes stylish upgrades like a full-color display screen and Nappa leather interior. Santa Fe Limited trims also rock a zippy turbocharged engine, which produces 281 horsepower, provides a fun drive, and allows for up to 3,500 pounds of towing (with an optional hitch). The non-hybrid version comes standard with FWD, but AWD is available.

Impressive Tech and Bold Style

Hyundai has thrown in everything but the kitchen sink this year. More than anything, the award-winning tech inside the Santa Fe highlights their continued commitment to manufacturing some of the market’s safest and best SUVs for families. It even got a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS, and a five-star rating from the NHTSA!

Hyundai SmartSense technology was designed from the ground up to give you an extra set of eyes on the road, so to speak. The Santa Fe employs a series of 360-degree cameras and sensors that are constantly monitoring road conditions. While you still need to keep your eyes on the road, the safety system in The Santa Fe provides early warnings and even deploys emergency braking measures, if necessary. Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance, Remote Smart Parking Assist, Ultrasonic Rear Occupant Alert, and adaptive highway cruise control are among several optional safety features, as are surround-view exterior cameras that feed directly to your touchscreen display.

Speaking of display screens: the optional 10.25-inch digital touchscreen display is a game-changer in the world of infotainment—control navigation, music, communication, climate, and more. Hyundai has also included some killer wireless phone interfacing, with built-in wireless charging, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and the Hyundai Digital Key, which allows you to lock, unlock or even start the vehicle, from anywhere, using the app on your phone.

The Best Bang for Your Buck

Back in 2020, The Santa Fe topped Kelley’s list of lowest cost-to-own in the mid-sized SUV category. This year, Hyundai proves yet again that they’re the reigning champs in providing extraordinary value to consumers, without sacrificing quality. This is best exemplified by their Complimentary Maintenance Program. As a way to give back to its loyal customers, Hyundai offers 3 years or 36,000 miles’ worth of routine service: oil changes, tire rotations, multi-point inspections, and more. All services are provided for free at a Hyundai service center near you. Yes, you read that right; and no, we’re not kidding.

Hyundai boasts America’s Best Warranty, too. Their New Vehicle Warranty clocks in at 5 years or 60,000 miles, with additional 10-year or 100k powertrain protection and 5 years of Hyundai roadside assistance. You won’t find a better warranty on a new SUV. Throw one of our incentives on new vehicles, and this is certainly one of the most affordable, best SUVs of 2022.

Give Jim Burke Hyundai a call at (205) 502-2792 to ask about scoring a new hybrid SUV at a great price or schedule a test drive to take one for a spin. Our Hyundi dealership in Birmingham serves shoppers throughout the area, including Bessemer, Hoover and even Tuscaloosa. Check us out to get a deal on a Hyundai Santa Fe for sale in Birmingham!