2022 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT Review: Deceiving Appearances

Rather of currently being a bundle that you can incorporate to unique trim stages, the XRT is its individual standalone trim that builds off the Santa Fe SEL with Ease package deal. The XRT has unique fasciae with faux skid plates finished in dim silver, additional black plastic moldings on the decreased bumpers and doors, relatively ineffective side actions, black mirrors, a matte black grille with a new sample, adjustable roof rails and black 18-inch wheels. The distinctions are extra evident on a brighter coloration this XRT’s Portofino Grey paint masks most of the improvements.

Upper trim ranges of the Santa Fe get an excellent turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, and the SUV’s hybrid and plug-in-hybrid models are provided in the midrange SEL trim, but the XRT is only offered with the base obviously aspirated 2.5-liter inline-4. Entrance-wheel travel is common, a strange option for an SUV with aspirationally rugged seems, but my XRT examination vehicle has the $1,700 optional all-wheel-push method. An 8-speed computerized is also common across the lineup.

With only 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, the Santa Fe XRT’s base motor feels as well damn sluggish for fashionable roadways. It is all right close to town, but the XRT is sluggish when entering on-ramps and passing at highway speeds, necessitating me to frequently place my foot to the ground to continue to keep up with website traffic. The engine is loud and coarse, as well, with plenty of noise and vibrations coming into the cabin less than acceleration. Gasoline economic climate is just not good either. The Santa Fe XRT is rated at just 22 mpg in the city, and I locate that its 25-mpg freeway rating is challenging to match. 

On the other hand, experience quality is superb thanks to the XRT’s thick tire sidewalls, and the Santa Fe’s managing is frequently composed and not foo floaty. But the 235/60R18 Kumho Crugen all-season tires really don’t even fake to be all-terrains, so they you should not insert any true capability, and they are the exact same tires made use of on other Santa Fe variants.

2022 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT Rear 3/4 View


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2022 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT Rear 3/4 View

The XRT is only readily available with the base engine.

Daniel Golson/CNET

The Santa Fe’s inside remains just one of the ideal in the segment. The XRT doesn’t include any one of a kind cabin attributes, making use of the very same fabric upholstery and dim trim parts as other Santa Fe styles. I really like how the cloth seats appear and truly feel, and the inside as a full even now has a contemporary structure, even if the all-black glance is very tedious. The XRT employs the Santa Fe’s base 8-inch touchscreen set up — the bigger 10.3-inch screen is not obtainable — but the process is nicely laid out and quick to use, and it consists of wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There is certainly tons of house inside of for the two people and cargo, and the second-row seats effortlessly slide and recline.

The XRT will come with everything from the SEL trim’s $1,700 Convenience package deal, like a hands-cost-free electric power tailgate, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, twin-zone computerized climate regulate, a leather-based-wrapped steering wheel, rear sunshades, Hyundai’s digital critical, an auto-dimming rear perspective mirror and exterior puddle lamps. Other typical features consist of heated entrance seats, a energy driver’s seat, a wireless telephone charger, auto up/down front home windows and keyless start out, all of which the SEL also will get.

2022 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT Interior


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2022 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT Interior

The XRT’s inside is seriously nice, at minimum.

Daniel Golson/CNET

Regrettably, the Santa Fe XRT isn’t really obtainable with the SEL’s $4,060 Quality deal, which incorporates leather seats, a electric power passenger seat, panoramic sunroof, a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio process, LED taillights and Hyundai’s great Freeway Driving Guide procedure. But every Santa Fe comes normal with loads of basic safety units, together with blind-location monitoring, rear cross-visitors warn, lane-holding support, lane-centering help, safe and sound exit aid, ultrasonic rear occupant inform and automatic unexpected emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection.

The Santa Fe XRT begins at $33,995 such as a $1,245 place charge, with my take a look at motor vehicle coming in at $35,890 just after adding AWD and $195 carpeted ground mats. That is a $1,795 upcharge above an AWD Santa FE SEL with the Usefulness package, and $4,765 much less expensive than a front-push Santa Fe Constrained, which is the least high priced way to get the turbo engine. And the entry-level Santa Fe Hybrid Blue, which has conventional AWD and a turbocharged powertrain with significantly superior gasoline economic climate, is $345 less costly than this XRT. Hyundai’s Santa Fe deserves to be in the vicinity of the top of your midsize-crossover shopping listing, but for as great as the XRT trim may possibly search, it really is just not worth the revenue.