Used 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited 2.0T SUV Review
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited 2.0T SUV.
Most helpful consumer reviews
Wowza
Thom McC, Kingston, GA, 08/28/2018
2019 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited 2.0T 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
I have been shopping and reading and watching the YouTube video demos on the Santa Fe and the Ford Edge for a couple of months now and deciding which was the best value for performance, cost, and value. Since the Santa Fe offered a few things that the Ford didn't (very few) and since the cost and warranty were so much better I decided to take the plunge with it. I have only owned this … car for about a week now but we have a 15 year old Hyundai XG 350L and based on the comfort, quality, and performance of that car and considering all of the modern overall improvements in quality and technology, in my opinion it would be very difficult to beat the 2019 Santa Fe. I knew from the start that I wanted the Ultimate FWD package but wasn't sure of whether to go with the 2.4 or the 2.0T engine. I went to a dealership that had a great inventory of both engines so I could do a side-by-side driving comparison. The 2.4 was very good but the 2.0T was outstanding. I have been driving a 2009 Ford Escape Limited with the 2.5 FWD and either of these two Hyundai engines coupled with the 8 speed transmissions beats it hands down in performance and quiet operation. Driving the car is a truly awesome experience. I have stayed mostly in the Comfort drive mode and the power and nimble steering are both fantastic. I have selected the Sport mode a couple of times and there is a very noticeable improvement along with a slight decrease in fuel economy. It is still a lot of fun to hit a winding road with Sport selected. The body side roll and confident road handling rally gives you a great respect for what Hyundai has accomplished with a vehicle of this weight. Regardless of what driving mode you select and despite the road conditions or traffic you might experience you will appreciate the very quiet cabin that is equipped with a ton of sound absorbing insulation, thick window glass all around, and active noise canceling. The seats have wonderful side bolstering so you stay firmly planted in the seat on the tight turns even when taken at fairly high speeds. I haven't ridden in the backseat myself but both my wife and brother were amazed at how roomy and comfortable it is in the back. My brother is 6 feet even and he said he had more than enough leg and head room. The rear seats slide forward and back and also recline. It is summer and he didn't need it but the back seat is also heated. The front seats are heated and ventilated. That is greatly appreciated here in the hot Georgia summer. There are more electronic safety and convenience features than you can count. I don't have children or pets but there are two critical safety features for living things in the back seat. First when you turn the engine off and open the driver's door the dash lights up with a reminder to check the rear seat for children. With the Hyundai Bluelink installed on your phone if the car sensors detect anything moving in the back seat after you exit it will send an alert to your mobile phone...but it will also start the horn blowing and that will continue for up to 8 hours. The other safety feature is a sensor that senses approaching traffic from the rear when the car is stopped and it will prevent the doors from opening to keep passengers from stepping out into traffic. I appreciate the lane departure warning system and the lane keep assist is also valuable but will take some getting used to. While driving on the interstate on the way home from the dealership I forgot that it was on and when approaching a curve in the road at 70 MPH the car began the turn on its own. I kept my hands on the wheel but the car steered itself accurately through the entire turn with no hunting or seeking to maintain the center of the lane. I also love the heads-up-display but a valuable piece of information...you can't see it very well with polarized sunglasses on (depending on the orientation of you lenses with respect to the projection). If I want to see it with enough brightness to be useful I have to twist my head slightly so I will be replacing my sunglasses. The fuel economy seems to be a bit better than what is advertised which is always good. Time will tell with more mileage. As with any vehicle built for the masses there is always something I might have added or done slightly different but this truly is a spectacular vehicle that should meet your every expectation of quiet, comfortable, driving. I certainly look forward to many more years of driving mine. I have probably rambled on way more than most people want to read so I'll just end it here but let you know that there are dozens of more features and comforts that I will leave to you to discover.
I love this vehicle
Eric, Holland, MI, 06/15/2019
2019 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited 2.0T 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
I love everything about this vehicle... However, I wish it got better mpgs, towed more, and shifted better. With that said, I'll take it over any other SUV in this class. Super safe, quiet, drives like a dream, and a lot of storage.
What were they thinking with the power lift gate
Allen carney, Pittsburgh, PA, 12/16/2018
2019 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited 2.0T 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
The performance is very good. The blue link (free for 3 years) is not so good. Takes about 2 minutes for the car to respond to the remote start or any other command you send to it. The power lift gate design for the hands free is very bad. Must have all doors locked, must wait 15 seconds to use it and not be within the 2 feet of of rear bumper before 15 seconds. Useless. Just use key … fob. After 3 years you start paying for blue link. Also useless. Will be getting a remote start installed after 3 years and get a key fob won't need to wait for a command to be sent to my car from blue link.
After owning this car for 6 months now, my review gets somewhat worse. My wife does not like this car. The lift gate goes up even if you happen to be standing near the bumper talking. We will be trading this car in very soon.
Update 12-26-2019 We no longer own this car. We traded it in on a 2019 Nissan Murano. Very nice car. It does not have any of the issues we had with the Hyundai. The Murano seems to have a better build quality than the Hyundai. We liked the Nissan so much, we bought a 2019 Nissan Pathfinder also.
Disappointed in Hyundai “design language”
JSC, Palm Desert, CA, 12/22/2018
2019 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited 2.0T 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
What can say, except, very disappointed in new Hyundai designs. I drove/owned an 2017 Ultimate 2.0 and absolutely loved it, from the gorgeous black chrome wheels to incredible sporty design. My only complaint was an annoying engine noise, upon moderate acceleration. I drove the new 2019 Santa Fe and found it very well made, and it appeared that Hyundai had addressed the engine noise. The … new one is even quieter than “ the old one”....seats are still a little too firm. I didn’t replace my 2017 with a Hyundai. The only reason I didn’t buy one was “I couldn’t see myself in it”....O.K., that is not meant to sound shallow. This is my truth: this SUV is UGLY. So I bought an X3. Surprisingly,it was only $5k over the Hyundai, still loaded. Just disappointed that Hyundai is such a good vehicle, but it missed the mark on the Santa Fe, IMO.
Edmunds Summary Review of the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited 2.0T SUV
What’s new
- The 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe is redesigned
- New interior and exterior look
- New two-row design
- Part of the fourth Hyundai Santa Fe generation introduced for 2019
Pros & Cons
- Pro:Abundant standard features for the money
- Pro:High-quality interior materials
- Pro:Generous warranty coverage
- Pro:Several standard and optional active safety features
- Con:Base 2.4-liter engine's power and mpg are subpar
- Con:Rear side view is blocked by wide roof pillars
- Con:Sharp bumps can transmit harshness and road noise into the cabin
Which Santa Fe does Edmunds recommend?
Most Santa Fe shoppers should be pleased with midlevel Santa Fe SEL Plus. Much like the base SE and the SEL, the SEL Plus comes with a nice set of convenience and safety features. Yet it also gets useful extras such as a hands-free liftgate, dual-zone climate control and an upgraded 12-speaker stereo system. We're not fond of the base 2.4-liter engine, but replacing it with the upgraded 2.0-liter turbocharged engine requires stepping up to the Limited or Ultimate trim level.
Full Edmunds Review: 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe SUV
byTravis Langness
Reviews Editor
Travis Langness has worked in the automotive industry since 2011. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career.
Driving
7.0With the 185-hp engine, the Santa Fe's acceleration is slightly below average, and the transmission is slow to shift. However, its taut suspension and excellent brakes let it handle and stop more like a sedan than a crossover.
Comfort
8.0With comfortable cloth seats and an available sliding-and-reclining second row, the Santa Fe is a flexible platform for passengers or cargo. The ride is quiet and the engine note won't interrupt any conversations. The taut suspension is jarring on bumpy or broken surfaces.
Interior
8.0The Santa Fe's strongest attribute is its interior. No matter what version you get, you'll find it comfortable, quiet and stylish. It's easy to get in and out of, and drivers and passengers alike will find it roomy.
Utility
7.5Despite the Santa Fe's roomy and well-thought-out interior, cargo volume is solidly in the middle of the pack in this segment. The SEL Plus' sliding and reclining second row improves cargo and passenger flexibility and is a must-have for this crossover.
Technology
8.0Hyundai's standard 7-inch infotainment system is easy to read and use. Key functions are readily accessible on the main page, and the icons are well-sized and -spaced to avoid a cluttered look. The menu structure is also intuitive and not very deep, making it easier when you have to hunt through it.
Jump to:Related 2019 Santa Fe articles
Edmunds Insurance Estimator
The Edmunds TCO® estimated monthly insurance payment for a 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe in Ohio is:
$55.08 per month*Legal