2022 Hyundai Santa Fe plug-in hybrid hits at home, misses on the highway

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe plug-in hybrid is effortless to neglect in the paradigm shift from inner-combustion engines to full battery electric cars. A bridge spans these two automotive eras, and Hyundai has a agent on equally sides. In addition to a gasoline-run Santa Fe, there is a Santa Fe hybrid, and, on the electric aspect, a Santa Fe plug-in hybrid. 

The discrepancies can be puzzling, even as Hyundai, Kia, Toyota, Lexus, Volvo, Jeep, Chrysler, Ford, Lincoln, BMW, Audi, Porsche, and Mitsubishi introduce extra PHEV versions. Customers are starting up to detect. PHEV income doubled from 2020 to 2021, while the number of revenue of full battery electrics and hybrids rose even more. 

The advantage of plug-in hybrids such as the Hyundai Santa Fe and Hyundai Tucson is you can push close to town without ever making use of the fuel engine, and you can go on lengthy street trips with no having to be concerned about charging it. 

This was the scenario in a Labor Working day highway vacation in the 2022 Hyundai Santa FE PHEV Confined. It satisfied both of those finishes of the bridge with a trait as soon as extolled as a virtue: compromise. 

Here’s in which that compromise benefited the PHEV knowledge, and in which it fell brief. 

Strike: Seamless energy shipping

The Santa Fe PHEV balances energy from its 1.6-liter turbo-4 gasoline engine and 66.9-kw motor with out a lot see, except if you’re examining out the ability delivery show in the 12.3-inch instrument cluster. A 13.8-kwh battery feeds the motor, and a 6-pace automatic transmission optimizes the motor performance based on the driver inputs. It defaults to all-electric powered mode till you thrust tough adequate on the throttle to set off the engine, but even when the turbo-4 kicks on and the system’s whole output of 261 hp is reached, the cabin continues to be quiet. 

It is more rapidly off the line than Santa Fes that deficiency the electrical burst, but there can be a slight delay if you are cruising together and need to have to make a passing transfer. Switching the dial to Sport mode narrows that hole. Total, the engine-motor combo offsets the 500-lb fat obtain above a in the same way outfitted gasoline design, and provides in a lot more flexibility in how you want to travel. 

Miss out on: Numerous modes, but no EV keep

The 4 drive modes are in a console dial with a middle button to lock the center differential for even torque among the axles. The all-wheel-drive program is a mechanical one particular, so the motor by yourself is not powering the rear axle as in other PHEVs. There is also an EV/Hybrid button beside the dial. It defaults to Eco mode, which operates underneath electrical electricity until eventually the battery is depleted. The a lot of modes and BEV button will allow drivers to customise the powertrain response centered on their wished-for efficiency, or vice versa. For case in point, in Eco manner with the EV button on, the throttle pedal lacks the firmness of Activity mode. 

Irrespective of the a number of options, it lacks an EV Keep purpose, so I couldn’t preserve any of the EV battery for when I got off the highway and rolled the last few miles into my places.

Hit and Pass up: A active console 

Most local climate, seat, and generate capabilities can be found in a busy centre console that also properties the electronic gear shifter, touchscreen very hot button bar, local weather control buttons, heated and cooled seat buttons (in the top rated Restricted trim), and volume and tuning knobs. It is a ton to consider in, but it also restrictions the reliance on the 10.3-inch touchscreen perched on the sprint. I’d instead have serious local climate buttons and temperature toggles than owning to touch the display. 

Strike: Storage shelf previously mentioned glove box

The Santa Fe PHEV sacrifices about two inches of rear leg home compared to the gas design, down to 39.5 inches, typically since the battery pack is less than the rear seat. That is truly the only sacrifice to inside house, and it’s slight. Hyundai will make up for it with beautifully clever storage selections. My most loved, as well as my a variety of travellers riding shotgun, was a shelf earlier mentioned the glove box great for a passenger’s cellular phone, pen, wallet, strength bar, toll transponder, and any selection of other things for speedy obtain. It is tilted up so practically nothing slides out, and it integrates very well with dash trim that arcs from the doors toward the windshield and back again to the middle display.  

Strike: 31 miles of electrical vary

The 31 miles of EV range implies it is a excellent commuter around city with no tailpipe emissions. Hyundai may well be understating its selection dependent on my impressions. The RAV4 PHEV potential customers the pack with 42 miles of vary, but 31 miles is more than enough to cope with the every day grind without grinding a drop of fuel. And it is so quiet. 

Pass up: Comparatively inefficient

The Santa Fe PHEV’s body weight get usually means it’s not all that efficient on the freeway, on the other hand. I averaged about 26 mpg on the interstate. The EPA estimates a 33 mpg blended ranking with out battery ability, but the typical Santa Fe Hybrid without a plug has an EPA ranking of 33 mpg town, 30 highway, 32 mixed. 

The Toyota RAV4 Prime, Hyundai Tucson PHEV, and Ford Escape PHEV are additional economical and have a lot more vary, but they’re also lesser. The only true mid-sizing SUV competition are the six-seat Kia Sorento PHEV and the 7-seat Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, which equally have more range and far better hybrid performance when the battery is depleted. 

Overlook: 12.4 gallon tank

I did not have to fear about charging on the street, but I stopped much more generally than standard to fill up gasoline due to the Santa Fe PHEV’s compact 12.4-gallon tank. For extensive-length commuters or regular road trippers, common hybrids may possibly be far more economical and easy. 

Hit: Smartest smartphone charger nonetheless

A different uncomplicated but amazing design and style ingredient is the wireless smartphone charger the dimension of a deck of taking part in cards. In an ashtray-sized slot future to the cupholders in the console is a small mechanical sleeve that accepts the smartphone vertically and fees it against its wall. An orange button implies the charge is energetic. It’s seamless to slip it in and get started charging, easy to pull in or out, and under no circumstances receives shed or bewildered on a sliding pad tucked beneath the middle stack or overlooked beneath the armrest console. It is the greatest wi-fi phone charger on the industry.

Overlook: Nonetheless no wireless ACP

Despite that innovation, Hyundai nevertheless has to contend with the lack of wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto with its more substantial touchscreen. With all this tech on the leading Restricted trim, the deficiency of wi-fi smartphone compatibility becomes even more egregious. A new head device with that capability has to be all around the corner. 

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe PHEV offers purchasers much more choice in the Santa Fe family members, which has gasoline, hybrid, and plug-in possibilities. The PHEV is a terrific selection for drivers who log most of their miles close to town. 

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2022 Hyundai Santa Fe Confined Plug-In Hybrid

Foundation selling price: $46,585 which includes $1,225 vacation spot

Price tag as tested: $46,780

Powertrain: 1.6-liter turbo-4 with a 67-kw motor and 13.8-kwh battery pack, a 6-velocity automated transmission, and all-wheel push

EPA fuel economy: 33 mpg put together, 76 mpge fuel and electric, 31 miles of electric powered vary

The hits: Seamless electricity supply, fantastic packaging, fantastic wi-fi smartphone charger

The misses: Not a lot much more economical on the freeway, even now no wireless Apple CarPlay, no EV Maintain