South Korean automakers such as Kia and Hyundai have come a long way since their humble beginnings in creating economy cars and SUVs. Today, both brands turn out some of the most well-rounded and well-equipped examples on the market, and this model made by Hyundai is the best all-rounder three-row hybrid SUV you can buy from a South Korean brand in 2025.
The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid boasts three rows of spacious seating, an economical hybrid engine, a good amount of storage space, a techy cabin, and oodles of comfort features. We are taking a look at why it is the most balanced and practical South Korean three-row hybrid SUV on the market today.
The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Is An All-Rounder Three-Row SUV
Following the major 2024 refresh and redesign of the Hyundai Santa Fe, the 2025 hybrid iteration is the family-friendly three-row SUV that boasts a rugged exterior design, lots of interior options, a cabin full of up-to-date features, a low starting price, three impressive trims to choose from, and a useful and fuel-sipping engine.
The Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid sports a bold exterior that gives it a presence higher than its pay grade. You get an elevated hood, H-shaped LED daytime running lights, and a wide, textured grille that gives the whole build a sharp, chiseled look. Sculpted lines run down the body and available 19- or 20-inch alloys again make it look more expensive than it is, while a plethora of colors are selectable that make it truly stand out on the well-priced market. The color schemes available for the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid include:
- Serenity White
- Phantom Black
- Shimmering Silver
- Hampton Gray
- Atlantis Blue
- Rockwood Green
- Ultimate Red
- Ecotronic Gray Matte
- Earthy Brass Matte
- Terracotta Orange
The 2025 Santa Fe Can Seat Seven And Carry Over 1,200 Pounds For Under $40,000
This year’s Santa Fe Hybrid is a mid-size SUV, but that doesn’t mean you don’t get oodles of space for you and your family. The base trim has a starting price of $37,800, and as standard, this year’s Santa Fe Hybrid comes equipped with seven seats, with a second-row bench seat, in a 2-3-2 configuration.
You can also choose to swap out the second row bench seat for two captain’s chairs (2-2-2 configuration) if you don’t need the seventh seat and want to give more legroom to your passengers. On top of the three rows of seating, the Santa Fe Hybrid can lug about 1,223 pounds of stuff inside, while considering you can eke out very impressive combined mpg ratings, you can also tow a respectable amount behind you.
The Affordable Three-Row SUV That Balances Efficiency And Work Ethic
There is just one engine option for this year’s Santa Fe Hybrid: a 1.6-liter turbocharged inline-four hybrid that makes 231 horses and 271 pound-feet of torque. Power is sent to the wheels via a six-speed automatic gearbox. You can choose between front-wheel drive for the most gas-sipping option or all-wheel drive if you live in wet or snowy areas.
While some of its competitors in the hybrid three-row market may be able to tow slightly more (the 2025 Toyota Sequoia can tow a massive 9,500 pounds), the Santa Fe Hybrid is one of the most fuel-efficient three-row SUVs you can buy in 2025. So, not only do you get a modern-feeling build, seven seats as standard, and weekend-ready towing capacities, but you can also save a bit of money on gas each year compared to gas-only three-row SUVs.
2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Fuel Efficiency Specs
According to FuelEconomy.gov, the all-wheel-drive Santa Fe Hybrid can achieve a combined mpg rating of 34 mpg, while the front-wheel-drive Santa Fe Hybrid can achieve an even more impressive 36 mpg. Which, for an SUV that weighs in at between 4,431 pounds (FWD) and 4,575 pounds (AWD), is very respectable.
|
2025 Santa Fe Hybrid FWD |
2025 Santa Fe Hybrid AWD |
|
|---|---|---|
|
Combined MPG Rating |
36 MPG |
34 MPG |
|
City MPG Rating |
36 MPG |
35 MPG |
|
Highway MPG Rating |
35 MPG |
34 MPG |
|
Gas Tank Range |
637 Miles |
602 Miles |
|
Gas Tank Size |
17.7 Gallons |
17.7 Gallons |
|
Cost To Fill Tank |
$53 |
$53 |
|
Cost To Drive 25 Miles |
$2.10 |
$2.22 |
|
Annual Fuel Costs |
$1,250 |
$1,350 |
Compared to the average modern car, which, according to FuelEconomy.gov, achieves an average estimated combined mpg rating of 26 mpg, driving a Santa Fe Hybrid could save you between $1,250 and $1,750 over five years on gas.
Low Starting Prices And An All-Round Family-Friendly Build
One of the most appealing things about the new Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid is that all three trims boast a very respectable starting price. The base trim this year is the Santa Fe Hybrid SEL, which has a starting price of $37,800 with front-wheel drive ($39,600 if you want AWD); the mid-tier Santa Fe Hybrid Limited has a starting price of $44,700 with front-wheel drive ($46,500 for AWD model), and the top-tier Santa Fe Hybrid Calligraphy has a starting price of $47,850 with front-wheel drive ($49,650 for AWD model).
All trims boast three rows of seating, with the SEL and Limited both equipped with bench seats in the second row, while the Calligraphy comes equipped with second-row captain’s chairs. All trims, though, are exceptionally well-equipped for the low price point, and we think, make for very good value for money.
Interior Features Won’t Leave You Wanting
The entry-level SEL feels upscale for its sub-$40K price tag, with a 12.3-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, USB charging ports (two up front and two in the rear), and a wireless charging pad. The front seats come wrapped in Hyundai’s soft H-Tex synthetic leather, paired with an eight-way power driver seat, leather-wrapped steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, and rear air vents to keep your second- and third-row passengers comfortable.
The Santa Fe Hybrid Limited gets you more in the way of comfort upgrades. Showcased is genuine leather seating surfaces to replace the H-Tex, and the standard equipment list steps up with features like ventilated front seats, heated second-row seats, and a dual-pane sunroof. Tech also gets a boost, courtesy of a 12.4-inch fully digital gauge cluster, Wi-Fi hotspot capability, and third-row USB outlets. To top off the mid-tier, you also get a bi-directional center console that can be used by front and second-row passengers, and a very upscale UV-C sterilization compartment for sanitizing small items. Really, yes.
At the top of the pile is the Calligraphy trim, which brings the most in the way of refinement and comfort. You get Nappa leather seating and the already-mentioned captain’s chairs; dual wireless device chargers come as standard, and can charge two Qi-compatible phones without cables. The top-end trims also flaunt more premium interior accents in the shape of enhanced stitching, faux-wood trim, and a suede headliner, and soft-touch surfaces on the doors, dashboard, and center console.
The top trim also brings a little more in the way of connectivity, with the Hyundai Digital Key 2 included, which lets you lock and unlock the Santa Fe Hybrid from your phone. Across all trims, the interior is modern, crisp, and tech-forward, and complements the family-friendly/semi-plush feel.
2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Interior Dimensions And Cargo Space
The Santa Fe Hybrid is not all just looks and tech, though. Alongside the three rows of seating, the space inside makes it a very competitive rival in the mid-size three-row SUV market.
Payload capacity is decent at over 1,200 pounds, and headroom and legroom are spacious across all three rows, while the 14.6 cubic feet behind the third row, 40.5 cubic feet behind the second row, and the maximum cargo capacity with all seats tucked away of 79.6 cubic feet make it a very handy and comfortable SUV to own.
High Reliability Ratings And A Top Safety Pick+ Award
So, we have established that you can fit a lot in the Santa Fe Hybrid; it is comfortable, and it is well-priced, but just to round off, that it is the most well-balanced South Korean three-row hybrid SUV this year, it is also reliable and safe.
According to RepairPal, the Santa Fe is ranked second out of the 26 mid-size SUVs they monitor, with a 4 out of 5 for reliability, and a low annual maintenance bill of $515. This makes it cheaper to maintain than the average mid-sized SUV, which has an average annual maintenance bill of $573, and a lot cheaper to maintain than the average vehicle on the market, which has an average annual bill of $652.
If you are looking for a hybrid three-row SUV, you are likely looking for a vehicle to suit ferrying a family around, and thanks to the comprehensive safety suite included, it is a very suitable SUV for the job. As standard, all trims of the Santa Fe Hybrid come equipped with the Hyundai SmartSense suite. Standard base-trim safety features include:
- Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian, Cyclist, and Junction Turning Detection.
- Lane Keeping Assist.
- Lane Following Assist.
- Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go.
- Safe Exit Assist.
- Advanced Rear Occupant Alert.
- Driver Attention Warning.
If you opt for the Limited trim, you also benefit from Navigation-based Smart Cruise Control and Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist – Reverse. The top-tier Calligraphy trim is the most equipped, and you benefit from everything in the lower trims, plus Blind-Spot Collision Avoidance, Forward-Collision Avoidance Assist 2, which includes junction turning/crossing, lane-change oncoming and side, and evasive steering. You can also choose optional features like a Blind-Spot View Monitor and a surround-view camera.
Thanks to the huge list of safety features included, all-around ‘Good’ crash worthiness ratings, ‘Acceptable’ ratings for headlight safety and LATCH ease of use, and ‘Good’ ratings for front crash prevention ratings and seatbelt reminders, the 2025 Santa Fe has been given a Safety Top Pick+ award from the IIHS, and a 4 out of 5-star safety rating from the NHTSA.
Owners Are Loving Their 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid
It’s not just us that think it; owners of the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid are also big fans. According to the reviews on J.D. Power for the 2025 Santa Fe Hybrid, owners have rated it 82 out of 100 overall, giving it a score of 81 out of 100 for quality and reliability, and a driving experience rating of 88 out of 100.
Likewise, owners who have left a review on Kelley Blue Book have also praised it highly overall; 100% of owners who have left a review would recommend buying it and have given it an overall rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars, with other more specific ratings including:
- 4.3 out of 5 for reliability
- 4.6 out of 5 for comfort
- 4.6 out of 5 for quality
- 4.7 out of 5 for performance
- 4.9 out of 5 for value
- 5 out of 5 for styling
Other Three-Row Hybrid SUVs That Give The Hyundai Santa Fe A Run For Its Money
There is no denying that the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid ticks a heck of a lot of boxes as an affordable, efficient, stylish, comfortable, and useful three-row mid-size SUV, and it is the best well-balanced hybrid Korean iteration this year. However, it is by far the only hybrid three-row SUV that is making a mark.
Aside from the Santa Fe Hybrid, some of the most standout models you can buy this year are from the South Korean marques’ Japanese rivals: Toyota and Mazda. The 2025 Toyota Highlander has been given an overall score of 4.5 out of 5 on Kelley Blue Book, and the 2025 Mazda CX-90 Hybrid has been given an overall score of 3.2 out of 5, which may seem low, but we think that it deserves some recognition.
Boasting a starting price of just shy of $50,000 for the Mazda CX-90 PHEV Preferred, just under $55,000 for the Premium Sport, and around $58,000 for the Premium Plus, it may be a little more expensive than the Santa Fe, but it is arguably a lot plusher, and you do get a more powerful plug-in mill under the hood. The CX-90 PHEV packs a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated inline-four mated to an electric motor that can kick out 323 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. Plus, you get an all-electric range of up to 26 miles.
Seating-wise, the CX-90 also offers three rows of seating, with the same seating configuration options as the Santa Fe, but you only get 75.2 cubic feet of storage space with all the seats folded away. Where the CX-90 PHEV stands out, though, is with its standard-fit i-ACTIVE AWD on all trims, a 12.3-inch center display, and the higher dedication to the plusher side of SUV life in comparison.
The 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander hybrid is also more expensive than the Santa Fe Hybrid, but only slightly. The base LE trim starts at just over $44,000, and the high-end trims top out at just over $60,000. There are two hybrid-flavored engines: the standard-fit 2.5-liter inline-four hybrid good for 245 horsepower, and a Hybrid MAX version, which is a 2.4-liter turbo-four mated to a motor, and can kick out 362 horsepower. The most efficient flavor of the Grand Highlander can achieve a combined mpg rating of 36 mpg (XLE with base hybrid engine featured), taking it right to the Santa Fe Hybrid in terms of efficiency.
It is more expensive from the start, and you again get the same seating configuration options as the Santa Fe, but you also get a whopping 97.5 cubic feet of space when you fold down the seats, and an impressive 33.5 inches of third-row legroom. Tech and safety are also well taken care of, thanks to Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 equipped as standard, a 12.3-inch touchscreen, and wireless smartphone connectivity all included at build. Yes, it may be slightly more pricey, but the Grand Highlander hybrid does offer a huge amount that makes it a real thorn in the side of the all-around family-friendly Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid.
Sources: J.D. Power, FuelEconomy.gov, Kelley Blue Book, IIHS, NHTSA, and RepairPal.