2025 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT review: off-road bruiser, or L.A. cruiser?

One thing Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis are known for is taking chances. Whether it be technical or design, the Korean company keeps swinging for the fences. To use more baseball euphemisms, I would say the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT gets a home run for design, and a single for off-road capabilities. In addition, it gets a triple for family utility. All in all, I'd say that’s pretty good.

Despite its looks and features, the Santa Fe XRT is not a great off-roader

Yes, even with the slight lift and 8.3 inches of ground clearance, it’s not suited for serious off-road work. I know, I know - it looks like a cousin to a Land Rover or Land Cruiser, but it’s not. At best, it can handle light off-roading, snow, and challenging climate conditions on the road. All that, and it can haul a young family in comfort too.

According to Hyundai, there is a list of features that sets the Hyundai Santa Fe XRT apart from the other Santa Fe trims.

For starters, it gets the aforementioned suspension lift of 1.3 inches or 30 mm. Special XRT-only axle hubs work together with Continental A/T tires and a Terrain Mode selector to improve AWD performance. At the tail end of that feature list is an Assisted Hill Descent mode to help you down those slippery slopes.

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With that being said, it doesn't have a low gear setting and it's far too low to the ground where it counts. It could also use some proper skid plates and much better articulation. On rough roads and the boulevard though, the Santa Fe shines.  

The Hollywood facelift gets applied to a crossover

Honestly, the exterior design is getting a lot of attention, which was Hyundai’s plan from the beginning. The underpinnings of the new Santa Fe are (for the most part) the same as the previous model. Sure, things have been improved, but the bones are basically the same.

Still, you would be hard-pressed to find a consumer who could find any resemblance between the old model and the new one. Every bit of sheet metal has been flattened, creased, and altered on this new model. Pixel styling proliferates the front and rear lighting design, giving the overall look of something out of a video game, or cartoon. Once again: all is according to plan.

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Internally, the design is user-friendly and utilitarian. It’s not as bold as the exterior, but the two 12.3-inch screens (housing instrumentation and infotainment) and switchgear look modern and are easy to use. The gear selector is a rotating stalk, like the ones used on their EVs. I’m not a fan, but it’s fairly easy to get used to.

Sitting on the faux leather is comfy, but I would like more seat cushion for my sizable derrière. Passengers in the third row also better be the size of Napoleon Bonaparte as it is pretty small. There is easy access to vents and controls, and all rows enjoy good access to cup holders and USB outlets.

The 2025 model keeps a majority of the styling and tech, but the new hybrid has now hit the market. This boxy machine is powered by a turbo, four-cylinder - and it’s not slow. The thing is, the driving personality of the XRT… does not match its looks. I guess that fits in the land of Hollywood.

The sight lines are quite good throughout, and that’s all thanks to the upright window design. The camera system is helpful too so it was easy to park the mid-size vehicle in tight spaces.

It has plenty of cowbell but it's not exactly enthusiast-grade

The all-aluminum, turbocharged, intercooled DOHC 16-valve inline-4 makes 277 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque way down at 1,700 rpm. Weighing under 4,500 lbs, the Santa Fe has no problem launching and overtaking traffic.

I easily achieved 0 to 60 times in well under 7 seconds. That’s great for a family hauler shaped like a brick. It’s hooked up to an eight-speed, dual-clutch, “automatic” transmission. It’s not my first choice of transmission for this vehicle, as I feel a torque converter-based “automatic” transmission would be less jumpy in traffic. Still, when you hammer it, gear changes are very quick.

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There is some roll when pushed through a corner, but the grip from the 245/60R18 all-terrain Continental TerrainContact A/Ts was quite good. Despite the additional 1.3-inch lift and tires, the overall ride and performance of the XRT didn’t feel that different from the top-of-the-line Calligraphy I tested a while back.

With extra cooling, the XRT gives you the best towing of the Santa Fe lineup at 4,500 lbs when properly equipped. Normally, the maximum weight for towing is 3,500 lbs. I wouldn’t want to saddle this crossover with too much weight (either towing or on the easy-to-access roof) as the springs feel pretty soft.

Steering and braking feel good on the consumer end, providing good heft with little feel. On the enthusiast side, you’ll be better suited to drive a Mazda or Acura product. Still, it’s remarkably easy to drive, park, and live with.

The EPA says this vehicle is rated at 19 mpg city, 26 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined. I did several hundred miles of Thanksgiving commuting, with a family of six and I averaged around 24 mpg. That’s not too shabby for a non-hybrid vehicle. Obviously, if you pony up a few thousand more, you can get a hybrid Santa Fe, but not with the XRT trim. 

Other trim levels might offer the features you need at a price you like

The trims offered with the 2.5-liter turbo (hybrids only get three trims) are the SE, SEL, XRT, Limited, and top-of-the-line Calligraphy. I deliberately asked for the middle of the lineup XRT as it’s expected to be one of the more popular choices. Indeed, with its more macho looks, swagger, and standard equipment, it makes sense.

According to Hyundai, the SE has a base MSRP of $34,200, before taxes and fees. The top trim Calligraphy with AWD (all-wheel drive adds $1,800 - but with the XRT it comes standard) comes in at $48,550 before taxes and fees. That’s quite a leap from a base model to a fully loaded top dog.

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To me, a well-appointed SE with AWD for well under 40K out the door is the best choice. I recommend getting it with the Serenity White exterior and gray interior. It looks like a much more expensive model, and you get a lot of the same tech too.

If you need more tech and choices, it makes sense to save some dough and get the mid-level SEL, XRT, or Limited. You get the same power, good tech, and those slick looks baked right in. You also get those hand-hold side components, which are almost useless but awesome.

Final thoughts

Despite not having the proper off-road capability to match its looks, I like the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT quite a bit. It is an easy-to-drive, utilitarian family hauler that can be a bargain in a different trim. It also feels somewhat premium when it shouldn’t, which can be a plus.

If you need to tow more and venture a little off the beaten path, the XRT package is worth looking at. It won’t make it through the Rubicon, nor will it take you through the Serengeti very easily, but it’s built to look like it easily can. I think most people would like something that looks the part, even if it’s only acting.

That brings me back to Hollywood and Los Angeles. The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe has good bones, utility, power, and safety for the family. It will take that family to schools, markets, vacations, and to the movies. In the land of make-believe, I believe the Santa Fe could have a good starring role as a family companion. 

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