Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy 2026 Review: Is This the Best Family SUV Money Can Buy?

John Marcar has revisited the Hyundai Santa Fe two years after its launch event. This time he's opted for the top-of-the-range Calligraphy trim, and he thinks it might be the one to buy, not only in the Hyundai range, but in the SUV category too.

The Best Family SUV Money Can Buy?

I'll open this review with a strong opinion... I think that, in terms of bang for buck, the Santa Fe in Calligraphy trim might be the best way to spend your cash - if, that is, you're after a six- or seven-seater family SUV that's ideally a petrol-powered hybrid EV.

Two years ago, I attended the Santa Fe UK launch event and was immediately blown away by the model, especially considering how far it's come since the original version launched in 2001. The styling had received a radical upgrade; the interior layout was now on par with luxury European cars, and the clever petrol-powered hybrid system offered EV-like acceleration without the inconvenience of plugging in overnight or panicking about constantly refuelling a monstrously large engine.

For the launch, I tested an Ultimate trim version of the Santa Fe, which was great, but this time I've booked the range-topping Calligraphy, with a superb list of standard equipment, for a price that will almost certainly make the average luxury SUV buyer think it's probably too good to be true.

Calligraphy Trim: What you get for £56,090

For £56,090, Santa Fe Calligraphy buyers can leave the Hyundai Showroom with a spacious, stylish SUV which is packed with luxuries that would typically be pricey optional extras in other showrooms.

Premium Seating

In the Santa Fe Calligraphy, Hyundai calls the front seats 'Premium Relaxation Seats', which recline to an almost bed-like position with retracting leg rests. The front seats are also ventilated to regulate body temperature and, like the rest of the seats in the second and third rows, are draped in luxurious Nappa leather and, as you might expect, are heated too.

Tech and Bose Audio

In the front row, the driver or front passenger has a wireless charging pad for phones and a glove box with a UV-C lighting system to kill bacteria and other nasties on devices. The second row gets class-leading legroom, a glass roof and sun blinds for additional privacy on top of the tinted glass.

A Bose sound system also delivers a premium audio experience throughout the cabin and is controlled via a large 12.3-inch touchscreen that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. An array of physical buttons is also within reach for quick and easy adjustments to climate and audio settings.

The rear-view mirror can be switched between a physical mirror and a rear-view camera system, and the driver's head-up display adds an extra touch of luxury to the driving experience.

A 360-degree camera system also comes standard, helping with parking and manoeuvring in tight spots by stitching together all exterior cameras into a simulated exterior view on the interior display screens.

Driver Assist and Luxuries

As the top trim, the Calligraphy also gets Hyundai's best driver-assist systems, including navigation-based cruise control with smart adaptive cruise, along with the latest ADAS system to meet Euro NCAP requirements, with features such as collision warning, blind spot assist, driver attention monitoring, and intelligent speed assist. The suspension is even self-levelling for added convenience and comfort.

The Driving Experience

To drive, the Santa Fe Calligraphy is consistent with other modern hybrid SUVs; however, a few special touches enhance the experience, including an especially quiet cabin thanks to top-tier insulation that reduces wind noise and road rumble to a whisper.

Like all other trim levels, the Calligraphy in the UK is powered by a 1.6L petrol engine that powers a battery and electric motor. This setup doesn't offer any EV-only range, but it delivers EV-like acceleration, with the battery and motor working in tandem to get the car moving. The battery recharges quickly through kinetic braking and regen, meaning there's almost always something 'in the tank' to help subsidise the petrol power or boost hard acceleration.

Power and Range

In total, the combined powertrains deliver around 239hp to the wheels, which is best described as 'adequate' but not 'generous'. At times, the Santa Fe can feel a little underpowered for its size, especially if fully loaded with people or luggage, but it still gets the job done. Elsewhere in the world, the Santa Fe is offered with a punchier 2.5L engine, but for the UK market, for now at least, the 1.6L is all we have. What you lose in performance with the smaller 1.6-litre engine, you gain in range, as the Santa Fe will comfortably achieve well over 600 miles on a single (67-litre) tank of fuel, which is especially impressive given its proportions and shape.

Handling and Dynamics

From a handling and performance point of view, the Santa Fe is surprisingly agile without compromising any comfort. On bumpy country roads, the Santa Fe will happily hum along at 60mph without any fuss, soaking up bumps, ruts and undulations with ease. In this environment, the Santa Fe's build quality speaks for itself, delivering a quiet, refined ride from all seats.

Interior layout choices

Three rows in a family SUV isn't new, but what makes the Santa Fe unique in its class is the option of either 7 seats (two at the back, three in the middle, and two at the front) or 6 seats (a two-two-two layout). The 6-seat configuration (as tested) adds a sense of luxury thanks to the second row of driver-like seating and the ability to access the third row without folding the second-row seats. You can access the back row by walking between the seats in row two. It's doable for me at over 6 feet and a doddle for kids.

When not needed, the third-row seats can be folded individually or together to provide over 700 litres of storage. With the second and third row folded flat, the luggage space jumps to an almost van-like 1,942 litres.

The big win: Value for Money vs the Luxury SUVs

The Santa Fe, at its price point, falls short of being classed as a 'Luxury SUV ', but in terms of space, size, quality and standard equipment, in terms of value for money - I'm struggling to think of anything that comes close to it, and at the top trim level, it feels like a bargain, too.

The 'luxury' 7-Seat SUVs include: Land Rover Defender - priced from £62,186, Volvo XC90 - priced from £65,450, Land Rover Discovery - priced from £69,450 and BMW X7 - priced from £75,700. All these prices are for entry-level trims with no optional extras ticked.

Sure, the Land Rovers and BMW will certainly win if your commute regularly takes you along rural, muddy, green lanes, but for most tarmac-based commutes, the Santa Fe will give you more than you need for far less cash than any of the luxury SUVs listed above.

Conclusion

The Santa Fe in Calligraphy trim shows the brand's best progression and evolution over the past 25 years. What was once thought of exclusively as a family-friendly budget SUV is now comfortably in the luxury league, but without the comparable price tag.

In terms of bang for buck, the Santa Fe Calligraphy is almost certainly the most sensible way to spend your cash - and whereas in the past, buying sensibly came with a compromise of quality and luxury, now things are different, and if you need convincing of that fact, pop into your nearest Hyundai dealership and have a go. Chances are you'll be very surprised.

Words by John Marcar
Photography by Henry Faulkner-Smith