Hyundai has been making the news recently as the Korean car giant prepares to enter a new future where electrified motoring, enhanced safety, and newfound luxury are rapidly becoming consumer buying points. The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe will bring a revamped version of this formula to showrooms, but in the meantime, the current generation Santa Fe is expected to hold down the fort for Hyundai while also preserving its place in the broader sales race. But will the range-topping Calligraphy model be the cure-all for buyers who want the best money can buy, but in a package smaller than the Palisade?
Santa Fe Calligraphy Details Are Visible, You Need to Know Where To Look
With the name Calligraphy, you would think that this version of the Santa Fe would be visually distinctive from other Santa Fe models. However, at a glance, it looks largely similar to the standard model with the same funky boxy shape, large chrome grille, and some of the fluidic elements scattered throughout the design.
It’s ultimately in the finer details where the Calligraphy stands out, with these models getting a model-exclusive front chrome grille and 20-inch alloy wheels with a unique wheel design. With the bigger Palisade Calligraphy getting a revamp, that helped that trim level stand out from the crowd better. The smaller Santa Fe is a glimpse into what it was like prior, with the model not having enough distinctive traits to help it stand out from the similar and slightly less expensive Limited model. The next generation Santa Fe might solve this flaw if the model retains a Calligraphy model, but it will be a while before those models begin to make the trek stateside.
The interior doesn’t help things either, and while the Calligraphy does get quilted Nappa leather seats, the rest of the interior is largely carried over from the Limited model. That includes the center console and its wide array of buttons. While some folks will be overwhelmed by the sheer amount of them (including the buttons for the push-button style shifter), it’s not as overboard as the hydrogen-powered Nexos, and you do get used to the layout after a few minutes. A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster is standard and is flanked by a slightly smaller 10.3-inch infotainment system. The software in the latter is starting to show its age in a few categories, but we’re glad that the menu layout is still simple to understand and that load times are mercifully brief. The front seats are very comfortable and come with seat heat and cooling. The second row is a bit tighter, but adults can still find room to be comfortable on long jaunts. Fold the second row down, and cargo space expands to 72.1 cubic feet.
Turbocharged Performance Blends With Luxury, Lacks Fuel Economy
While the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy will not be mistaken for a formal performance entry, drivers will immediately notice how snappy the 281 horsepower, 2.5-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder is when given the chance to accelerate away from stoplights. These figures are among the best in the segment, with the engine only being upstaged by the Ford Edge ST’s 335-hp 2.7-liter turbocharged V6. However, the Edge loses this advantage when it’s configured as a luxury-focused Titanium model. The power on hand is also a noticeable improvement over the SE and SEL versions of the Santa Fe, with those models getting a naturally aspirated engine instead.
An eight-speed dual-clutch automatic is the lone transmission offering, but while the combination allows the Santa Fe to feel like it could carve corners occasionally. It disappoints by offering middling fuel economy figures, with our example getting an EPA-estimated 21 mpg in the city and an equally dubious 24 mpg in combined driving. We also noticed that the DCT would occasionally stumble in low-speed cornering, and we caught it sleeping on the job twice when it came to giving us the right gear needed fir certain passing situations. Handling is not a strong suit either, with our tester exhibiting copious amounts of body roll and slop from the steering wheel. The braking in our tester was strong and stable with little fade from the brake pedal.
Value Quotient:
While the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy is a very luxurious SUV, it won’t break the bank either, with a base model starting at $43,935 (slightly more than the Limited model. Our tester arrived with the optional $1,700 AWD system, which combines with a few other minor optional extras to help push the price to just over $46,000. That’s a relative bargain in the segment. Still, it also does make the justification of choosing it over the Limited model a tough sell due to the small difference in price as well as the two not having much difference in terms of features being added when compared to one or the other.
The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy has a lot of things working well for it. It has plenty of luxury, performance and capability to spare. We will definitely be keeping an eye on the next-generation model to see if it will address some of the concerns we had about the trim level not branching out enough from some of its more mainstream cousins as well as the middling fuel economy figures.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.