2025 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT 2.5T AWD Review

This week I bring you the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT, the off-road inspired trim that sits in the middle of the lineup.  It's about rugged looks, not added off-road capability, though you do get 1.3 more inches of ground clearance over the rest of the lineup.  This marks the 2nd year of the highly-lauded and multi award-winning current generation Santa Fe. As such, there are no major updates for the new model year.  

Exterior

Designers got it right with the Santa Fe's new boxy design.  I am also all about my test vehicle's Ecotronic Gray Matte gray hue - which was a crowd pleaser  - and is worth the added $1000.

It will get you noticed and look just fantastic set against the XRT's exclusive 18 inch alloy wheels wrapped in all-terrain tires and its exclusive glossy dark chrome grille.

The XRT is further differentiated by gloss black, heated, side mirrors and Matte Metal Black C-pillar garnish. The XRT and Calligraphy both feature Black Anodized "H" logo and "Santa Fe" badging.

LED headlights, daytime running lights and tail lights are standard fare for the lineup.

Powertrain

The XRT is equipped with a 2.5-turbocharged 4-cylinder engine mated to a smooth-shifting 8-speed automatic with paddle shifters. The powertrain - with idle stop and go- delivers great numbers:  277 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. The XRT is also equipped with all-wheel drive.

Interior

The XRT's 7-seater cabin is modern, roomy and well-designed.  Headroom is not going to be an issue for anyone. There's a nice mix of soft-touch materials and plastic along with glossy black elements. Silver trim elements on the door panels, dash and steering wheel break up the otherwise mostly black interior devoid of contrast stitching.  I also like the switchgear Hyundai uses for the shift-by-wire gear shift on on the steering wheel stalk.

XRT-badged H-TEX-trimmed black leatherette seats are comfortable and supportive.  The driver's seat is 8-way power and the front seats are heated. C-Pillar assist handles are great for ease of entry. 

A leather-wrapped but not heated steering wheel is on the beefier side but fits the interior well.

You get your driver info through an easy to read color LCD multi-information display.  A 12.3-inch center touchscreen next to it houses the navigation and fantastic multimedia system that's compatible with both Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and it also has a WiFi hotspot. Graphics are great and voice recognition works well.  

Dual-zone climate controls on the center stack are a mix of haptic touch and buttons. It's also where you access the drive modes, electronic parking brake and brake auto hold. 

A bi-directional floating center stake provides USB-C ports as well as a flat wireless charger. (While there is space for two, dual charging is only available on the top Calligraphy trim.) It's also where you find two large cupholders and underneath storage.

The second row 60/40 split fold-flat seats recline and have adjustable headrests. Power buttons on the 2nd-row seats give you easy third row access.  There's a drop-down center console (on the shorter side) with cupholders in the second row as well as seat pockets. The 50/50 split third row can seat adults,  but leg-room will be a bit limited. Passengers get small cupholders, a rear A/C control dial and A/C vents.

The XRT comes with a standard sunroof,  two 12-volts and one 115 volt as well as four USB-C ports.

Utility

The lineup is equipped with a hands-free power tailgate with an extra-wide opening which was a great idea by Hyundai.

With the 3rd-row seats down, I could easily get two outdoor cat houses in there!  There's also an underfloor storage tray  and a 2nd-row seat folding remote release in back.

Ride and Drive 

I found the Santa Fe to be a really enjoyable and easy-going large SUV to drive. With steering on the looser side,  I preferred Sport mode for the most responsive steering feel.  Power is ample from the 277-horses and acceleration is really smooth, as is the ride quality.  The turning radius is nice, too. The cabin is ok on road noise.

As I've mentioned, the XRT features 8.3 inches of ground clearance. Something to keep in mind in case you have mobility-challenged passengers (like your mom) who may need to use a step stool to get in.

Safety 

Hyundai's driver assist technology is fantastic.  It is so intuitive and easy to enable. Along with a list of standard features like blind-spot collision-avoidance warning and rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist,  and Park Distance Warning – Forward / Reverse, the XRT also features Navigation-based Smart cruise control with stop & go,  and advanced ultrasonic rear occupant alert. 

Hyundai reserves its newest semi-autonomous driving tech, Highway Driving Assist (HDA) 2, to the top Calligraphy model. While HDA 1 is still a great system,  I wish Hyundai had bestowed the newest tech to the entire lineup.

What You'll Pay  

With only two options, the matte paint ($1000) and carpeted floor mats ($210), my test vehicle's MSRP comes to just over $43,000.

Verdict

The 2025 Hyundai Santa XRT is a fantastic-looking SUV that's really enjoyable to drive. If you want a few more goodies, like a panoramic sunroof, dual charging, rain sensing wipers, Highway Driving Assist 2, and power passenger seat, you'll want to jump two trims ahead to the top of the line Calligraphy for roughly $47,000 excluding destination. To me, that's the biggest value in the lineup. You can check out Car Pro Show host Jerry Reynolds' review of the 2024 Santa Fe Calligraphy here.

• What I Liked Most:  Its exterior design,  matte gray paint,  overall very enjoyable ride and drive experience, extra-wide tailgate opening.
• What I would change:   A dual-pane sunroof would be great, especially when in the great outdoors.
• MSRP: Base Price: $40,850; As equipped: $43,475  with transportation.
• Fuel Economy: 19 MPG city/ 26 MPG highway/22 MPG combined.
• Odometer reading when tested:   1,094 miles.
• Official Color:  Ecotronic Gray Matte ($1,000).
  
• Weight:  4,486 pounds.
• Spare tire: Temporary spare.
• Length-Width-Height: 190.2” length/74.8” width/69.7” height w/roof side rails.
• Fuel Tank Capacity:   17.7 gallons with the filler on the driver's side. 
• Towing Capacity:  4,500 pounds with trailer brakes.
• 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT in a few words:   An enjoyable SUV that will get you noticed in the car pool lane.
• Warranty: 3-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper, 5-year/60,000 mile power train warranty, 8-year/100,000 mile hybrid system warranty, 10-year.150,000 mile hybrid battery warranty and 2-years of free maintenance.
• Final Assembly Location:   Montgomery, Alabama,
• Manufacturer's website:   Hyundai
  
  

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