Hyundai may not have a plug-in hybrid for the new Santa Fe in the U.S. and Canada, but across the pond, customers have access to this option since last year. At Auto Zurich 2025, we got a chance to explore the plug-in hybrid variant of the fifth-gen Santa Fe, and here’s what we found.
Design
Visually, the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-in Hybrid doesn’t differ much from its hybrid counterpart. Where the latter has a “hybrid” badge on the liftgate, the former reads “plug-in hybrid.” Apart from that, it has a cover in the right-side rear quarter panel to secure its charging port.
As for the Santa Fe’s design, it has an upright face consisting of boxy, rectangular grilles and headlamps, a high-set, flattish hood, and H-shaped headlamps. The door panels are flat and resemble various Land Rover models. The glass panels are squarer (and reminiscent of Land Rover Defender and Discovery 4), the roofline is straighter, and the roof rails are regular ones, not flush-fitted units.
At the rear, the tailgate is larger and simpler. The glass has a wraparound look, thanks to blacked-out D-pillars. The lower part of the tailgate integrates unified, H-shaped taillights and gives the redesigned midsize SUV a distinctive road presence. If you’re a fan of this format, the company is overhauling the front and rear look with the facelift that’s expected next year.
Interior
The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe has a mix of more traditional shapes and more modern components, which creates a nice contrast. It features a flat, upright dashboard, which forms an H shape if you follow its shiny applications with built-in ambient lights. Even the shape of the AC vents resembles that look.
The cockpit has plenty of similarities to the Grandeur, including the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 12.3-inch central display, both of which have been clubbed together and feature crisp graphics, and the weirdly shaped steering wheel, which has a column-type gear selector attached to it.
The center console has a hollowed-out area for storage below it, with space enough to keep small grocery bags or a handbag. It houses two wireless charging pads and a sleek climate control system with a touch panel and temperature adjustment dials.
Second-row passengers have plenty of legroom and great exterior visibility through large windows, which appear bigger than those of the outgoing model. The rear doors have space for two cupholders, a cushioned armrest, and metallic-finish door handles.
Leather-wrapped heated steering wheel, multi-color ambient LED lighting, Bose premium sound system, UV-C compartment, electrically adjustable front seats with memory function, heated and ventilated front seats, and manual rear door blinds are some of its features, depending on the market.
Specifications
In the UK specification, the Santa Fe Plug-in Hybrid features a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 160 PS (117.6 kW) and 265 Nm (195 lb-ft) of torque. Combined with the hybrid system, it delivers 253 PS (186.1 kW) and 367 Nm (271 lb-ft). Power is sent to all wheels through an AWD setup. The SUV accelerates from 0-62 mph in 9.3 seconds and reaches a top speed of 112 mph.
It measures 4,830 mm (190.2 in) long, 1,900 mm (74.8 in) wide, and 1,780 mm (70.1 in) high, with a 2,815 mm (110.8 in) wheelbase. Luggage capacity is 621 liters (21.9 cu ft) with all seats up and 1,942 liters (68.6 cu ft) when folded. The 13.8 kWh battery provides an electric-only range of 33.6 miles (WLTP).
Price & Release Date
We’d be surprised if Hyundai introduces the new Santa Fe Plug-in Hybrid in the U.S. Likewise, Hyundai has not confirmed plans to launch a Canadian-spec Santa Fe Plug-in Hybrid.
The brand is developing Extended Range Electric Vehicle (EREV) technology, and while it hasn’t announced the recipient, it has offered enough hints that it will be introduced in the Santa Fe next year, for the U.S. market, with local manufacturing.
Also See: Hyundai Santa Fe XRT Hybrid now exists, but not in the U.S.
An EREV is similar to a PHEV, but the difference is that you can drive it only in EV mode. The engine is not directly connected to the wheels and serves as a generator to charge the battery pack. The engine operates at an efficient RPM and is thus less on fuel consumption compared to a regular vehicle.
International Automotive News Editor since 2014, covering global motor shows, industry events, and test-driving various vehicles, with a focus on hybrid and electric cars in recent years.
