The 2024 Santa Fe Calligraphy stands as the pinnacle of the Santa Fe lineup, embodying luxury, performance, and advanced technology. As Hyundai continues to enhance its SUV offerings, the Calligraphy trim is designed to attract discerning buyers seeking a premium driving experience. This review delves into the various facets of the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy, including its design, interior, performance, technology, safety features, and overall value.
Exterior Design
The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy boasts a sophisticated and refined exterior design, emphasizing elegance and presence. Hyundai’s design philosophy, “Sensuous Sportiness,” is evident in the Santa Fe Calligraphy’s bold lines and modern aesthetics.
The front fascia features a prominent cascading grille with intricate mesh patterns exclusive to the Calligraphy trim, flanked by sleek LED headlights and distinctive T-shaped LED daytime running lights. This combination creates a striking and upscale front profile. The sculpted hood and sharply contoured bumper further enhance the vehicle’s dynamic appearance.
From the side, the Santa Fe Calligraphy showcases strong character lines and chrome accents that add a touch of luxury. The 20-inch alloy wheels with a unique multi-spoke design complement the vehicle’s premium status. The Calligraphy trim also features body-colored wheel arches and side mirrors, contributing to a cohesive and polished look.
At the rear, the Santa Fe Calligraphy continues to impress with LED taillights connected by a horizontal light strip, emphasizing the vehicle’s width. The integrated dual exhaust outlets with chrome tips add a sporty touch, while the subtle rear spoiler enhances aerodynamics.
Interior Comfort and Luxury
Step inside the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy, and you’re greeted by a sumptuous and meticulously crafted interior that rivals luxury brands. The cabin is adorned with high-quality materials, including quilted Nappa leather upholstery, soft-touch surfaces, and ambient lighting that creates a serene and inviting atmosphere.
The front seats are heated and ventilated, providing comfort in all weather conditions, and feature power adjustments with memory settings for the driver’s seat. The rear seats are equally comfortable, with ample legroom and headroom for passengers. The Calligraphy trim also includes heated rear seats, ensuring that all occupants enjoy a premium experience.
One of the standout features of the Santa Fe Calligraphy is its panoramic sunroof, which spans both the front and rear seats, flooding the cabin with natural light and enhancing the sense of space. The power sunshade allows for easy adjustment, ensuring comfort for all passengers.
The interior layout is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. The center console features a floating design with a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system seamlessly integrated into the dashboard. Below the touchscreen, the center stack houses physical controls for climate settings and other essential functions, maintaining a clean and intuitive interface.
Performance and Handling
Under the hood, the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy is powered by a robust 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-4 engine, delivering 277 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. This engine is paired with an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, providing smooth and responsive shifts.
The Santa Fe Calligraphy offers a refined and powerful driving experience. The turbocharged engine delivers ample power for quick acceleration and confident highway merging. Whether you’re navigating city streets or embarking on long-distance journeys, the Santa Fe Calligraphy feels composed and capable.
Hyundai’s HTRAC all-wheel-drive system is standard on the Calligraphy trim, enhancing traction and stability in various driving conditions. The system can dynamically distribute power between the front and rear wheels, ensuring optimal performance on slippery or uneven surfaces.
The suspension system is tuned to provide a balance between comfort and agility. The Santa Fe Calligraphy absorbs road imperfections with ease, delivering a smooth ride, while still maintaining enough firmness to handle corners with confidence. The steering is precise and responsive, contributing to an engaging driving experience.
Fuel Efficiency
For a midsize SUV with a powerful turbocharged engine, the 2024 Santa Fe Calligraphy offers respectable fuel efficiency. The vehicle achieves an EPA-estimated 21 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. These figures are competitive within its class, providing a good balance between performance and efficiency.
The Santa Fe Calligraphy also features a drive mode selector, allowing drivers to choose from different modes, including Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Smart. Each mode adjusts throttle response, transmission behavior, and steering feel to optimize performance and efficiency based on driving conditions and preferences.
Technology and Infotainment
The 2024 Santa Fe Calligraphy comes equipped with a host of advanced technology and infotainment features, ensuring a connected and enjoyable driving experience. The centerpiece of the dashboard is a 10.25-inch touchscreen display, which offers crisp graphics and a user-friendly interface.
The infotainment system supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, allowing seamless integration of smartphones for hands-free calls, music streaming, and navigation. Bluetooth connectivity, multiple USB ports, and a wireless charging pad ensure that devices remain charged and connected on the go.
The Santa Fe Calligraphy features a premium Harman Kardon sound system, delivering rich and immersive sound throughout the cabin. The system enhances the listening experience, whether you’re enjoying your favorite music or a podcast.
Hyundai’s Digital Key feature is another standout technology, allowing owners to use their smartphone to unlock and start the vehicle. This feature adds convenience, especially for those who frequently misplace their keys.
The Santa Fe Calligraphy also boasts an advanced navigation system with real-time traffic updates, ensuring you reach your destination efficiently. The head-up display (HUD), available in this trim, projects essential driving information onto the windshield, helping drivers keep their eyes on the road.
Safety Features
Safety is a top priority for Hyundai, and the 2024 Santa Fe Calligraphy is no exception. The vehicle is equipped with Hyundai’s SmartSense suite of advanced safety and driver-assistance features, providing peace of mind for drivers and passengers alike.
Key safety features include:
Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA): This system uses sensors and cameras to detect potential collisions with vehicles or pedestrians and can apply the brakes automatically if necessary.
Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA): BCA helps monitor the blind spots and can steer the vehicle to avoid a collision if another vehicle is detected.
Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) and Lane Following Assist (LFA): These systems help keep the vehicle centered in its lane by providing gentle steering corrections if the vehicle begins to drift.
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Stop & Go: ACC maintains a set distance from the vehicle ahead and can bring the Santa Fe Calligraphy to a complete stop if necessary, resuming when traffic moves.
Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA): When backing out of parking spaces, RCCA warns of approaching vehicles from either side and can apply the brakes to prevent a collision.
Highway Driving Assist (HDA): HDA combines ACC and LKA to help maintain a safe distance from other vehicles and keep the Santa Fe Calligraphy centered in its lane on highways.
Surround View Monitor (SVM): This feature provides a 360-degree view around the vehicle, making parking and maneuvering in tight spaces easier.
Safe Exit Assist (SEA): SEA warns passengers of approaching vehicles from behind when exiting the vehicle, helping to prevent accidents.
These features, combined with the Santa Fe Calligraphy’s robust construction and multiple airbags, have earned it high safety ratings from various testing agencies, including the IIHS and NHTSA.
Pricing and Trims
The 2024 Santa Fe Calligraphy is the top-tier trim in the Santa Fe lineup, offering a comprehensive suite of luxury and technology features. The Calligraphy trim is priced starting at around $43,000, positioning it competitively within the midsize luxury SUV segment.
The Calligraphy trim includes all the features of the lower trims, such as the SEL and Limited, but adds unique design elements, premium materials, and advanced technologies. The extensive list of standard features ensures that buyers receive excellent value for their investment.
Considering the Santa Fe Calligraphy’s blend of luxury, performance, and technology, it represents a strong value proposition in its class. Hyundai also offers a competitive warranty package, including a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty, providing added peace of mind.
Conclusion
The 2024 Santa Fe Calligraphy is a compelling choice for those seeking a midsize SUV that combines luxury, performance, and advanced technology. With its sophisticated design, sumptuous interior, powerful engine, and comprehensive safety features, the Santa Fe Calligraphy stands out in a crowded market.
Hyundai’s commitment to quality and innovation is evident in every aspect of the Santa Fe Calligraphy. Whether you prioritize comfort, performance, or technology, this vehicle delivers on all fronts. For those seeking a premium driving experience without the premium price tag of traditional luxury brands, the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy is certainly worth considering.