2019 Hyundai Santa Fe 2.4 Executive Review

In today's highly competitive family SUV market, many consumers are looking for D-Segment models that offer both practical space and a certain level of configuration and driving experience. The 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe 2.4 Executive, as one of the popular choices in this segment, emphasizes its 7-seat layout, rich configuration, and balanced performance. In this test drive, we will see if it meets the core needs of most family users.

In terms of appearance, the Santa Fe 2.4 Executive maintains Hyundai's family-style design language, with a stable overall line. The grille at the front is of moderate size, paired with halogen headlights on both sides, creating a visually balanced look; daytime running lights are standard, providing decent recognition when turned on. The side profile features a waistline extending from the front fenders to the rear end, with 18-inch tires giving it a more stretched proportion. The rear design is simple, with horizontally arranged taillights, and the lower part of the rear bumper comes equipped with reverse radar and a rearview camera, ensuring practicality during daily parking. The overall exterior design avoids excessive flamboyance, leaning more towards the timeless style favored by family users.

Stepping inside, the overall interior layout focuses on practicality. The dashboard features a symmetrical design, with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system at the top and some physical buttons retained below, making it intuitive to operate. The 3.5-inch TFT LCD instrument panel displays basic driving information, sufficient for everyday use. In terms of materials, the upper part of the dashboard is wrapped in soft-touch materials, offering a decent feel, complemented by silver trim to enhance the sense of quality. In terms of features, the front row is equipped with 12-way power-adjustable seats, allowing the driver to easily find a suitable seating position, while the passenger seat is manually adjustable, which is sufficient for daily use. The second-row seats support a 60:40 split, sliding, and reclining function, while the third-row seats can be split and folded 50:50, flexibly adjusting between passenger and storage needs. In addition, dual-zone automatic air conditioning, rear air conditioning, keyless entry/start, and a 220V power outlet are standard features that cater to most families' daily usage scenarios.

Space performance is one of the core advantages of the Santa Fe 2.4 Executive. Its dimensions are 4770mm×1890mm×1680mm with a wheelbase of 2765mm, making these measurements standard in the D-Segment. The front seating area is spacious—when a passenger of 180cm sits inside, there is enough headroom and legroom. The second-row seats are adjustable, offering around two fists of legroom when adjusted, and even with three adults seated, it won't feel too cramped. The third-row space is relatively compact, best suited for children or adults on short trips. The trunk has a standard capacity of 547 liters, and folding down the third-row seats significantly expands storage space, easily accommodating large luggage. Additionally, there are ample storage compartments throughout the cabin, such as in the front and rear door panels and the center console, maximizing practicality.

In terms of power, this car is equipped with a 2.4L naturally aspirated engine, delivering a maximum horsepower of 172PS, a maximum power speed of 6000rpm, and a maximum torque speed of 4000rpm, paired with an AT gearbox. During everyday driving, the power response in the initial acceleration phase is relatively smooth, and the acceleration process is linear without significant jerking sensations. Once the vehicle gains speed, mid-range acceleration performance is acceptable, but overtaking requires pressing the accelerator in advance. The steering wheel is equipped with paddle shifters, which add some driving pleasure in manual mode, though the overall feel remains primarily comfort-oriented. The chassis adopts a front MacPherson independent suspension and rear multi-link independent suspension, with a tuning bias towards comfort. When encountering minor bumps on the road, the suspension does a good job of filtering them out, ensuring passengers inside the car do not feel noticeable jolts. Passing through speed bumps, the body’s bouncing remains within an acceptable range. However, when cornering at high speeds, the body roll becomes somewhat noticeable, making it more suitable for stable driving.

The comfort performance during the drive is worth mentioning. The noise control in the cabin is well done. At low to medium speeds, engine noise and tire noise are not prominent; at high speeds, wind noise increases slightly but does not affect normal conversations. The front seats provide good wrapping and support, so long drives are not overly tiring. The comfort of the second-row seats is also decent, and the rear air conditioning caters to the needs of rear passengers. As a fuel-powered model, we tested its fuel consumption under mixed road conditions, arriving at approximately 9.5L/100km. Considering its 2.4L displacement and 7-seater body, this level of fuel consumption is slightly above average among competitors in the same class.

Overall, the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe 2.4 Executive's core strengths lie in its flexibility with 7-seat space, abundant practical features, and balanced driving experience. Compared with competitors in the same class, its configuration level (such as 12-way electric seats, dual-zone air conditioning, 220V power outlet, etc.) stands out in the same price range, offering decent value for money. This car is more suitable for family users who prioritize practical space, require a 7-seat layout, and care about certain configurations. Whether for daily commuting, short weekend trips with the family, or occasionally carrying large items, it can handle these scenarios well. If you are looking for a D-Segment SUV with no significant shortcomings that can cover most family usage scenarios, the Santa Fe 2.4 Executive is worth considering.