The Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Makes the Case for Easing Into Electrification

Hyundai launched the latest iteration of the Santa Fe here in the Philippines in 2024. The fifth generation of its midsize SUV is the Korean marque’s most unique yet, not just because of its more boxy, angular look, but more so because it came with a hybrid gas engine-electrified variant (alongside a straight-up gas-only version).

It was the hybrid version that I got to try for a full week recently. The three-row SUV might be too big for my own daily driving needs, but I used it the way most owners would: drives to Metro Manila from my place in the south, then a quick weekend road trip with some friends.

Hyundai says the Santa Fe Hybrid carries 235 horsepower and 367 Nm of torque, with about 180 hp and 265 Nm coming from the traditional combustion engine and the rest contributed by the electric motor.

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In traffic, the unit showed its value quickly, with the system switching between engine and electric motor without fuss. In slow, stop-and-go conditions, it leans heavily on electric power; you feel it in how quietly it moves off the line and how little fuel it burns while crawling. Mileage in this situation was around six to eight kilometers per liter, which may not sound impressive, but reasonable considering it’s a large seven-seater SUV.

The driving experience itself is straightforward. Steering is light, visibility is good, and the ride is stable even on uneven city roads.

For the drive south, I invited a couple of friends to join me for a quick weekend breather. Their immediate reaction upon jumping inside was about the space and how there were lots of it. While one friend fiddled around with the infotainment system from her seat in front, the other promptly melted into the captain’s seat in the second row and was napping by the time we reached SLEX.

At highway speeds, the hybrid system steps back and lets the gasoline engine do most of the work. But it still assists when needed—overtaking, climbing, or smoothing out acceleration. The transition is barely noticeable. Fuel efficiency also improves significantly here; the unit registered 12 to 16 km/L on steady runs along the expressway.

The drive to our destination was a good mix of expressway and provincial roads, with the Santa Fe handling both without issue. I appreciated the driver assistance features, like adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping, that helped reduce fatigue on longer stretches. I did have a harder time negotiating narrower roads on the way to our destination, but proximity sensor alerts came in handy to make sure we didn’t get into unexpected bumps.

By the time we reached the resort less than two hours of continuous driving later, I was admittedly (and noticeably) less fatigued.

One thing that stands out after a week behind the wheel is how usable it is as a family car. I had the third row folded the whole time, but in the theoretical case that I had additional passengers—maybe a couple of small children, a cousin, some in-laws—there’d be space for them in the Santa Fe. The interior storage is generous, and the touchscreen infotainment system is easy to use. Comfort is clearly the name of the game.

With ongoing uncertainty in the Middle East affecting global oil supply and prices, fuel costs remain unpredictable. That makes hybrids more relevant than they were even a few years ago. Compared to a typical gasoline SUV that might average 5 to 7 km/L in city driving, the Santa Fe Hybrid can cut fuel consumption by around 20 to 30 percent in mixed use. That translates to real-world benefits.

While not everyone is ready to take the plunge to switch to a full electric vehicle yet, hybrids like the Santa Fe offer something practical and realistic for buyers looking for reliable and fuel-efficient mobility options. That it’s stacked with great features for a wide variety of market segments just makes it all the more enticing.

The SRP for the Hyundai Santa Fe 1.6 HEV Calligrahy is P3.330 million.