Mat’s Car of the Day: the Hyundai Santa Fe is our former Car of the Year, and I’ve found a crazy deal
Car changing is a big deal
Mat Watson reckons the Hyundai Santa Fe is one of the best seven seaters you can buy, offering Land Rover levels of luxury for a fraction of the price, and he’s found some great leasing deals on it.
When I tested the Hyundai Santa Fe back in 2024, I was so impressed with it that I awarded it Carwow’s Car of the Year. If you’re after a big, spacious and posh-feeling SUV, this is one of the best out there.
It is quite expensive though, unless you lease one through Carwow. I’ve found a lease deal on the Hyundai Santa Fe which makes it even more tempting.
But first, here’s what makes the Santa Fe so good.
Remember, you can buy a brand new or used car right here on Carwow. And you can sell your car, too. We’re here to help you through every step of your car-changing journey.
Three good things about the Hyundai Santa Fe
1. The interior is cavernous
The Hyundai Santa Fe is a very big car, and this translates into a really practical cabin. There aren’t many SUVs which can accommodate seven people in as much comfort as this, with plenty of legroom even in the third row.
There’s even space for everyone’s luggage, because with all seven seats in place the boot is way bigger than you get in the Nissan X-Trail.
2. It feels properly premium
If you’re after a luxurious seven-seater, the default choice would be a Volvo XC90 or a Land Rover Discovery. However, the Santa Fe can genuinely give those cars a run for their money.
All the materials feel high-end, there’s loads of tech on board and the build quality is exceptional. It’s also around £20,000 cheaper than the Volvo or the Land Rover, and with no Hyundai badge on the steering wheel your passengers will be none the wiser.
3. It looks wicked
The Santa Fe’s design is a bit marmite, but I think it looks excellent. The super boxy front end and blocky headlights give it real presence on the road, and it looks even better in the bright orange paintwork.
Hyundai Santa Fe deals: why leasing makes the most sense
The Hyundai Santa Fe starts from just under £50,000, but you can save an average of around £6,500 on one through Carwow depending on the model you choose. With discounts, you can get this car for as little as £43,200 at the time of writing.
Assuming you keep the car for three years and cover 30,000 miles, you’ll lose around £25,000 in depreciation when you buy a Santa Fe. This is where leasing comes in, because you don’t have to worry about the car losing value.
Right now, you can lease a Hyundai Santa Fe over three years and 30,000 miles for just £413 per month. This is with an upfront payment of £5,300, bringing your total to just under £20,000.
So you’re saving around £5,000 by leasing your car rather than buying it, and this deal isn’t on the basic model – it’s for the top-spec Calligraphy.
This gets you heated and ventilated Nappa leather seats, a head-up display, 20-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic glass roof and adaptive cruise control.
Three annoying things about the Hyundai Santa Fe
As good as it is, the Hyundai Santa Fe isn’t perfect. Here are three annoying things to consider before buying.
1. It’s not very exciting to drive
The Santa Fe is a really comfy cruiser, with soft suspension soaking up the bumps and minimal wind noise at speed. It’s not what you’d call fun though. If you want a big SUV which is agile through the bends, you might want to check out a used BMW X5 instead.
2. Alternatives have a bigger boot
It may be cavernous for passengers, and the boot is impressive with all seven seats in place, but with the third row folded away the Santa Fe lags behind the Skoda Kodiaq in terms of carrying capacity. The Skoda has 845 litres of space, whereas the Santa Fe has 628 litres.
3. There are no diesel or fully-electric versions
The Santa Fe is only available with hybrid or plug-in hybrid power. If you need a beefy diesel for towing, you’ll need to check out the Kia Sorento. Hyundai does also now offer an all-electric large seven-seater in the form of the Ioniq 9.
But I’m nitpicking here, because the Santa Fe is one of the best SUVs around. Make sure to check out the latest leasing deals to get yourself a bargain.
Car change? Carwow!
Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.
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