BAD experience !!!!
I really wanted to love this car — the design looked bold, modern, and practical. But after driving it for a few weeks, I can honestly say I’m deeply disappointed.
First of all, the transmission feels confused almost all the time. When you slow down or try to accelerate smoothly, the gears hesitate or jerk. It’s frustrating, especially in traffic. It makes the driving experience feel rough and unpredictable for a brand-new SUV.
The steering feels lifeless, like it’s disconnected from the road. It’s so over-assisted that you never really feel in control. For a car that looks like it’s built for adventure, it feels surprisingly dull behind the wheel.
Then there’s the fuel economy — way worse than advertised. On paper it says around 24 mpg, but in reality, I’m getting 19–20 at best. It’s disappointing, especially when that was one of the main reasons I chose the gas version over the hybrid.
The third row is basically unusable for adults. My kids can fit back there for short trips, but anyone taller than 5’5” is going to be miserable. It feels more like a cargo area with seatbelts than real seating.
What really worries me, though, is the recall for potential fire risk. Finding out that the car I just bought could literally catch fire because of a manufacturing defect is beyond unacceptable. That’s not something you expect from a 2025 model, especially at this price point.
Overall, the 2025 Santa Fe feels like a beautiful design with a lot of flaws hidden underneath. It looks great from the outside, but once you start driving it, the magic disappears.
If I could go back, I’d wait a year or two until Hyundai fixes these issues — or simply choose another brand.