The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe is a bold, boxy three-row SUV that blends family-friendly space with modern tech and strong safety credentials. It also brings a few early-owner “growing pains,” plus two safety recalls in late 2025, so shoppers and owners should know both the highs and the headaches.

Why the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe is Turning Heads

The latest Santa Fe keeps its dramatic, rectangular design and wide tailgate opening, which makes loading gear simple for families. It seats up to seven and offers dual 12.3-inch screens with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus a unique UV-C glovebox compartment for sanitizing small items. This mix of style and function is why many buyers now search for the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe first when they want a midsize family SUV.

What’s New and What’s Carried Over

Hyundai carried over the redesign that launched for 2024 and added an Atlantis Blue color for 2025, while keeping the same powertrains and core features. You can choose a turbo 2.5-liter gas engine with front- or all-wheel drive, or go hybrid for much higher mpg and similar family utility. For quick help weighing trims or remedies for vehicle problems, Lemon My Vehicle offers plain-English guides and next steps if your SUV develops issues.

Trims, Pricing, and Core Specs

Car and Driver lists a starting MSRP of about $35,795 for the 2025 Santa Fe lineup, with the SEL often recommended for its strong feature set at a reasonable step-up from the base SE. Gas models use a 2.5-liter turbo four with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic, and the XRT trim comes standard with AWD and extra towing capacity. Hybrid trims pair a 1.6-liter turbo engine with electric assistance and can deliver mid-30s combined mpg, especially in front-wheel drive form.

Real-World Usability Notes

The Santa Fe’s interior favors rectangles and storage solutions, with big door cubbies, a pass-through shelf, and available dual wireless phone charging. Second- and third-row seats fold flat, but the third row is best for kids or shorter trips for adults. The suspension prioritizes comfort over sport, making highway cruising quiet and relaxed.

Fuel Economy: Gas vs. Hybrid

EPA-listed numbers vary by configuration, but the pattern is clear: gas models return low-to-mid 20s combined, while the hybrid can hit the mid-30s. Hyundai’s official page cites 20/29/24 mpg (city/highway/combined) for FWD gas models and 20/28/23 mpg for AWD gas models. The XRT AWD gas model is rated by EPA at 19/26/22 mpg, reflecting its off-road focus and additional equipment.

Hybrid Efficiency Advantage

Hyundai lists hybrid mpg at up to 36/35/36 with FWD and 35/34/34 with AWD, which is a standout for a three-row vehicle. If most driving is city or suburban at moderate speeds, the hybrid’s stop-and-go gains can be significant over the gas versions. That gap also helps offset the hybrid’s higher initial price for many households over the first few years of ownership.

Performance, Towing, and Ride

Every non-hybrid Santa Fe uses the turbo 2.5 that makes strong power for quick passes, though the dual-clutch can feel hesitant in low-speed crawls. Towing is 3,500 pounds on most trims with trailer brakes, while XRT bumps to 4,500 pounds for campers or small boats. Expect a calm ride with some body roll in corners, especially on larger wheels, which most families accept for daily comfort.

Safety Ratings and Upgrades

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rates the 2025 Santa Fe highly, including “Good” in the updated moderate overlap front test for vehicles built after November 2024, following rear-seat belt changes. Headlights get an “Acceptable” rating, and front crash prevention against vehicles and pedestrians earns “Good.” Hyundai also advertises an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award for 2025 models built after November 2024.

NHTSA and IIHS at a Glance

Dealers have reported a 4-star overall rating from NHTSA for the 2025 Santa Fe, with strong side-impact scores, though owners should verify VIN-specific results. IIHS confirms a comprehensive set of high marks, including “Good” for both small-overlap front tests and “Good” for the updated moderate-overlap front test on vehicles built after November 2024. Standard driver-assist tech includes forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping, and adaptive cruise, which help with long commutes and busy traffic.

Quick Comparison Table

Item	Gas Santa Fe	Hybrid Santa Fe	Safety Snapshot
EPA combined mpg	23–24 FWD; 23 AWD; 22 AWD XRT, depending on trim	36 FWD; 34 AWD	IIHS: “Good” in updated moderate overlap (built after Nov 2024)
Towing (with trailer brakes)	3,500 lbs; XRT up to 4,500 lbs	Typically, lower emphasis on towing, focus on efficiency	Dealer-reported NHTSA overall 4 stars
Seating	Up to 7 seats	Up to 7 seats	Many standard driver aids

Recalls: What Owners Need to Know

Hyundai filed a safety recall in October 2025 for certain 2024–2025 Santa Fe models due to a starter motor terminal cover that may not be fully seated, which could short in a crash and raise fire risk. NHTSA lists the campaign as 25V659, covering 135,386 vehicles built between December 28, 2023, and July 7, 2025, with an estimated 1% defect rate and no field incidents reported in the U.S. at the time of filing. Dealers will inspect and reinstall the cover at no charge, and VINs became searchable on NHTSA’s site on October 4, 2025.

Broader Early-Owner Picture

The Center for Auto Safety shows two recalls affecting 2025 Santa Fe vehicles and summarizes dozens of NHTSA complaints spanning components like powertrain, forward collision avoidance, visibility, and airbags. While complaint counts don’t equal confirmed defects, they do spotlight patterns that owners can monitor and discuss with dealers during service. Always document symptoms, dates, and dealer responses in case you need to escalate with Hyundai or seek outside guidance.

Strengths That Make Family Life Easier

The wide, terrace-like tailgate opening makes the Santa Fe feel like a mobile porch for tailgates, camping, or just unloading strollers and groceries. The cabin storage touches are practical, from the shelf that fits a small bag to the dual wireless chargers that power two phones at once. Add the available captain’s chairs and Nappa leather, and you get a premium feel at a price below most luxury rivals.

Where the “Growing Pains” Show Up

Car and Driver notes low-speed shift confusion from the dual-clutch automatic, which some drivers feel during parking-lot crawls or creeping traffic. The third row is tight for larger adults and best as a kids’ zone or short-trip backup for neighbors and relatives. Hybrid or smaller wheels can help reduce ride harshness if local roads are rough, while still keeping noise levels low.

Simple Case Study: First 90 Days with a Santa Fe

A family that chooses a gas SEL may love the quiet highway manners and storage, then notice the transmission feels hesitant in slow rolls and tight maneuvers. They keep notes, ask the dealer to confirm software is current, and try driving in a smoother throttle style around parking lots to minimize laggy shifts. If a recall notice arrives for the starter terminal cover, they schedule a free inspection right away and keep the work order with their records.

How to Check Your Safety Status

Run your VIN through NHTSA’s lookup and Hyundai’s recall tool so you know if action is needed, especially for vehicles built within the recall dates. If your 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe was built after November 2024, you may benefit from the rear-seat belt improvements that helped the SUV earn “Good” in IIHS’s updated moderate overlap test. If a dealer can’t schedule promptly for any recall, ask about temporary guidance or loaner options and document all communications.

Table: Fast Facts Buyers Ask First

Feature	What to Expect	Why it Matters
Starting price	Around $35,795 for SE, with SEL as a popular value pick	Keeps payments manageable while adding desirable comfort tech
Powertrains	2.5T gas with 8-speed DCT; hybrid with 1.6T for high mpg	Gas for towing and passing power, hybrid for fuel savings
Fuel economy	Gas 22–24 combined, depending on trim and drive, XRT at 22; hybrid up to 36 combined	Hybrid slashes fuel costs for commuting families
Towing	3,500 lbs for most trims; 4,500 lbs for XRT	Enough for small trailers, pop-up campers, and toys
Seating	Up to 7 with available captain’s chairs	Flexible family layouts with easier third-row access
Safety	IIHS “Good” in updated moderate overlap for builds after Nov 2024; dealer-reported NHTSA 4-star overall	Strong crash protection and driver-assist suite
Recalls	25V659 starter terminal cover inspection and reinstallation, free of charge	VINs searchable from Oct 4, 2025; no U.S. injuries reported

Owner Tips: Making the Most of Your Santa Fe

If you feel the transmission lurch or hesitate at very low speeds, give a bit more space and maintain smoother throttle to help the dual-clutch do its job. On broken pavement, consider tires with more sidewall instead of the largest wheels for a softer ride and better pothole impact absorption. Keep all service paperwork and recall records together in case problems resurface or you sell the vehicle later.

When to Consider the Hybrid

If your daily drive is heavy on city miles, the hybrid’s mid-30s combined mpg can deliver quick payback, especially as fuel prices move. Hybrid trims still seat seven and pack the same smart storage, so you are not trading utility for efficiency. Many families find the smoother hybrid power delivery a better match for stop-and-go traffic.

Known Issues and Complaint Patterns

The Center for Auto Safety’s summary shows 59 NHTSA complaints reported by late October 2025 on the 2025 Santa Fe, touching categories like powertrain, forward collision avoidance, airbags, and visibility. Complaints are not proof of defects, but they map owner experiences and help you describe symptoms clearly at the dealership. If you experience warning lights, driver-assist false alarms, or unexpected shifts, note the conditions and save video when safe to do so.

A Word on Safety Awards and Build Dates

IIHS ties several results to build dates and modifications, such as rear-seat belt enhancements that apply to 2025 models built after November 2024. This helps explain why the Santa Fe improves in the updated moderate overlap test for those later builds. Checking your certification label and confirming build timing with your dealer can clarify which ratings apply to your SUV.

Warranty, Maintenance, and Owner Support

Hyundai backs the Santa Fe with a 5-year/60,000-mile limited warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, plus complimentary maintenance for three years or 36,000 miles. Over-the-air updates help keep software current, and the driver-assist list includes features like Highway Driving Assist, Blind-Spot View Monitor, and Remote Smart Parking Assist, depending on trim. If you run into unusual faults, document them and ask for a diagnostic road test with a technician to reproduce the issue.

If You Hit a Roadblock with Repairs

If scheduling stalls or fixes don’t stick, open a case with Hyundai, ask for a regional tech review, and keep all communications in writing. For safety recalls, all inspections and remedies are free, and reimbursement may apply if you already paid to fix the specific recall condition. If you need straight talk on options, Lemon My Vehicle can help you weigh next steps in clear language.

Conclusion

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe delivers bold design, useful space, strong crash protection, and excellent hybrid mpg, making it a smart, modern family hauler. Early-owner pain points exist—most notably a low-speed DCT feel and a pair of safety recalls by late 2025—but clear documentation, timely VIN checks, and free recall remedies minimize risk and hassle. If you’re shopping or already own one, start with the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe SEL or a hybrid trim, keep records, and use trusted resources like Lemon My Vehicle to stay ahead of issues and get the most from your SUV.