The Hyundai Santa Fe has long been a trusted choice among Australian families, combining practicality, comfort, and value. For 2025, Hyundai has completely reimagined the Santa Fe, delivering a bold, boxy new look, advanced features, and more efficient powertrains designed to keep pace with Australia’s growing SUV demand. This is not a simple facelift—it’s a total reinvention aimed at making the Santa Fe one of the most versatile and appealing family SUVs in the market.
In this comprehensive review, we’ll explore every angle of the new Santa Fe: from its striking design to the interior technology, powertrain choices, safety innovations, and how it stacks up against rivals like the Toyota Kluger, Kia Sorento, and Mazda CX-90. If you’re considering an upgrade in 2025, this could be one of the most important SUVs to put on your test drive list.
A Bold New Design Language
Hyundai has given the 2025 Santa Fe a radical redesign, moving away from its softer crossover look toward a more upright, squared-off SUV stance. The result is a vehicle that looks more rugged, adventurous, and premium at the same time.
Exterior Highlights
- Boxier silhouette: The straight edges and wide stance evoke a Land Rover-style toughness while keeping Hyundai’s distinctive design DNA.
- New lighting signature: The front fascia features bold H-shaped LED headlights and a wide grille that instantly identifies it as a modern Hyundai.
- Wheels and stance: Available 20-inch alloy wheels give it a strong presence, and flared arches enhance the off-road-ready aesthetic.
- Rear redesign: The tailgate adopts a wider, squared-off opening, making loading easier for families juggling prams, luggage, or camping gear.
This new approach reflects Hyundai’s understanding of what Australian buyers want—an SUV that can handle both school runs and road trips without looking like just another crossover.
Interior – Spacious, Smart, and Sophisticated
The cabin of the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe is designed for modern family life, with comfort, connectivity, and practicality at its core.
Seating and Space
- Seven seats standard: The Santa Fe continues as a three-row SUV, but with improved space thanks to a longer wheelbase and clever packaging.
- Premium comfort: Available leather-trimmed seating with heating and ventilation ensures comfort in both hot Aussie summers and chilly winters.
- Flexible layouts: The third row now accommodates adults more comfortably, while second-row seats slide and recline for versatility.
Technology at Your Fingertips
Hyundai has loaded the 2025 Santa Fe with advanced technology, making it one of the smartest family SUVs in its class.
- Dual 12.3-inch displays: A panoramic digital cockpit provides both driver information and infotainment in stunning clarity.
- Wireless connectivity: Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, alongside multiple USB-C ports for every row.
- Over-the-air updates: Hyundai joins the EV era trend by offering software updates for navigation, safety systems, and infotainment.
- Smart controls: The steering wheel integrates haptic buttons, while the centre console features redesigned intuitive controls.
Interior Quality and Design
The interior takes a leap forward in both style and finish. Sustainable materials, soft-touch surfaces, and thoughtful storage solutions make it feel like a true premium SUV without premium brand pricing.
Powertrain Options – Petrol, Hybrid, and More
One of the biggest changes in the 2025 Santa Fe lineup is its expanded range of powertrain choices, including more fuel-efficient and electrified options.
Engine Line-Up for Australia
- 2.5L turbo petrol: Delivers strong performance for highway driving and towing, with around 206kW of power.
- Hybrid powertrain: A 1.6L turbo petrol engine paired with an electric motor, providing excellent fuel efficiency without compromising on performance.
- All-wheel drive (AWD): Available across most trims, offering added confidence for weekend getaways and wet conditions.
While Hyundai hasn’t yet confirmed a full plug-in hybrid for the Australian market, it’s on the radar as part of Hyundai’s electrification strategy.
Fuel Efficiency
The hybrid variant is expected to be the most appealing for Aussie families conscious of running costs, with fuel consumption figures as low as 6.0L/100km. The petrol turbo, meanwhile, offers brisk acceleration but with slightly higher fuel use.
Safety – Hyundai’s High Standards
Hyundai continues to prioritise safety, and the Santa Fe 2025 is equipped with an extensive suite of active and passive safety technologies.
Standard Safety Features
- Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with pedestrian, cyclist, and intersection detection
- Blind-Spot Collision Warning and Blind-Spot View Monitor
- Lane Keeping Assist and Lane Following Assist
- Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go
- Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Avoidance
- Surround View Monitor with 3D visualisation
These features are standard across the range, meaning even entry-level models benefit from Hyundai’s safety-first philosophy.
Driving Experience – Comfort Meets Confidence
The 2025 Santa Fe aims to strike the balance between comfort for families and capability for adventurous drivers.
On-Road Comfort
The suspension has been tuned for Australian conditions, ensuring a smooth ride over uneven urban roads and highways. Noise insulation improvements make the cabin quieter than before, even at higher speeds.
Off-Road Readiness
While not a hardcore off-roader, the Santa Fe’s AWD system, increased ground clearance, and terrain drive modes (Snow, Sand, Mud) allow for light off-road exploration—perfect for camping trips or coastal getaways.
Comparing the Santa Fe 2025 with Rivals
The family SUV market in Australia is crowded, but the Santa Fe stands out in several key areas.
- Versus Toyota Kluger: The Santa Fe offers a bolder design and more advanced technology, while the Kluger remains strong in brand reputation.
- Versus Kia Sorento: The Santa Fe shares some DNA with the Sorento but takes a more adventurous design route.
- Versus Mazda CX-90: Mazda’s large SUV edges ahead in luxury, but Hyundai wins on pricing and tech accessibility.
- Versus Mitsubishi Outlander: The Santa Fe is larger and more premium, though the Outlander appeals with its value proposition.
Features Australians Will Love
- Wide tailgate and flat loading floor – perfect for camping gear or surfboards.
- Panoramic sunroof – bringing light and airiness to long family drives.
- Third-row air vents and controls – keeping kids happy on hot days.
- Digital key technology – unlock and start the SUV with your smartphone.
- High towing capacity – petrol turbo models are expected to tow up to 2,500kg.
Ownership, Warranty, and Running Costs
Hyundai continues to back its vehicles with a 5-year/unlimited kilometre warranty in Australia, one of the best in the market. Hybrid battery coverage extends further, offering peace of mind for buyers.
Servicing intervals remain at 12 months/15,000km, with Hyundai’s prepaid service packages helping families manage costs over time. Insurance premiums are competitive, given Hyundai’s strong reliability record and comprehensive safety equipment.
Why the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Matters
The SUV market in Australia has exploded in popularity, and the Hyundai Santa Fe 2025 perfectly represents where the segment is heading: bold design, family practicality, smart technology, and electrified options for better efficiency.
For families who want an SUV that doesn’t just blend in but makes a statement—while still being practical enough for daily life—the Santa Fe 2025 could be the perfect choice.
Conclusion – Is the Hyundai Santa Fe 2025 the Right Family SUV for You?
The all-new Hyundai Santa Fe 2025 is more than a facelift—it’s a fresh start for one of Australia’s most trusted SUVs. With its rugged new design, improved interior, hybrid options, advanced tech, and Hyundai’s strong warranty, it’s set to become a family favourite.
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