2022 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT Defines Form Over Function

Matt Posky
by Matt Posky

We seem to be living in an era where appearance frequently trumps substance. Enter the Hyundai Santa Fe XRT, South Korea’s attempt to convince shoppers that modifying a vehicle to look the part is just as good as making it genuinely capable.

The XRT is the newest trim for the Santa Fe crossover and introduces some aesthetic ruggedization as a way to entice customers that fantasize about weekend blasts at the dunes but have no intention of ever going. It’s an appearance package for an otherwise capable daily driver that can already be customized to suit your needs and price range. But perhaps you’re still curious and want to know everything XRT has to offer — just in case it happens to slot into your lifestyle.

Though I would doubt it.

While the Santa Fe is a solid performer for the segment, particularly when equipped with the turbocharged 2.5-liter (281 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque), and just as capable in the dirt as most other crossover vehicles, the XRT doesn’t build upon any of that. Hyundai openly admits that it’s basically just the Santa Fe SEL with the base engine (191 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque), Convenience Package (MSRP $30,700 before taxes or fees), and some exterior embellishments that brings the asking price up to $32,300.

But you’re still left with a front-wheel-drive SUV that hasn’t been issued additional ground clearance or even gnarly tires. While all-wheel drive is available, you have to throw down another $1,700.

So what ARE you getting with the XRT? Well, the Convenience Pack comes with a hands-free tailgate and desirable tech upgrades (e.g. dual climate control, 12.3-inch LCD instrumentation, LED taillights, turn signal indicators on the mirrors, puddle lamps, sound-deadening glass) you might be included to consider. But those can just as easily be equipped to the standard SEL, pushing its overall price over the $30,000 threshold.

All you’re really getting is a unique set of lower bumper fascia moldings, front and rear skid plates, side steps, side moldings, a roof rack, 18-inch alloy wheels, and some mirror covers — most of which have been painted black to give a sense of menace. It’s a lot of plastic for $1,600 and perhaps worth it to someone that just wants to add a sense of potency to the vehicle. But your author could help but think the money could be better used elsewhere or rolled into a few payments on the Santa Fe Limited ($38,960) since it comes with everything you’d be getting with the SEL plus Convenience Package and offers the turbocharged motor.

You could similarly use the savings accrued by not buying the XRT trim to purchase the 2021 Santa Fe Hybrid. Its 1.6-liter turbocharged GDI and hybrid system comes with HTRAC all-wheel drive by default and delivers a combined 226 horsepower. The Hybrid also delivers superior fuel economy returning an EPA-certified 36 miles per gallon in the city 31 mpg on the highway. Starting at $33,650 (before taxes or fees) makes it worthy of more serious consideration.

But that’s pretty much true of any Santa Fe that isn’t the XRT. It’s a rather silly trim for an otherwise decent automobile and we’re not seeing much reason to recommended them. If you want to butch up your Hyundai without modifying its handling characteristics, attach some mud flaps. Otherwise, there are plenty of SUVs out there better suited to tackle off-road adventures than the XRT, and look the part.

[Images: Hyundai]

Matt Posky
Matt Posky

A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.

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  • Add Lightness Add Lightness on Aug 05, 2021

    As if more than 1% of SUVs do what is done on commercials. The other 99% are posers/wanabees.

  • Daniel J Daniel J on Aug 06, 2021

    In typical Hyundai fashion, the only model I'd be interested in is the Limited AWD, and I'd have to travel 500 miles to find one.

  • AZFelix Hilux technical, preferably with a swivel mount.
  • ToolGuy This is the kind of thing you get when you give people faster internet.
  • ToolGuy North America is already the greatest country on the planet, and I have learned to be careful about what I wish for in terms of making changes. I mean, if Greenland wants to buy JDM vehicles, isn't that for the Danes to decide?
  • ToolGuy Once again my home did not catch on fire and my fire extinguisher(s) stayed in the closet, unused. I guess I threw my money away on fire extinguishers.(And by fire extinguishers I mean nuclear missiles.)
  • Carson D The UAW has succeeded in organizing a US VW plant before. There's a reason they don't teach history in the schools any longer. People wouldn't make the same mistakes.
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