Attractive, comfortable and well-designed but sometimes lacks power
The 2020 Santa Fe that replaced my smaller 2008 Subaru Outback is very attractive and well designed for passenger comfort and utility. Still pretty new in the first few hundred miles, it feels sure footed and has great ride quality (smoother ride than the ‘08 Outback but not as nimble handling). Seats are comfortable and roomy; the driver side has adjustable lumbar support, which helps my normally sore back considerably. The instrument and other infotainment displays are thoughtfully designed, although there are so many controls located in various places on the steering wheel, dash panel and console that it has taken some time to get fully used to their locations and functions. I like both the Bluetooth and connected capabilities and use Apple Car Play with my own navigation apps while also listening to Sirius and broadcast channels - entertainment audio volume and display are coordinated thoughtfully when apps need to override them. For a mid-size SUV it handles well and gets reasonably good gas mileage (20 mpg or so in suburban driving and 26+ on the open road), even with the AWD option in mine. On the down side, the standard, non-turbo engine seems to hesitate a bit under moderate load and feels underpowered, especially during the first 15-20 minutes after startup. Also, the cordless charger wasn’t factory-assembled properly; I found it dangling inside the console under the tray - it was fixed a few days after delivery by the dealer. Overall, I’m enjoying driving it.
Recommended
Verified Owner
