We’ve driven a lot of electric vehicles over the years — so many, in fact, that we’d almost forgotten what it feels like to drive something with a petrol engine. Enter the Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-in Hybrid: a seven-seater beast that blends battery-powered smoothness with good ol’ fashioned combustion grunt.
We took it to Goodwood to reconnect with the noise, the smell, and the strange thrill of hearing an engine kick in and to see if this really could be the ultimate family utility vehicle.
What is it, and how does it work?
The Hyundai Santa Fe PHEV is a plug-in hybrid, which means it has both a battery-powered electric motor and a petrol engine. You get about 34 miles of electric range, which is enough to cover the average UK daily drive (about 25 miles), and then the petrol engine kicks in when the battery runs out – giving you a total potential range of 669 miles.
So for school runs, commutes, and nipping to the shops, you could do it all on electric. But if you fancy a road trip to Cornwall or a ski trip to the Alps, there’s no range anxiety with the Santa Fe.
Top tip: use a charging app like Zapmap to plan your routes and find the best places to top up along the way — whether that’s a quick charge at the supermarket or a scenic stop on a longer journey. It’s how we made sure we started each day at Goodwood with a full battery (and a coffee).
Because let’s face it: owning a plug-in is only as convenient as your charging routine. Zapmap makes it effortless.
First Impressions: Design & Interior
From the front, the Santa Fe is all about presence. The big, bold face features H-shaped headlights that may or may not stand for Hyundai, Headlamp, or Hybrid — we’ll let you decide.
Inside, it’s surprisingly premium. The layout is intuitive, the materials are solid (with some expected plastics down low), and the amount of storage is genuinely impressive. There are no less than 16 cupholders and six USB ports, so even your coffee and your teenager’s phone get VIP treatment.
You get a curved touchscreen, wireless charging, heated seats and steering wheel, plus a rather clever toggle system for switching drive modes eco, sport, snow, mud, sand… all the terrains your average Waitrose car park might throw at you.
Driving It: Smooth, Capable, and Weirdly Fun
Driving in full electric mode is as clean and quiet as you’d expect. Hit the button to switch to hybrid, and the car seamlessly blends power from both sources. It’ll even recuperate energy when you’re coasting downhill to recharge the battery.
We took it on the Goodwood Motor Circuit for a proper blast, and while it’s no hot hatch, it handles far better than you’d expect for something this size. The petrol engine provides a nice punch when needed, and the whole experience feels solid and confident.
There is a bit of body roll (it’s a big car, after all), but on long motorway drives it’s smooth and comfortable. The kids? They love it. Especially when they’re sat all the way in the back, far enough away to give you a bit of peace.
And if you’re sticking to electric mode in town? Zapmap’s filters make it easy to find rapid chargers that fit your schedule — whether you’re doing a quick top-up before school pick-up, or charging while you shop.
Practicality: Built for Family Life
With seven seats, the Santa Fe is a proper family hauler. Boot space is 571 litres with all the seats up, and a whopping 1,649 litres when you fold the back two down.
And yes — it passes the golf club test. Also the school bags test, the flat-pack furniture test, and the “let’s see how many pillows we can fit in this thing” test. (Spoiler: all of them.)
- You also get features like:
Easy third-row access from front and rear - A UV sanitising box (yes, really) to disinfect your phone or keys
- Face monitoring that tells you to concentrate if you start to nod off
- Video rearview mirror if the boot’s full of camping gear or rogue sports kits
The Tech & Safety Game Is Strong
This thing is packed:
- Adaptive cruise control
- Lane keep assist
- Blind spot alerts with safe lane change assist
- Regenerative braking (though even in max mode, it’s quite gentle)
- And possibly the most screens, buttons and toggles you’ll find in a car that’s not a spaceship
And yes — there’s even a Breaking Dad Challenge moment, where we tested its emergency braking. Safe to say, it’s got the stopping power to match its size.
Final Thoughts: Is the Santa Fe the Ultimate Family Plug-In?
Honestly… it might be.
It’s huge, smooth, efficient when used correctly, and packed with thoughtful details that make everyday family life just a little bit easier. The electric range isn’t groundbreaking, and rivals like the Skoda Kodiaq PHEV can go further on battery alone – but for most people, the Hyundai strikes a brilliant balance.
What makes it even better is how simple it is to run as a plug-in hybrid – especially when paired with tools like Zapmap, which takes the guesswork out of charging and route planning.
If you want to dip your toes into electric driving without going fully EV – and you’ve got kids, a dog, and a habit of over-packing – the Santa Fe might just be the SUV for you.
Got any questions about the Santa Fe? Or want to know our favourite charging spots on the way to Goodwood? Let us know in the comments – or download Zapmap and explore them for yourself.
