Hyundai Santa Fe review - MPG, CO2 and running costs

The Hyundai Santa Fe’s single 2.2-litre diesel engine is a good performer, but there’s a lot of weight to move around and that impacts on its overall economy. You can expect circa 41mpg and CO2 emissions of 177 to 178g/km.

WLTP figures for the new 2WD mild-hybrid variant show fuel economy is not greatly improved, with Hyundai quoting 44.1mpg for the 2WD models, and 40.4mpg for the 4x4, although there’s better news in the lower CO2 figures of 145g/km (2WD) and 158g/km (4x4). 

Move up to the PHEV version, and you’ll not only benefit from exceptional fuel efficiency - as long as you can keep the battery charged - but extremely low CO2 figures too. Of course, the PHEV’s 173.7mpg combined figure flies out of the window on journeys long enough to deplete the plug-in’s battery, when you’ll be back in the territory of the mild-hybrid’s mpg figures. However, if your daily commute falls within the PHEV’s 36-mile electric range, you’ll be in clover - especially as a business car driver. As well as a zero rating for VED, the PHEV’s super-low 37g/km CO2 rating means a Benefit-in-Kind rate of just 12 per cent.

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Insurance groups

Hyundai doesn't really offer an 'entry-level' model in the Santa Fe lineup, so insurance premiums could be slightly higher than some of its close rivals. The front-wheel drive Hybrid Premium versions starts in group 22, rising to group 27 for either the diesel or plug-in hybrid in Ultimate trim. By contrast, Skoda offers Kodiaq models with less power and standard equipment that start in group 17, climbing to group 27 for the most expensive, non-vRS versions.

Depreciation 

Depreciation used to be a bit of a sticking point for the Santa Fe compared with its rivals, especially in the case of the most expensive models. However, with the introduction of efficient hybrid tech and a boost in overall quality, residual values are now much stronger. After a typical three-year/36,000-mile ownership period, our data suggests that the Santa Fe should hold onto 57 to 59 per cent of its original value.