Hyundai Santa Fe 2023 review: Active diesel long-term | Part 3

Now with a newborn and a toddler in the family, are we seeing the benefits of having a large SUV like the Santa Fe?

Let’s be clear here, kids don’t exactly travel light.

For the newborn, there is the full-size pram, as well as a nappy bag with an assortment of cloths, wipes and changes of clothes.

For the toddler, it’s all about the toys of the month (this time it’s bulldozers and diggers), along with snacks, snacks, and more snacks.

It can be a lot to fit into any car, but the Santa Fe’s size has really shone through this month.

In the boot, with the third-row seats folded down, the full-size pram fits in with some room to spare to Tetris in the rest of the baby and toddler gear.

The Santa Fe diesel-powered Active starts at $53,750 before on-road costs. (Image: Tung Nguyen)

The interior space however, is a little limited now there are two car seats installed.

With the rear-facing seat behind the front passenger, there is enough room to be comfortable, but we wouldn’t say there is any more room up there compared to a mid-size SUV like the Tucson.

Opting for a larger-sized SUV like the Santa Fe, really only affords a more capacious boot, and the option to have seven passengers.

The interior space is a little limited with two car seats installed. (Image: Tung Nguyen)

And a toddler seat installed behind the driver all but eliminates the middle seat in the second row, although this is a problem with almost all cars on the market.

The door apertures also seem a little small, making loading and unloading baby a little tricky, especially when you have to manoeuvre around the top-tether strap and in tight spaces.

Interior space with a family of four, then, is great, but honestly if you are adding a fourth member to your family and think you need to upgrade from a mid-size SUV to a large one, you’d be surprised how little difference going from a Tucson to Santa Fe has made in terms of practicality.

The door apertures also seem a little small, making loading and unloading baby a little tricky. (Image: Tung Nguyen)

We were also thankful for our Santa Fe’s diesel engine this month, which affords a long driving range between fill ups.

With frequent trips to a from hospital, as well as back and forth from childcare, it meant that we managed a decent circa-800km before needing a fill up – and when there is a newborn in the house, it’s these little conveniences that are appreciated and noticed.

However, we’d be remiss not to mention that diesel is a technology on the way out, making way for an electrified future.

In the boot, with the third-row seats folded down, the full-size pram fits in with some room to spare. (Image: Tung Nguyen)

Hyundai already recognises this, and introduced a petrol-electric hybrid Santa Fe to local showrooms in late 2022, and we’ll be swapping into one soon to determine if the extra spend is worth it.

Speaking of which, the cheapest Santa Fe Hybrid is $63,000, before on-road costs, for the Elite grade, compared with our diesel-powered Active at $53,750.

Keep in mind the hybrid has more equipment, so it's not quite an apples with apples comparison in terms of pricing, but the petrol-electric Santa Fe models carry a $3000 price premium over their respective diesel all-wheel-drive counterparts.

The Santa Fe Active is ready and able to handle what family life throws at it. (Image: Tung Nguyen)

More interestingly, however, is the economy of both engines, with our diesel car returning an official rating of 6.1L/100km, while the hybrid is pegged at 6.0L/100km.

Now of course, petrol and diesel prices can vary wildly, but it is interesting to note that fuel tank volume of 67L should return a similar driving range for both powertrains.

If, however, you are mad keen to tow, the diesel or 3.5-litre petrol V6 is the way to go, rated with a braked towing capacity of 2500kg, compared to the hybrid’s 1650kg.

The Santa Fe diesel has an official rating of 6.1L/100km. (Image: Tung Nguyen)

Regardless, our Santa Fe Active proved an able and willing companion during the birth of our second child, and was ready and able to handle what family life could throw at it.

Next month, before handing the keys back, we’re hopefully going to be taking the Santa Fe Active diesel down the coast on a cheeky family holiday, where we expect the diesel engine and large size will come in handy.

That is, of course, if the kids behave.

Acquired: October 2022

Distance travelled this month: 1990km

Odometer: 9220km

Average fuel consumption for month: 7.7L/100km