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You Are What You Drive - A Bottom Line Review
By Tony Leopardo - The Car Guy © AutoWire.Net
What is a Santa Fe? The Santa Fe is a midsize SUV built in the Montgomery, Alabama, USA assembly plant and sold in North America by Hyundai. The 2026 Santa Fe Hybrid Calligraphy AWD is a top tier, boxy 3 row SUV featuring a 1.6L liter turbocharged hybrid engine and AWD all wheel drive starting around $45,000 to $50,000.
Here are some of the special features of the 2026 Santa Fe Hybrid Calligraphy SUV:
Seating: Premium Nappa leather seating with standard 2nd row captain's chairs.
Tech: Dual 12.3" inch wraparound dash screens, dual wireless device chargers, and a 360 degree camera system.
Exterior: Distinctive H-motif LED front and rear lighting, 20" inch exclusive alloy wheels, and an integrated C-pillar assist handle for roof access.
To showcase this 2026 model this week Hyundai sent me a Santa Fe AWD Hybrid to test drive and review. The base window sticker price for this Calligraphy Edition is $50,500. The only option on the SUV are the carpeted floor mats for $240. The manufacturer's suggested retail price, MSRP, including the $1,600 delivery charge is: $52,340.
After adding in the state and local sales tax, plus the DMV and dealer fees, the out the door and in your driveway total purchase price came to $58,883. At just 117 bucks under $59 Grand you get Hyundai's midsize Hybrid luxury SUV that gets 35 MPG in city driving, 34 MPG in highway driving, and a nice 34 MPG in overall everyday driving.
The hybrid powertrain on the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid has a 1.6L liter 4 cylinder turbocharged gas engine paired with an electric motor to deliver a combined 231 HP horsepower and 271 lb-ft of torque, and uses a traditional 6 speed automatic transmission, which has a more responsive and natural driving feel, instead of a CVT, and features:
Regenerative Braking: Has steering wheel mounted paddle shifters to adjust the levels of brake regeneration.
AWD: All wheel drive that provides all weather confidence with dedicated snow, mud, and sand driving modes.
Boxy Styling: Retains the spacious squared off interior layout, with the signature H pattern LED lighting found on all the Hyundai Santa Fe models.
Seating and Space: Offers 3 rows of seating with up to nearly 80 cubic feet of total cargo room when the rear seats are folded flat.
The Calligraphy Edition trim on the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid adds top tier luxury with a unique dark finish exterior styling and advanced safety technology, as the flagship top of the line package, and includes:
Premium Nappa Leather: Upgrades the seating surfaces with high end quilted stitching.
Second Row Captain's Chairs: Adds power folding and power adjustable individual seats that seat 6 passengers total and replaces the standard rear bench seat.
Headliner: Changes the ceiling material with a rich synthetic brushed suede finish.
Relaxation Seat: Includes a specialized driver's relaxation posture seat.
Audio: Upgrades to a 12 speaker Bose premium surround sound system.
Wheels: Exclusive dark or satin black finish 20" alloy wheels made specifically for the hybrid Calligraphy trim packages.
High Gloss Black Cladding: Distinct lower bumper, wheel arch, and side trim accents.
C-Pillar Assist Handle: A hidden and folding grab handle built into the C-pillar to help reach the roof rack and your cargo.
Unique Grille and Badging: Dark chrome and matte black exterior badging elements.
Head Up Display: Projects driving speed and navigation cues directly onto the windshield.
Digital Rearview Mirror: Uses a rear spoiler mounted camera to feed a digital color display directly into the rear view mirror.
Highway Driving Assist: Advanced adaptive cruise control and lane centering assistance.
Remote Smart Parking Assist: Lets you park or move the vehicle using the smart key fob from outside the vehicle.
Surround View Monitor: Includes a 360 degree exterior camera system including blind spot view monitors.
Here are some of the standout features on the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe, and number one is it's bold, boxy interior packaging that maximizes passenger legroom and cargo capacity. Plus the interior lends itself to full practicality and usefulness with:
3 Row Seating: It includes a standard third row, and sliding second row seats to adjust legroom easily.
Wide Door Openings: The Santa Fe has large doors and a raised seating position that make getting in and out very easy for all passengers.
Flexible Cargo: The rear seats fold flat to create a wide and tall opening for hauling large items, and offers several clever storage solutions.
Dual Wireless Chargers: The front console features two side by side wireless charging pads, one for the driver and one for the passenger.
Multi Access Console: A hidden lower storage bin that can be accessed from both the front and the rear seats.
Dual Glove Boxes: Upper and lower in dash glove boxes, that provide that easy to get to extra space for all of your small and personal items.
So, who is the real buyer for a Hyundai Santa Fe? The real buyer for a 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Calligraphy AWD SUV, that's priced around $52,000, appeals to those looking for near luxury brand features and high fuel efficiency, in a practical family vehicle, and they are:
Eco Conscious Owners: Drivers wanting a 3 row family midsize SUV who still care about saving fuel, getting an estimated 34 combined MPG, without moving up to a PHEV plug-in vehicle, or a pure EV electric vehicle.
Luxury Seekers on a Budget: Buyers who want high end comforts, like Nappa leather seating, second row captain's chairs, a dual pane sunroof, and a Bose premium audio system, without paying the luxury brands inflated prices.
Tech Focused Commuters: Technology lovers who appreciate advanced driver aids like highway driving assist, a head-up display, and a 12.3" inch curved infotainment screen.
All Weather Drivers: People living in snowy or wet climates who want the extra security and traction contrtol of full time AWD all wheel drive.
If this is you, then call, click or visit your local Hyundai dealer for a test drive, and a bottom line price review on the 2026 Santa Fe Hybrid Calligraphy AWD SUV. And remember that the base price for a new Santa Fe starts at only $35,050. Hyundai's primary global slogan and tagline is now - New Thinking, New Possibilities.
The key to life is to learn something new every day, and by reading my Bottom Line review, I hope you did just that, learned about something new and exciting. So, be smart, stay safe, and just breathe. Remember, You Are What You Drive, and maybe, just for those reasons alone, you should Drive one, Buy one, Today. Drive safely, have a great day, and enjoy the ride, as the future looks nice and bright - Tony the Car Guy.
This Bottom Line new vehicle review is a Nut & Bolt and Dollars & Sense editorial provided by Tony Leopardo. Tony the Car Guy is an automotive writer, editor and publisher in the San Francisco Bay Area. If you have a question, or comment send it to tonyleo@pacbell.net and visit AutoWire.Net at www.autowire.net
Name: The 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Calligraphy AWD SUV
Topic: The 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Calligraphy AWD SUV
Word Count: 1,175
Pic Cap: The 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Calligraphy AWD SUV
Photo Credits: Hyundai Internet Media
Series number: 2026 - 31
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