BEST-IN-CLASS SUV
After three (3) months of ownership and usage I have put about 2300 miles on my new 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy, VIN 5NMS5DAL3MH364980.
Here are my “LIKES”:
1. Build quality – exterior and interior – is Best-In-Class. I traded a 2018 Range Rover Velar P380 HE with 20,000 miles on it for this vehicle three months ago. The Calligraphy build quality equals or surpasses the Velar in every way, especially the interior. My Calligraphy is constructed using a tasteful two-tone combination of leather and “Alcantara” (suede-like microfiber pile) with assembly quality belying its selling-price point. My Velar’s MSRP in 2018 was about $79,000 US and my 2021 Calligraphy MSRP was about $44,000 US.
2. Software – the Calligraphy is equipped with nearly every state-of-the-art driving and vehicle safety feature offered in 2021 plus it possesses advanced multi-media capabilities. All the software associated with these features works reliably. This was a MAJOR factor in my trading the Velar for the Calligraphy. Even under factory warranty and attempting multiple fixes, I could not get the Velar’s Infotainment software to EVER work properly. In addition, after each Range Rover dealer attempt to “upgrade” the Velar’s software its engine and suspension operating “modes” were irreparably degraded.
3. Speed and Power – my Calligraphy is equipped with the 2.5 liter 4-cylinder Turbocharged dual-mode injection engine, dual-clutch transmission (DCT), and torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive and is both quicker to 60 mph (100 km) and faster to any speed under 100 mph than my Velar (equipped with a supercharged V6 rated at 380 horsepower). The Calligraphy, particularly when in “SPORT” mode, is much closer to a sports car in quickness and feel than it is to an SUV. My Calligraphy is the fastest SUV I have ever driven. I purchased and daily use a Universe-Class radar/laser/photo camera detector just for use in the Calligraphy.
4. Utility – the Calligraphy is every bit as useful and roomy as the Velar – in fact Calligraphy design engineering and implementation is a marvel – an example is the under-floor back cargo area storage bins, which no Range Rover possesses. You can store a wide array of items in these compartmentalized storage bins with no impact on the storage capability on the rear cargo floor above.
5. Technology – the Calligraphy is a state-of-the-art vehicle using leading-edge technologies everywhere. The Calligraphy is the ONLY SUV under $80,000 MSRP (US) that uses the following technologies as either standard or as OPTIONS:
a. Heads-Up Display (HUD) - (all my presently-owned vehicles employ a driver HUD – the best way to safely drive a vehicle – watch the HUD while in FORWARD motion and NOTHING ELSE).
b. Dual-mode fuel injection (BOTH port and direct) – only a very few engines available for purchase today employ BOTH port and direct fuel injection (an example is the 2019 Corvette ZR1 with LT5 V8 engine – MSRP for this vehicle was typically more than $150,000 US). This is brilliant engineering as it uses the best features of BOTH fuel injection types while MINIMIZING or ELIMINATING their known weaknesses/drawbacks. This design feature nearly guarantees the Calligraphy engine will never have wear issues related to fuel injection PLUS the 2.5 liter four-cylinder engine makes 281 horsepower and 311 foot-pounds of torque (allows Calligraphy to be rated at 5500 pounds for maximum rated towing).
c. Torque-vectoring all-wheel drive – available for real-time driver display when selected.
d. 360-degree real-time situational awareness, threat detection, and warning. You have NO EXCUSE for inadvertently hitting anything or being unaware of an encroaching threat.
e. LEFT and RIGHT turn signal cameras – a 4k resolution camera displays a view of everything behind you to the LEFT or RIGHT when you select either turn signal. Again, you have NO EXCUSE for not knowing what is happening behind you in real-time.
f. iPhone magnetic charger – just drop your iPhone into its designated slot and it gets charged automatically PLUS it is in a safe, tucked away location.
g. Harman/Kardon multi-channel audio system – as good as my Velar’s Meridian (UK) multi-channel audio system, which is a well-known Range Rover strength.
h. Gear Selectors – buttons that work. Can take some getting sued to but you will fall in love with it.
i. Useful combination of TOUCH and TACTILE selection capabilities – some switches are just GENIUS such as how to increase and decrease HVAC in-cabin temperature – an INTUITIVE switch – no searching inside a display.
j. Appearance – I love the way the Calligraphy looks – the headlights/turn/daytime driving lights signals are LED type and are beautifully designed.
Here are my “DISLIKES”:
1. The DCT programming needs work – in COMFORT or SPORT mode the only way I have found to make smooth non-jerky DCT shifts from first through third gears (taking off from a STOP) is to pick a mid-range throttle depression and keep your foot EXACTLY there during take-off. If you attempt to modulate the throttle at all during take-off you will just upset the DCT’s shifting and make the upshifts harsher and more “jerky”. This is Hyundai’s first foray into DCTs, so it is understandable that they just don’t have the shift points worked out yet. Work on it Hyundai!
2. The vehicle will not decrease speed very much on its own on flat surfaces – you MUST brake to decrease speed. This situation is caused by a combination of DCT performance, engine performance, and all-wheel drive system. This situation will lead to earlier than otherwise need to resurface brake rotors and replace brake pads. There must be a way to alleviate this even if just a little.
3. Offer better brake option – such as bigger diameter brake pads and/or carbon ceramic type. This vehicle is so fast it needs better brakes as an OPTION.
4. The Engine Auto Stop-Start or Engine Stop-Start (ESS) feature. You can manually defeat this feature by depressing a switch on the center console, HOWEVER, you must remember to do so EVERY SINGLE TIME you restart the vehicle. Hyundai either needs to ELIMINATE this feature altogether (my VOTE) or allow the driver the means to PERMANENTLY DEFEAT the feature. There is NO JUSTIFICATION for including this feature on any modern vehicle. Starter, DCT, and battery life are all NEGATIVELY IMPACTED by regularly using ESS. This is in exchange for a relatively SMALL improvement on vehicle average fuel economy (nine (9) percent in stop-and-go traffic MAXIMUM IMPROVEMENT).
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