2022 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT Off-Road: What's New

Hey, my good friends, Sam Haymark with Test Driven TV. Hyundai is getting all off roady with their popular 2022 Santa Fe SUV. So if you're a camping or overlanding enthusiast or maybe you just like a more rugged look, Hyundai is speaking to you. Part of the 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe lineup is an all new off-road oriented XRT trim grade that taps into the growing and popular overlanding movement with a more rugged style and look for the brand's top selling SUV. The new Santa Fe XRT trim transforms the look of Hyundai's midsize SUV with a number of key styling and functional elements with the SEL with convenience package as a trim grade starting point. Its unique style starts with a blackout treatment for its highly sculpted grill, which frames LED headlamps, accents and signature daytime running lights. Below is an exclusive front fascia with a more rugged appearance bolstered by a dark silver skid plate styling element. I say styling element because it's not actually a metal skid plate. This look continues around the corner with unique 18 by 7 and a half inch off-road style wheels and satin black. Down the side, the Santa Fe XRT gets redesigned door moldings with a brawnier look and a pair of side steps that give it a more premium and outfitted flair. Black mirror caps continue the theme. Functional adds include standard side rails and crossbars for mounting a variety of accessories from kayak and bike racks to a pop-up tent just to name a few of the many. At the rear is also a unique lower fascia that features dark silver skid plate elements just like that of the front. A trailer prewire connection is provided for a trailer hitch upgrade. The sole interior color is black with a sturdy cloth and seating trim that with standard heated seats and a leather steering wheel has a more rugged look. The driver seat has 8-way power adjustments and the passenger seat is manual. Featured is a 12.3 inch customizable digital instrument cluster and 8 inch touchscreen infotainment display with AM FM Sirius XM and HD radio and all of the expected connectivity options including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. An attractive metallic look finish flows across the dash and console trims. Mounted on the center console are climate controls, a push-button gear selector and a drive mode selector with additional controls when the H-Track all-wheel drive system is optioned. Powering the Santa Fe XRT is a 2.5 liter 4-cylinder engine with 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. It's paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission and it can be had with both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. EPA fuel economy is up to 25 mpg city, 28 mpg highway and 26 mpg combined. Pricing begins at $32,300 for the Santa Fe XRT front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive models start at $34,000. Available at dealerships now, the Santa Fe XRT can be had with a variety of standalone options that take it up to about $37,000 when fully loaded. 2022 is the year that a lot of these manufacturers are really getting into these off-roady themes. Subaru, Ford and others have new models rolling out this year that really sort of go this direction. So if it's your thing, you're in luck. Until we get a test drive, I invite you to click right here to see our latest video or better yet, click right there and subscribe to our YouTube channel. Either way, stay tuned.