2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy Review: Is the Luxury Trim Really Worth the Cash? 

My wife is picker hers up as we speak. She drove a ton of cars (we're usually Honda/Toyota people) but when she drove the Santa Fe she fell in love. Happy Anniversary! Here's to another 24 years (and more!)

This car is amazing. We owned a 2023 Santa Fe Calligraphy, has all the bells and whistles, great power, good handling, good comfort, but, one night, a drunk driver hit us head on at 66MPH, I am lucky to be alive. I walked away with just a little bruise and a sprained wrist. We are looking to upgrade to a 2024 X5, but will recommend this Santa Fe to anyone.

I have this exact model. Year, color, everything. It’s awesome. I’ve had it for 6 months now. The 2.5T is quicker than I was expecting. One thing I not see eye to eye with Nathan is his criticism of the acceleration off the line. You’re not drag racing a Santa Fe. It’s not a corvette or dodge demon. I’ll take the calligraphy Santa Fe over a base line GV60 in a second.

We’ve driven our 2022 FWD Santa Fe Calligraphy for nearly 20k miles and have had zero issues. The bells and whistles included in this trim make this car feel like it’s in a different class. The power is impressive, especially in sport mode. I have to be careful not to chirp the tires when in sport. My wife prefers to drive it in the comfort mode. We run snow tires during the winter months here in Utah and we have no regrets about skipping AWD, plus we have a spare tire as it’s the FWD model. The stereo is great, the panoramic roof is awesome, and the cargo space behind the 2nd row is huge. The adaptive cruise works way better than the adaptive cruise in our Nissan and the Santa Fe’s interior is impressively quiet; I believe the calligraphy model comes with upgraded glass in the front windows for better sound insulation. The only thing I don’t care for are the lower profile 20” tires, but for a few months out of the year I enjoy the comfort of the winter tires on a set of inexpensive aftermarket 17’s; though my wife much prefers the looks of the OEM 20’s. This is our first Hyundai, we are usually Honda or Nissan buyers. We may look at trading for the ‘25 Santa Fe after they work out the inevitable first model year bugs.

I own a 2019 Santa Fe, I love it. Great quality. Some differences now. I like my shift lever versus the push button. Also have the 8speed transmission with a 2.0Turbo. I also pull a 3500 lb trailer with it.

I have a 23 calligraphy in calypso red with beige interior. The drivetrain has been flawless. Fast, quiet, roomy and comfortable. The Palisade gets all the press and the dealer markup. We didn’t need the 3rd row and got a nice discount off of msrp! The Genesis is nice but a lot more $ comparably equipped.

You forgot to mention the excellent heads up display that only comes on the Calligraphy.

The best looking Santa Fe out of all years and generations of the Santa Fe.

We have a Limited and we came from a 2011 Silverado CC. I can't stand not having a spare so I put Falken Wildpeak A/Ts on it and so far so good. The features of these Hyundais can't be beaten. With two adults, two dogs, and a roof rack we can fit a lot of camping gear in there. The Falkens are great in Colorado's winters.

I love my 22 Calligraphy Stormy Sea Blue with the tan leather and man does it pop! Traded a 2019 Santa Fe Ultimate 2.0 and got a great trade in price and paid MSRP for the Calligraphy. Absolutely no regrets. I love it. The passing power is ridiculous and the tech works great. Heat and AC are powerful. Only thing missing is the wireless Android Auto/ Car Play. I simply run a very short cable from the charger and turn my phone backwards in the wireless charger so no wire hanging. Would I buy it again?? In a second. Also Hyundai did two recalls on my DCT and the second one was a reprogram / bleeding of the system and the jerky 2nd to 1st shift is gone. I came from driving a standard and drive the DCT like a standard and it really just rips off the shifts.

Comfort mode is eco not smart, SMART switches between comfort and sport as needed based on your driving throttle input.

This looks much better than the Tucson and Kia Sportage, IMO. If I were in the market for one of those I'd pick this one.

I had a 2022 Hyundai Kona Limited Turbo AWD with the 7 speed DCT and got so tired of the DCT hesitation and jerkiness that traded it for another vehicle. Loved everything else. I would’ve definitely kept it if it had either a manual or regular automatic transmission.

Finally a video driving and not at a desk looking at a picture. I salute you sir.

This is really nice. And I prefer this generation of Santa Fe over all the other generations.

Those wheels are pretty cool.

I watch every video with Nathan in it. Even if I don’t care about the car because power wagon don’t care ❤

Nathan is great. More Nathan video please!!

We had a Calligraphy loaner while our Tucson was in the shop, and it was super impressive. Great value for the price. Shame every single DCT Hyundai and Kia is recalled at the moment…

I was between the Hyundai Calligraphy and the Toyota Highlander. The Toyota has way too much cheap plastic and it's $4500 more money! Very happy with the Hyundai after two months.

I currently have a 22 Santa Fe Limited with the Dark blue exterior color. 😀Great car has all the features for the money worth some other manufacturers.

The color of the body and the color combination of the front grille 👍🏼👌🏼😉 match very well!. Would you next test the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe HTRAC AWD with XRT package model and its off-road capabilities?. 🤔

I had a 2013 Santa Fe turbo. Local dealer replaced the long block at 1600mi. It was the dreaded wrist pin tick. Never went back to Hyundai.

I have a 2029 and very good suv, I like it, no issues, no noise, good handling.

Not all models with the digital display have the blindspot camera view….only the top end Calligraphy gets it..at least here in Canada.

nathan did a great job with the video, I'm just getting tired of crossovers/suv's.

I was on the fence before watching your video but now i really want a calligraphy model

We had this car for nearly a week as a rental with all the options it seemed, just not the calligraphy model. It drove like a boat and the upgraded sound system was just “okay”. But, for people who have a need for this big vehicle, it was comfortable. I just wish it also was able lower the seat more than what you are allowed to do.

Great job Nathan !!! Thank you.

It is really pretty though. I love the color.

I own a 21 SF T Ultimate. Let's just get to it. Trubo is amazing, it benefits on highway driving extremely well. On backroads, eh, keep it on comfort. No need for turbo. Suspension. Ouch you'll feel every bump. Charging pad is cool, but really just remove it. Keep it a slot for phones/wallets. Cable charges waaay faster and your phone gets very hot. Useless. Exterior. Love the look. Interior. Awesome. Overall, I wouldn't buy the calligraphy. You get a few extra things over the ultimate but basically the same suv. And this sub actually does very well in the snow! I drive it over my Subaru at times. Yeah, great car!!

We bought one of these 2 weeks ago. I'm really surprised at how nice it is and how powerful the engine is. We spend 42,800 at zero percent for 60 months, I think that's a good deal with how expensive cars are these days.

What a good time to be looking for this car review! Great video

This car isn’t “too expensive” for what it gives you while still managing to be at or below the average price for a new car. This is actually a fully-loadeed attainable luxury bargain with a performance edge

281hp and 311tq at 1700 rpm is VERY impressive

I’d rather have this 2023 Santa Fe Calligraphy in this silver color over the new 2024 Santa Fe. If I want a boxy SUV, I’d get the Toyota 4Runner to Land Cruiser. I like the curvy body lines of this generation of Santa Fe.

1:58 this looks so premium for a mainstream midsize crossover bc of those 20” & the body color painted wheel arches & bumper pieces

I see these especially the calligraphy at the Rich area. Hyundai ain't playing.

Hire BMW and Audi engineers and you get a new Hyundai, compliments of German influence.

Leased a 2020 Santa Fe SEL, it was ok, no major issues but a lot of minor annoyances. Rattles and creaking here and there, numb steering. Decent reliability and fuel economy. I was fortunate at the lease end to sell it off to a dealer for about 8k over residual. This was the 3rd Hyundai product we owned and probably the last, long term it’s a value brand at best, very light feel … ok I will say it … it’s cheap feeling when closing doors, touch and materials are basic and minimum quality. Hyundai defiantly has a large margin and profit from building cheap cars.

Hello everybody... i just bought a 2023 Hyundai Sante Fe Caligraphy...im picking it up in a few days and super excited about this !!!!! My question ...if any hyundai technicians out there ... or anyone with knowledge about the rear turn direction signals that are under the tail lights . The rear turn direction signals are red 😢😢...wish Hyundai would have made them amber as they all should be amber colour for extra safety attention (in my opinion). Can these red light signals be changed to amber colour by using a flat steel device... not by removing a portion of the rear body. Does Anyone know? Thanks))

You were awesome! Best review ever.

When you said cojones, I felt that

the calligraphy isn't worth it in our opinion.....we had a 2021 mid level santa fe and loved it but got a LOT of money in selling it and bumped up to a gv70.....worth every penny......we entertained a palisade but they can take their 4k over msrp and stuff it in their glove box.

The Hyundai is a no-brainer over the Genesis GV70, or any other SUV that requires Premium fuel. It's as simple as answering the following question...are you okay with spending the extra $1 per gallon difference between Regular and Premium? I know I'm not gonna pay an extra $15 to $17 dollars every time I fill up.

Are you sure the spare isn’t underneath my 2021 SEL has the spare underneath the cubbies

15:52 To get a GV70 with the same features as this Santa Fe Calligraphy, it would be more expensive in terms of the monthly payment for a lease or to buy it out since the GV70 starts off in pricing where the Santa Fe tops out with the Calligraphy trim. Not to mention the Santa Fe has more passenger & cargo space compared to a GV70 & is the perfect size between a GV70 & GV80

This is a hell of a lot cheaper than a loaded Chevy blazer or Honda passport

I got a calligraphy for 42 out the door. A gv70 atarts at 52, loaded 64.

All folks...Don't forget that the chief designer is Peter Schreyer. He is now the Executive Design Advisor at Hyundai Motor Group. If you ask me ho is he, then don't bother to make statements about car designs:)

I can’t wait to check out the redesigned 2024 Santa Fe

Wonder about soundproof and suspension behavior on rough pavement. 20 inches wheels shouldn't help, right?

15:26 The rear manual sunshades aren’t a part of an option package. That’s standard on the Calligraphy trim 🤦🏽‍♂️🙄

Cant say im a fan of these new front ends or the wide button heavy center dash in the latest santa fe's. these new grills across the brand are weird to say the least. i said the same thing about the new ram grill a few years back, but now i like them. cant see my opinion changing w these things esp when compared to kias. the XRT looks a little better all dark and cladded out. at least they upgraded the powertrains but wish the turbo was available in lower trims or fwd for a sport version. can i get a Sorento sans the 3rd row please? w a turbo and a real offroad pkg. now that would be a cool suv to give the GC, Passport ts, and Outback wilderness some competition. a tow pkg and full size spare wouldnt hurt either.

With current incentives you could get a new grand cherokee altitude for about the same, maybe even a little less though. I would spend my $45K on the new grand cherokee.

DCT? No thanks, they are not durable if you plan on keeping it more than 6 or 7 years

I never understood why the three prong outlet was never included in the hybrid models or the PHEV models. It doesn’t seem to make sense to only include it on the calligraphy gas engine model.

I’m not even remotely interested in this car but Nathan did a review so I watched

Who would have thought 25 years ago that Korea would be killing the car market

The spare is under the rear bumper if u have not figured that by now

Great vehicle and hard to imagine that do much tech and equipment is included for the price.

Getting a luxury car from Hyundai is like ordering a gold leaf burger at Mcdonald

The price is for a extra engine when it needs to be replaced at 60k. Kia and Hyundai as a very bad reputation for engine failure.

No comment on the single tail pipe? Odd, right?

I believe there is a full size spare under the storage

When I was shopping locally I visited the Hyundai dealer and I didn't like what they had to offer, I didn't like the experience at their dealership... I ended up ordering a jeep compass from the factory.

So Ford dropped the 'power shift' but Hyundai is still making hay off the DCT? Why not just buy an Edge Titanium?

Love it and have one ❤

What is the acceleration time of this model from 0-100km/h?. 🤔

Listen here Buster, if you go Genesis then you aren’t getting an SUV for that price I hate to tell ya! 😂

Not enough leather for the top line.

The GV70 has far less space than this Santa Fe, so it's not an apples to apples comparison. I get that it's nicer though.

1:50 into the video, first commercial.........................

My engine went bad at 9,000 miles.

I almost bought one then went on line and saw engine failure. Nope…I live in a rural area…its a toyota or honda for me. 🙁

You're wrong about the Genesis gv70 you're looking at around 7,000 more and has less features

The spare tire is under.

The entry level GV70 is trash. No tech, no features, and the interior design is terrible. You gotta buy the $55k version and up on the GV70 if you want the nice features and nice nappa leather and interior design. Picking up a 2023 Calligraphy today actually. Negotiated it down to $41k. Pretty sweet deal considering they were asking $46k

It does slide

Put snow t tires🎉

это BMW X7 ?

Ahhhhh.....No. No spare of any kind and so, so much useless tech stuff to break and a well graded, dry dirt driveway being about as much "off road" as it is going to get on its best day.

get the rav 4 plugin hybrid

Avoid Hyundai and KIA...their engines are blowing up.

They make beautiful car’s and SUV’s but can you get past 50,000 miles before it blows up

The car is on a stop sell recall as the transmission is pure crap. DON'T BUY!!

Old model .

Nah. A good one to skip.

They literally take and copy everything from other manufacturers. And I get it they all do but Huyundai does this a lot

First

The Koreans have done exactly wha the Japanese did in the 70s-90s sell you cheap and reliable cars and then you get suckered with hefty prices based on presumed quality and reliability mind you the same as any other modern day car manufacturers but the fix is already set and so the mugs go back again and again claiming loyalty while paying over the top prices. It's an MO that has worked on the average American driver ever since they didtched home brands like Ford GM Chrysler and others. This was in Europe where I originate but now you go to any mailand European country and you would find the gig is up their and the folks are more inclined to buy home brands so the sautration of Japanese and Korean cars is less obvious there. Renault, Peugeot, Citroen, Ford, churn out equally good cars and in some cases more luxurious interior which most folks have at their disposal to make better choices.