The 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe lasts around 250,000 miles with some minor windshield and engine sensor issues. At $17,563 to $33,998, it’s a decent value for a comfortable midsize SUV with a touch of luxury.
Is the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe a Good Used SUV?
- Overall Rating 8/10 – 2019 is a good year for the Hyundai Santa Fe since it has good reliability ratings along with a high-quality cabin. Owner reviews praise the 10-year warranty, low ownership costs, along with the advanced safety features.
- Interior, Comfort & Cargo 8/10 – Interior materials are very nice for a midsize SUV, the seats are comfortable on long trips, cargo space is also good for its size.
- Reliability 8/10 – Reliability ratings are decent since there are not any widespread complaints. Avoid models from 2007–2014 since they have problems. Models from 2015–2022 are more reliable.
- Performance 7/10 – Performance is okay from either of the 4-cylinder engines, although they’re not very exciting to drive.
- Safety 10/10 – The 2019 Santa Fe is very safe, earning a perfect 5-star rating in government crash tests. Standard features include adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, and driver drowsiness monitoring. Optional upgrades include parking sensors.
- Gas Mileage 7/10 – Fuel economy is okay at up to 25 MPG, giving 470 miles of range from the 18.8 gallon tank. Gas costs are $37 cheaper than average at $169 per month.
- Value 8/10 – The 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe is a decent value since it’s more affordable than other midsize SUVs with some nice features.
Positive Owner Reviews
Negative Owner Reviews
What Do Critics Say About the Hyundai Santa Fe?
- Consumer Reports says the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe is a decent bargain for all the features you get, and gets average owner satisfaction scores.
- Edmunds rates the Santa Fe at 4.4/5, praising the high-quality interior materials, but doesn’t like the road noise.
- Kelley Blue Book users give the Santa Fe a 4.6/5, enjoying the standard safety features, but owners don’t like the weaker engines for an SUV of its size.
What Common Problems Does the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe Have?
Common problems found on the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe include water leaks from the windshield, the engine stalling while driving, as well as excessive battery drain. Overall, these problems are slightly worse than some other midsize SUVs on the market, with some slightly higher repair costs.
Water leaks from the windshield are the most widespread complaint from owners in the first 3,000 miles. Water leaks simply when the seals are improperly installed on the window. Most of the time this happens early in ownership and is covered by the warranty for free. If your Santa Fe is out of warranty, then reinstalling the windshield is around $200.
The engine stalling while driving is another issue brought up by Santa Fe owners at around 5,000 miles. Usually the problem is caused by a sensor issue on the engine, which results in it stalling. Usually restarting the car fixes it, although if you have a check engine light after it stalls you should use an OBD-II scan tool to read the code and determine the source of the fault. Replacing sensors can cost $30 to $150, depending on the issue.
Excessive battery drain has also been found on some 2019 Santa Fe models at around 20,000 miles. The Santa Fe has a lot of electrical accessories in it, which sometimes draw power while the SUV is off. Diagnosing the source of the battery drain is about $150, while fixing the problem can range from $20 to $200.
There’s only one recall on the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe, which is fewer than other SUVs. The recall covers bolts damaging the side curtain airbags. Hyundai will install protective covers on the installation bolts free of charge on affected models.
How Long Will the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe Last?
A well-maintained 2019 can last around 250,000 miles, which is around 50,000 miles less than the top-rated Toyota Highlander. Regular annual maintenance costs are lower than some other midsize SUVs at $340 per year, according to data provided by Repair Pal.
As a used 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe reaches 100,000 miles, and depending on the vehicle history, owners should be prepared to replace the A/C evaporator for $900, heater hose costing $375, as well as the backup warning sensor which costs $400.
It currently does not have any problems when I drive it on a daily basis. I feel it is a well built car.
So far no problems, but I have only been driving it now for three months. Excellent cargo trunk space and roomy in the back.
So far I haven't had any kind of problems with my Santa Fe and I drive 100 miles a day to and from work.
It is very reliable and no problems to report. The Hyundai getz very good gas mileage. Has enough room to be able to carry your luggage.
It is very reliable. Never have had any problems. It runs smooth and quiet. It drives great and comfortably.
We have owned the car for 13 months and have absolutely no problems. We took it on a 5000 mile trip this summer and it permitted excellent on every type of road. We drove in mountains and flat land. We drove at speeds in the 70's to stop and go traffic (1 hour to go 1 mile.) The car's performance was excellent in all conditions. The air conditioner is a joy. We never had any fluctuation from the temperature we set.
Yes, no problems. I put a lot of driving on unpaved roads and it is shaping up as good as the last 2 were.
This is my third Hyundai, so that tells you how reliable I think they are! I have never had to take my vehicles in for anything other than routine maintenance or updates.
How Is the Technology?
Entertainment technology is great in the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe with a standard 7-inch display which has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Optional upgrades include a larger 8-inch touchscreen and more powerful stereo systems.
Safety technology is excellent with standard:
- Rearview camera
- Automatic emergency braking
- Adaptive cruise control
- Blind spot monitoring
- Rear cross traffic alert
- Lane keep assist
- Forward Collision warning
- Automatic high-beam headlights
- Blind spot monitoring
- Lane departure warning
- Driver Drowsiness monitoring
Optional advanced safety features include rear parking sensors, a surround-view parking camera, child back-seat reminder, along with a head-up display.
Is the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe a Good Value?
Yes, the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe is a decent value since it’s reasonably reliable with a nice interior. The blue book fair purchase price ranges from $17,563 to $33,998, making it cheaper than a Honda Pilot or Jeep Grand Cherokee. When new, the price range was $25,750 to $41,400. Depreciation is a bit worse than some other SUVs, losing about 12% of its current value per year.
What are the Different Models of the Hyundai Santa Fe?
There are five main models of the Hyundai Santa Fe offered for the 2019 model year from the base Hyundai Santa Fe SE model all the way up to the Santa Fe Ultimate model. The 2019 Santa Fe also comes with either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. There’s also the Santa Fe Sport and Santa Fe XL, which are separate models.
SE is the entry-level model with:
- 17-Inch Alloy Wheels
- Rear Privacy Glass
- Air Conditioning
- LED Daytime Running Lights
- Rearview Camera
- 60/40-Split Folding Rear Seat
- Bluetooth Connectivity
- 7-Inch Display
- Six-Speaker Sound System
SEL is a step up, adding:
- Fog Lights
- Heated Mirrors
- Keyless Entry and Ignition
- Power-Adjustable Driver’s eat
- Heated Front Seats
- Satellite Radio
- Hyundai Blue Link
SEL Plus is next in the lineup with:
- 18-Inch Alloy Wheels
- Hands-Free Liftgate
- Roof Rails
- Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control
- Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirrors
- Leather-Wrapped Steering Wheel
- 12-Speaker Infinity Stereo System
Limited adds features such as:
- LED Exterior Lighting
- Panoramic Sunroof
- Leather Upholstery
- Power-Adjustable Passenger Seat
Ultimate is the flagship model which has:
- Heated Steering Wheel
- Ventilated Front Seats
- Heated Rear Seats
- 8-Inch Touchscreen
- Driver Head-Up Display
- Wireless Smartphone Charging
What Engines Come In the Hyundai Santa Fe?
- The base engine is a weak 2.4L 4-cylinder which makes 185 horsepower at up to 25 MPG. It comes standard with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
- An available upgrade is the more powerful 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder, which produces 235 horsepower and gets up to 22 MPG. This also has an eight-speed automatic transmission. Performance is okay, taking 7.2 seconds to go from 0-60 MPH.
What Colors Does the Hyundai Santa Fe Come In?
How Comfortable Is the Hyundai Santa Fe?
The 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe is a comfortable and spacious SUV with a roomy interior and plenty of standard and available features to enhance the driving experience. It has comfortable seating and a smooth ride quality. The two row Santa Fe has great room in the second row.
Some of the features include a power-adjustable driver’s seat, a panoramic sunroof, and a heated steering wheel, as well as options such as ventilated front seats and a rear-seat entertainment system.
How Much Storage Space Does the Hyundai Santa Fe Have?
The 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe has 13.5 cubic feet behind the third row, 35.9 cubic feet behind the second row, and 71.3 cubic feet behind the first row. This is similar to many other midsize SUVs on the market.
What Are the Differences Between Years?
The fourth generation of the Hyundai Santa Fe came out in 2019.
2015: Hands-free power liftgate added, smoother suspension on all models.
2016: GLS model renamed to SE.
2017: Minor exterior styling changes, optional adaptive cruise control offered, standard 7-inch touchscreen.
2018: Limited model discontinued.
2019: Fully redesigned for the fourth generation with all-new engines, styling, and technology.
2020: Ultimate model removed from the lineup, improved blind-spot monitoring system.
2021: Small exterior styling changes, Calligraphy model introduced, upgraded engine choices.
How Does the Hyundai Santa Fe Compare to the Competition?
The 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe is a nice choice compared to other midsize SUVs on the market since it offers decent luxury features, although there are a few more issues than some competitors.
The Hyundai Tucson is a smaller SUV offered by Hyundai which is available for around $1,000 less. Where the Tucson stands out is with more responsive steering, while the Hyundai Santa Fe has more passenger room. We recommend the Hyundai Santa Fe since the extra space is worth the money.
The Toyota Highlander is another competitor, which is over $5,000 more. Reliability ratings are higher on the Toyota Highlander, while the Hyundai Santa Fe has a more upscale interior for the cost. We recommend the Toyota Highlander on the used market since it’s more affordable to own long-term, although both are decent midsize SUVs.
Do Owners Recommend the Hyundai Santa Fe?
Yes. It is very safe and drives very well. I feel I got a good car for the money based on my experience.
Yes. It came with lots of safety features installed. The warranty is excellent., which was the deciding factor in getting this car.
Yes it is very roomy and well priced for all the features including safety ones it has. Great on gas with google and apple assist on it.
Yes it is a very good vehicle. This is my 3rd Hyundai Santa Fe. Runs smoothly and very roomy. Very safe for all passengers. The driver and passenger sits up high enough to see where you are driving.
Yes it is a very good vehicle. It is a good midsize SUV. It has a lot of space in back seats and truck. The dashboard is sleek.
It is the best vehicle I have owned. I had a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe sport that I really liked but there were so many safety improvements in the 2019 that we decided to trade in the 2014. We selected the overdrive option and that has made a big difference in performance.
Great it is the third Santa Fe I have bought new. The first 2 were driven for over 90,000 miles without a single problem other than normal expendable items like brakes, tires, oil and light bulbs.
Excellent! It has a lot of safety features (lane alert, back-up warn when vehicles are approaching your path, low tire alert, etc.) As well as a lot of comfort features -- lumbar adjustable as well as seat angle & height. Both front & rear passengers are comfortable. Also, there is a lot of room for items when driving on vacation without the car seeming overloaded. It handles like a dream, both on dry pavement & in rainy conditions.