• Lots of space inside
• Plenty of very clever features
• Third row useful for adults

How much space is there?

The short answer is loads – an obvious point given the Santa Fe is so boxy. Second row space is generous; two cupholders and more large storage areas are in each door, as well as a bulk of charging ports and domestic power sockets available. Space is great for adults sitting behind tall drivers, and access to the third row is easy with powered second-row seating.

Adults can also sit in the third row benefitting from good headroom and acceptable legroom. They probably won’t want to be there for long, however. A Mazda CX-80 and a Skoda Kodiaq will manage the same, too.

Boot space and storage

In the front, the Santa Fe’s door bins are slim but there are so many other storage areas it doesn’t particularly matter. As well as a huge centre console armrest storage area (which features a cover that can be opened by those in the second row as well as the first), there is a double-deck glovebox and a large storage area below the raised centre console.

Those in the second row benefit from storage cubbies and two cupholders in each door, hooks and power sockets accessible on the front seat backs and more power sockets in the lower centre console. Those in the third row get air vents, power sockets and cupholders, too – no one is forgotten.

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Santa Fe boot space is 628 litres behind the second row of seats for the Hybrid model, rising to 1,949 litres with all seats folded. The Plug-in version loses a little bit of capacity due its battery pack but impressively still has room for 621 litres of luggage with five people, and 1,942 litres of space with all the seats stowed.

Hyundai doesn’t quote a figure for the space available with seven seats on board – and wasn’t able to supply one when asked. For guidance, a Skoda Kodiaq claims 310 litres of luggage space with seven passengers; we don’t believe the Santa Fe is as generous in this area. The seven-seater Skoda has 845 litres of room in five-seater mode and 2,105 litres with all its seats folded.

Is it easy to park?

The Santa Fe is a big car, so it won’t be the easiest thing to squeeze around a car park – particularly a multi-storey.

Thankfully even base-model versions come with a rear camera and sensors; you’d need to step up to Ultimate trim for full 360-degree parking assistance, though.

Safety

• Impressive safety equipment as standard
• But only four Euro NCAP stars
• Try not to get hit by one

Despite a generous amount of standard safety kit, the Santa Fe has only been rated four out five stars by crash-test body Euro NCAP. By modern standards, that’s not a great result for a relatively costly, range-topping vehicle. Its vulnerable road user and safety assist scores let it down, but it does better for child occupant safety.

Fitted driver-assistance systems include as driver steering assist, which keeps you in your lane, and blindspot collision-avoidance assist (BCA), which automatically brakes when the car detects an oncoming collision.

In addition safe exit assist (SEA) keeps doors locked and alerts occupants if the car detects approaching vehicles, and intelligent speed limit assist (ISLA) uses the camera or navigation information to determine the limit and warn the driver accordingly.

Watch the Hyundai Santa Fe Euro NCAP crash-test video: