Understated luxury from an unexpected SUV.
My wife and I had not considered the Hyundai Santa Fe, Calligraphy as an option for our next car. We were seriously looking at the Toyota RX350 and the Genesis GV70. We were replacing an aging 2013 Hyundai Sonata Limited purchased New in 2012. It was an excellent car with very few issues and was very inexpensive to keep and maintain. It was beginning to show signs of wearing down. After living in Las Vegas for a while, driving around here is terrifying at best. We were concerned the Sonata would fail at a most inopportune time. We decided to look for a more luxurious car than what we had. We researched alternative vehicles until our eyes started glazing over. We were convinced it would be a Genesis or Lexus. All the other manufacturers only offer 36 month warranties. To me, a car should be warrantied for at least as long as the payments. When cars approach 60k and higher, it should last reliably for a long time, the way our Sonata did. After reading and looking at countless reliability, performance, and quality studies, Lexus and Genesis stood out, IMHO, over Mercedes, BMW, Land Rover, and many others. We had looked at a Lexus, and Genesis and were quite impressed, yet something just didn't feel right about them. One Friday afternoon we decided to go to our local Hyundai dealer to look around. We test drove a Tuson, and quickly discovered that size car was way too small. We already have an Armada and did not want something that big. We needed something to fit in our smaller garage and that could remote park in that space. The options for cars with that capability quickly diminish. As we were getting ready to leave, we passed by a Santa Fe Calligraphy. We asked what it was, because we honestly had never seen one or just never paid attention if we had. It's boxy look did not convey a sense of luxury in any way to us. The salesman told us what it was and had we ever driven in one. No, we had not. We threw caution to the wind and test drove the Calligraphy. OMG! The upholstery, the layout the roominess, and appointments were unbelievable. I had to ask if this really was a Hyundai product. I have owned, and driven my share of luxury cars in my lifetime, trending to the old Lincoln Town car, wishing they were still made. The Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy simply changed everything we presumed about Hyundai, especially after owning one ro 13 years. Everything except the cup holder in the console is where it should be and this car practically does it all. The leather seats, fit perfectly. They adjust in every way imaginable. The ride is superb and quiet. It handles great, while not a sports car, works out perfectly for my driving needs. It even has a real spare. It has great visibility all around and a video rearview mirror for more unobstructed rearwiew. The infotainment double 12.3 inch all in one led screen is really impressive. It has Android Auto and Apple Car Play. Even the rear captain seats are power adjustable and recline including power folding up and down. Even the 3rd row seats, while most are always cramped are actually comfortable to sit in. It has great headroom, double sunroof with the front one actually opening. What feels great is that you don't feel crowded once inside. You can carry on conversation at a normal voice, road noise in marginal and it acts like it belongs on the road and makes you want to drive it. The 8 speed transmission is a bit edgy, but not enough to find fault with it. It's just more gears, than needed. I suppose, it is to help with fuel economy. But if high performance was my goal, I would not be looking for an SUV. We wanted something to do our chores in, comfortable enough to take long trip in, in safety, comfort, and convenience. This Calligraphy has every kind of safety feature you can imagine. Many I didn't even know existed. Hyundai seems to have thought of most everything. I had no idea Hyundai had come this far in advanced technology. I always hear others bad mouthing this company. Yet, our experience has been nothing but pleasant. I remember when the Toyota Corrola was first introduced into the American market. Everyone, including me, had nothing nice to say about the knockoffs from foreign countries. I truly believe Hyundai and it's subsidiaries Kia and Genesis, have more than matched any comparable car company here and abroad. Even Genesis gets a bad rep, but rivals even the most sophisticated luxury brands. OK, it's a Korean company, and so is Samsung. I have used products from Korea, and probably most people do, for decades now. They have lived up to anyone's standard, except in price. And that us the bigger issue. To get a comparable product, in any other luxury brand, expect to pay a lot more for it, and then to pay even more in service and upkeep. Whenever I got into my Sonata for the 13 years I had it, it just worked. Period. I never had to guess what it was going to not do, or do, next. Reliability and consistent predictability make or break car companies. Even a powerhouse like Nissan is falling on hard times now. Hyundai is keeping up with convention and proving it has what it takes to be a 21st century automobile manufacturer. It always saddens me that their resale value is always lower than their competitors yet they are as much a great deal as any of its rivals. That is a fact. The funL key selling feature that sold us on the Sante Fe Calligraphy was the price. We got every option available on our new Sante Fe Calligraphy. Yet it topped out lower, price wise than any of its competition. I suppose, I'll write another review in 13 years, if I'm still around to prove just how reliable this car is. A luxury car that can double as a station wagon, family car, utility vehicle, and still go off road when needed, with WiFi in remote places to connect devices to. The list of capabilities are impressive. Driving the Sante Fe Calligraphy is a pleasure. I almost look for reasons to drive it, and the Bose Sound System is over the top. It comes with BlueLink included, complementary maintenance service, oil changes. But don't take my word for it. Go yry one out. Like me, you'll be surprised and overwhelmed at what the Sante Fe Calligraphy is all about. I do not regret buying the Sante Fe Calligraphy. Neither will you. I saved thousands of dollars from any other option. I don't say it is better than any of the others, but it rivels even the best of the best, and leaves you with more of your money in your pocket. The buying experience was exceptional, no hassle and quick.
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