By a country mile, the SUV is the most popular vehicle segment in the United States and has been for over a decade now. Beginning in 2014, SUVs began really outpacing sedans, which were previously the most popular segment in the US, in new vehicle sales. Since then, the SUV market has remained steadfast in its grip on the American automobile market. If trends continue, and more and more SUVs enter the market, these vehicles will likely remain popular for decades to come.

With SUVs being so popular, automakers have a great deal of incentive to build the best possible models they can muster. Every year, numerous automotive market authorities, such as Kelley Blue Book and Cars.com, release their top-ranked vehicles in certain segments, including SUVs. In 2019, the Hyundai Santa Fe ranked number one overall, alongside the Honda Pilot. However, the Santa Fe was cheaper, making it a better value for money. These days, you can get a used ’19 Santa Fe for an extremely reasonable price, providing the opportunity to own the best SUV from just six years ago.

Well-Loved And Affordable

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Quick Facts About The 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe

• Currently boasts an average base-grade used price of $13,480
• Offered a total of five trim levels
• Sports a pair of inline-four engines
• Carried an original base price of $25,570
• Part of the Santa Fe’s fourth generation

Eighteen years before the 2019 model being introduced, the Hyundai Santa Fe debuted on the United States market. Back then, family SUVs like the Ford Explorer and the Chevrolet Blazer were still truck-based models, meaning their rides were a bit harsh and utilitarian. Other SUVs on the market, such as the Toyota Highlander, offered more car-like rides but were a bit on the expensive side of the scale.

So, Hyundai figured it would introduce an SUV that was cheaper than the Toyota Highlander while also sporting a more sedan-like ride than its American competitors. The Santa Fe’s 2001 debut occurred with much fanfare, as it was virtually an instant hit with Americans. Its extremely low base price of $16,499 satisfied those with a budget in mind, as the price was a whopping $7,496 cheaper than the ’01 Toyota Highlander’s entry-level price. Its Hyundai Sonata-based platform brought comfort-minded buyers over from the domestic automakers, too.

The 2019 Santa Fe’s #1 Rating

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Fast-forward to 2019, and, by this time, the Hyundai Santa Fe had been a well-established and respected player in the American SUV market. Since its 2001 debut, the Santa Fe had grown from a compact SUV to a mid-size, as the introduction of the Tucson in 2004 forced the Santa Fe to grow in stature. Despite the increase in girth, the Santa Fe continued to be a popular model, and by 2019, had earned a star-studded reputation for itself.

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Its number one rating comes courtesy of Kelley Blue Book. Overall, the ’19 Santa Fe managed an Expert Score of 4.7 out of 5.0. The score takes things like reliability, build quality, power, and fuel economy in mind, as well as value for money. Safety is also a consideration, as the 2019 Santa Fe managed to score five-star ratings in all major categories except for its rollover rating, which scored a four out of five overall, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) crash safety test.

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While the model didn’t score as well with consumers, it still put up respectable scores in the eyes of owners. We’ll lay out the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe’s consumer ratings for all Kelley Blue Book categories in the table below:

*Info courtesy of Kelley Blue Book

Detailed Specs & Features

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While several engines were offered on the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe across the litany of world markets it was available in, the version in the US sported a pair of inline-four gasoline mills. At the entry-level is the 2.4-liter naturally aspirated inline-four powerplant, belonging to Hyundai’s Theta engine family, a grouping of mills tracing its roots back to 2004. The optional four-pot, a turbocharged 2.0-liter unit, also belongs to the Theta family.

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The sole transmission offered for use within the 2019 Santa Fe is a Hyundai-bred eight-speed automatic. As for drivetrain options, front-wheel drive is standard, with HTRAC-capable all-wheel drive existing as an option. The HTRAC system, short for “Hyundai TRACtion,” is a variable-torque-split configuration capable of splitting power between the front and rear axles depending on conditions like wheel grip and overall throttle position.

Keeping with its age-old car-like ride, the 2019 Santa Fe is built on Hyundai’s Y-Platform vehicle architecture. Specifically, the SUV utilizes the Y7 variant, which is also shared with Hyundai and Kia models, such as the Sonata and Sorento. Its suspension configuration is a fully-independent setup, with MacPherson struts up front and a multi-link suspension in the rear. Stopping is taken care of courtesy of a set of disc brakes.

*Specs courtesy of Hyundai

Features

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In total, the 2019 Santa Fe is offered with a total of five trim levels, all of which offer both front-wheel-drive and rear-wheel-drive options. Beginning at the base grade is the SE grade, followed by the SEL trim. Moving up from there are the SEL Plus and the Limited grades. Topping the range off is the Ultimate level. The 2.0-liter turbocharged engine is only available for the Limited and Ultimate trims, with the naturally aspirated 2.4-liter mill being standard across the board.

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As for creature comforts, the standard features you’d expect in a modern car, such as electric windows, air conditioning, and power mirrors, are present. A seven-inch infotainment screen is standard, with an optional eight-inch unit available. Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay are standard, as well. Optionally, buyers could go for things like a 360-degree camera system, a panoramic sunroof, navigation, hands-free liftgate, and a wireless charging pad.

Should You Buy One?

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Both the short and long answer is yes, as the 2019 Santa Fe exhibits great value for money, along with a great overall score courtesy of Kelley Blue Book‘s experts. Consumers rated it just a tad lower, but still, the Hyundai SUV comes out on top. Alternatively, if Hyundai isn’t quite your flavor, you could spring for a 2019 Honda Pilot, the Santa Fe’s number one spot-mate according to Kelley Blue Book. However, the Pilot is a bit pricier, with a starting average used price of roughly $16,890.

Regardless of which one you choose, you’ll be getting a great mid-size SUV. With the Hyundai, however, your $3k savings over the Pilot could be put to good use.

Sources: Hyundai, Kelley Blue Book, Kelley Blue Book