2024 Hyundai Santa Fe Becomes a Bigger, Bolder Family Hauler

• The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe was first revealed last month, but now we have more details about the mid-size SUV.

• The new Santa Fe's wild design transformation accompanies larger overall dimensions and a longer wheelbase.

• Its stretched proportions help increase interior space, and U.S. models see the return of a three-row configuration.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe's shocking makeover was revealed to the world last month. While that spoils some of the surprise, Hyundai has now revealed more specific details about the new wildly styled mid-size SUV. Not only is the fifth-generation Santa Fe bigger than its predecessor in almost every way, but it introduces fresh features, including U.S. models regaining a third row of seats.

Bigger and Bolder Than Before

If it wasn't still called the Santa Fe, no one would know the Minecraft-looking ute seen in these photos has any relation to the outgoing generation, which debuted for the 2019 model year and received a facelift for 2021. To better ensure that onlookers will recognize the new Santa Fe is, in fact, a Hyundai, the company incorporates H-shaped front and rear lighting elements that complete the in-your-face design.

Compared with the previous Santa Fe, the 2024 version grows front to back, up and down, and between its axles. It now measures 190.2 inches long, which is 1.8 inches more than before. That's still about a half-foot shorter than the three-row Hyundai Palisade, but the distance between the Santa Fe's axles has been extended by 1.9 inches. Its 110.8-inch wheelbase now provides more passenger space, specifically for the third row. Previously, the outgoing generation that was sold in other markets offered the extra row, but those sold on our shores were only offered with two rows.

While the new Santa Fe is just as wide as before, it's now between about an inch or two taller (not counting the prominent roof rails that are available). Unlike before, it's now available with giant 21-inch wheels—previously 20s were the largest set. Hyundai also says there's more room for hauling people's stuff, with cargo space behind the far-back row growing by a few cubes to 26 cubic feet. A larger liftgate aperture is supposed to make moving things in and out easier.

A More Open Concept Inside

When people climb into the redesigned Santa Fe, it's possible they'll confuse it for a Land Rover. That might not make Land Rover owners happy, but it'll likely appeal to everyone else. We think the new dashboard design, with its upright layout and subtle H-shaped elements, looks handsome. We also appreciate the new column-mounted shifter and the inclusion of physical knobs for the audio system as well as some HVAC controls, which sandwich a 6.6-inch touch panel.