- Hyundai just confirmed more specs and details for the massively updated Santa Fe, including an off-road-inspired XRT trim.
- In August, we saw a more extreme example of the XRT in concept form, but things have been toned down for the production version.
- The XRT trim adds some black trim pieces, all-terrain, extra ground clearance, and has a tow rating of 4500 pounds.
It’s no secret that the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe looks like it came straight out of the Land Rover design book. So it comes as no surprise that the manufacturer is looking to cash in on the off-road cachet that generally goes along with big, boxy SUVs. Now Hyundai has confirmed that the new generation Santa Fe will receive an off-road-inspired XRT trim. XRT isn’t a new thing for Hyundai, as the brand already offers the trim level for numerous models in its lineup, including the outgoing Santa Fe, the Tucson, the Palisade, and the Santa Cruz.
As recently as August, Hyundai revealed a concept version of the 2024 Santa Fe fitted with a raised ride height, chunky BF Goodrich all-terrain tires, and add-ons including a heftier roof rack with a cargo carrier and a spare tire, a ladder on the rear tailgate, and cargo boxes for the rearmost side windows.
The production version is considerably more tame. Changes to the interior look pretty minimal apart from the XRT logo stamped into the seats. Exterior trim pieces and cladding are finished in dark chrome and black. So are the roof rails, which add cross bars for the XRT. The knobby BF Goodrich tires from the concept have been swapped out for a more civilized set of Continental TerrainContact all-terrain tires. The new XRT isn’t entirely without teeth though, as the trim brings about an additional 1.5 inches of ground clearance over the standard trims. The XRT also brings maximum towing capacity up to 4500 pounds when equipped with the towing package.
Hyundai was mum on the details surrounding the XRT’s powertrain options, but we think it’s safe to assume the XRT will only be available with the 277-horsepower 2.5-liter turbo four that’s now standard across the Santa Fe lineup. This engine uses an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, and we assume the XRT will come standard with all-wheel drive (front-wheel drive might be standard on other trims, but Hyundai has yet to confirm those details).
According to Hyundai, the turbocharged Santa Fe will go on sale in March 2024, while the hybrid model, with a 232-hp setup that uses a turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-four gas engine, won’t arrive until later in the spring. We’ll have to wait until a bit closer to the on-sale date before we get official pricing information.
Associate News Editor
Jack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1.
After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf.