The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe is a midsize SUV with a lot going for it. It has a nice, upscale interior and excellent gas mileage. Yet two major critics can’t agree on whether the 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe is a good SUV or not. Kelley Blue Book and Consumer Reports, two giants in the realm of car experts, differ wildly on whether they think the 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe is worthy of purchasing. While Kelley Blue Book thinks it’s wonderful, Consumer Reports doesn’t love the 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe’s reliability. Here’s what each critic thinks, and whether the 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe is an SUV you should buy or steer totally clear of.

Is the 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe reliable?

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe may be one of the most popular SUV models, but Consumer Reports recently stopped recommending it. That’s because of the 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe’s reliability could be better. It suffers from ongoing transmission problems, which get just a 3/5 for the 2021 model. In addition to having transmission problems, Santa Fe owners have reported having to replace the transmission computer. Paint and trim problems are rife in the Hyundai Santa Fe, scoring a 2/5. Body hardware, in-car electronics, and power equipment all get a 3/5 for reliability. Overall, the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe scores just a 2/5.

While the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe reliability rating is bad, the reliability ratings of the 2018, 2019, and 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe before that are great, at 4/5. Yet Consumer Reports uses data from the 2021 model to inform its decision when making a prediction of reliability. Mechanical knowledge is also a factor.

The 2022 Santa Fe is being called one of the best midsize SUVs of 2022

On the other hand, Kelley Blue Book calls the 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe one of the best 23 midsize SUVs coming out next year. Kelley Blue Book says that the 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe is “loaded with value,” is great no gas, and has a high-end interior. It also calls it “pleasant midsize SUV to drive,” and points to its affordable starting price as a reason consumers may be drawn to it.

In addition, Kelley Blue Book loves its Remote Smart Parking Assist, which allows you to park your car like a giant remote control car. That sounds both totally awesome and totally scary, based on the accuracy of most remote control cars. Highway Driving Assist is also an advantage in the 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe, as it uses both adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist to make driving on the highway easier and safer (yet it does recommend keeping your hands on the wheel and eyes on the road).

Is the Hyundai Santa Fe a good car?

Whether you’ll be happy with the 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe may depend on how much of a risk-taker you are. The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe is certainly a good SUV in many respects: it’s a good size, has a decent ride, and has a nice interior. Yet in others, it’s not so great. If you’re the type to worry about the potential of expensive repairs, then you may not be happy in the 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe. If you’re not inclined to take that risk, there are other many great midsize SUVs out there.