Kelley Blue Book just named the 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe the “2-Row Midsize SUV Best Buy of 2022.” Kelley Blue Book loves the Santa Fe’s many trim levels and powertrains, as well as its features and technology. In addition, the Santa Fe has a pretty reasonable starting price. Yet there’s one thing about the Hyundai Santa Fe that may keep people from wanting to buy it, and it has something to do with how well Santa Fes tend to hold up.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe is the “2-Row Midsize SUV Best Buy of 2022”

Kelley Blue Book finds a lot to love in the 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe. It’s a five-passenger midsize SUV that “drives well, looks great, exudes quality, and feels more expensive than it is.” There are eleven trim levels and four powertrains to choose from in the Santa Fe, making it versatile and a great fit for a wide range of car shoppers. In fact, this is the third year that the Santa Fe has won the Kelley Blue Book Best Buy award.

The Hyundai Santa Fe plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) is one of the eleven trim options. Its fuel economy is perhaps one of the biggest selling points of the Santa Fe. It can travel 30 miles on just electricity. With the Santa Fe taking just four hours to fully charge, it is conceivable that you could primarily drive on electricity alone.

The Santa Fe’s reliability is a question

Consumer Reports recently stopped recommending the Hyundai Santa Fe, giving it just a 2/5 for predicted reliability. That’s because it suffers from ongoing transmission problems. The 2021 Santa Fe gets just a 3/5 for reliability. There are also transmission computer problems. Paint and trim problems are common 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. Perhaps the actual reliability of the 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe will be better than anticipated.

The base model Santa Fe is fully stocked

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe base model is the SE. It starts at $27,400 and comes with a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine that makes 187 hp and is matched to an eight-speed automatic transmission. It also has 18-inch wheels and an 8-inch touchscreen that’s compatible with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Among the other Santa Fe models include the Santa Fe Blue, which is a faster SUV model. It has a hybrid powertrain with a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine, a 60-hp motor and can make 226 hp. The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited and Calligraphy are the high-end models of the Hyundai SUV. They cost $38,960 and $40,960 respectively. These both have a turbocharged 2.5-liter 4-culidner engine that makes 281 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque.

Maybe the predicted reliability rating won’t bother you and you’re willing to take your chances on the Santa Fe. If that’s the case, you just might love the 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe. It’s Kelley Blue Book’s “2-Row Midsize SUV Best Buy of 2022” for a good reason, after all, and its combination of fuel economy and function makes it a great choice for a lot of car shoppers.