Venerable Santa Fe piles on the pleasing perks

Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews also can be seen in the Northern & Central California Cruisin’ News magazine published monthly out of Folsom, California.

Sacramento, California -- The Hyundai Santa Fe has been around for 20 years now, and its popularity among American motorists is a major factor behind Hyundai's growth and success in the United States.

I can say, without shame, that I've been a long-time booster of the brand.  For years, I've recommended the Santa Fe to SUV shoppers as it consistently has been stuffed with customer-pleasing features for a bargain price.  It wasn't unusual for a loaded Santa Fe to be priced a good $5,000 a similarly loaded SUV from another automaker.

On top of that, Hyundai's generous warranties sealed the deal.

So, after a recent week in the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Limited AWD midsize SUV, here's a news flash: The current Santa Fe has much more to like.

So much more.

And this hybrid version is worth a look beyond the standard Santa Fe, which was rated Motor Trend magazine's No. 2 midsize SUV on the market, trailing only the Subaru Outback.

For me, it begins with a super-sporty look in this segment. The main course is the large, three-dimensional grille with a head-turning LED illumination feature.  Motor Trend called the "menacing maw" the centerpiece of "frightening front-end styling."

I call it cool.

Riding on 19-inch alloy wheels and wearing "Lagoon Blue" exterior paint, my ride stood out from the crowded SUV field.

The hybrid powertrain includes a turbocharged 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engine and permanent magnet synchronous motor, a system that generates around 225 horsepower.

On the fly, the tester was a silky smooth cruiser on freeways and an able slalom machine on city streets.  Climbing ability was good.  Interior cabin noise was minimal.

Interior room and cargo capacity are ideal for urban dwellers and rural residents.

Fuel mileage on the tester was a solid 33 miles per gallon in the city and 30 mpg on the highway.

This being a Hyundai, I was once again impressed by how well equipped it was, especially given the pricier, similarly equipped competition.

My Hyundai hybrid's standard equipment included heated front/rear seat (plus a heated steering wheel), power release second row seats, a Harman Kardon premium audio system, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, remote smart park assist and a panoramic sunroof.

Top-flight safety technology also was part of the standard deal.

That's a $50,000 package on other midsize SUVs.  The bottom line on my ride came to $41,290.

Tempting?  Yes.  Test drive-worthy?  Positively.