Home › Automotive

By Elizabeth Foster•Last Updated April 15, 2025

Hyundai Santa Fe XRT: The Complete Guide to This Rugged SUV Trim

What’s the Hyundai Santa Fe XRT?

The Hyundai Santa Fe XRT is a specialized trim level of the popular Hyundai Santa Fe midsize SUV. This variant feature a more rugged, adventure ready appearance and additional features design to appeal to outdoor enthusiasts and those seek a more robust look SUV without step up to a dedicated off-road vehicle.

Position within the Santa Fe lineup, the XRT trim sits between theSELl and limited models, offer a distinct alternative for buyers who want something more visually striking than the standard models but don’t needsto needd the luxury appointments of the top tier trims.

Key exterior features of the Santa Fe XRT

The Santa Fe XRT forthwith stand out from other trim levels with its more aggressive styling elements:

Distinctive styling elements

Matte black 18-inch alloy wheels with a rugged design
Dark front and rear lower bumper fascia
Dark side moldings for a more muscular appearance
Front and rear skid plates for a tougher look
Side steps for easier entry and exit
Roof side rails and cross rails for additional cargo capacity
Exclusive XRT badging

These design elements give the Santa Fe XRT a more capable, outdoorsy appearance that set it aside from the more conventional look Santa Fe trims. The black accents and rugged additions create a vehicle that look ready for adventure, eventide if it’s exactly head to the local shopping center.

Color options

The Santa Fe XRT is available in several exterior color options, though typically with fewer choices than other trims. The available colors are select to complement the black accents and adventure focus aesthetic of the vehicle. Popular choices include:

Calypso red
Portion gray
Twilight black
White pearl
Hampton gray

Performance and capability

Despite its rugged appearance, it’s important to understand that the Santa Fe XRT is mainly a styling package quite than a comprehensive off-road performance upgrade.

Engine and transmission

The Santa Fe XRT typically come equip with the standard powertrain find in mid-level Santa Fe models:

2.5 liter four-cylinder engines
191 horsepower and 181 lb ft of torque
8 speed automatic transmission

This provides adequate power for everyday driving, though it’s not the nearly powerful option in theSanta Fee lineup. For those seek more performance, higher trim levels offer a turbocharge engine with importantly more power.

Drivetrain options

The XRT is available in both:

Front-wheel drive (fwd )configuration
Track all-wheel drive (aAWD)system

The AWD option provide better traction in adverse conditions and somewhat improve off-road capability, make it the preferred choice for those who really intend to venture off the beat path or live in areas with challenge weather conditions.

Off-road capabilities

While the XRT look more rugged, it doesn’t feature significant mechanical upgrades for serious off-roading. It offers:

Standard ground clearance (not increase over other sSanta Femodels )
No additional underbody protection beyond cosmetic skid plates
No specialized off-road driving modes
Standard all-season tires preferably than all terrain options

The Santa Fe XRT is fountainhead suit for light off-road adventures like dirt roads, gravel paths, and snow cover streets instead than challenge trails or rock crawling.

Interior features and technology

Interior, the Santa Fe XRT shares many features with the SEL trim level but include some unique elements to complement its rugged exterior.

Interior design and materials

The XRT interior typically features:

Dark theme cabin with black cloth upholstery
Durable materials design to withstand active lifestyles
XRT specific interior accents
Leather wrap steering wheel and shift knob

The focus is on practical, durable materials quite than luxury appointments, align with the adventure ready positioning of the XRT trim.

Technology and infotainment

The Santa Fe XRT come considerably equip with technology features include:

8 inch touchscreen infotainment system
Wireless Apple Carplay and android auto
Bluetooth connectivity
Multiple USB ports
Dual zone automatic climate control
Proximity key with push button start

Higher end technology feature like the larger 10.25 inch touchscreen, premium audio system, and digital instrument cluster are typically reserve for more expensive trim levels.

Comfort and convenience

Despite its rugged positioning, the XRT doesn’t skimp on comfort features:

Heated front seats
Power adjustable driver’s seat
60/40 split fold second row seats
Rear air vents
Smart cruise control with stop and go capability
Auto dim rearview mirror with home link

These features ensure the XRT remain comfortable for daily driving while ease appeal to the adventure minded buyer.

Safety features

Safety is a priority across all Santa Fe models, and the XRT is no exception. It comes equip with Hyundai’s smart sense suite of advanced safety technologies.

Standard safety features

Forward collision avoidance assist with pedestrian detection
Lane keep assist and lane following assist
Driver attention warning
Blind spot collision avoidance assist
Rear cross traffic collision avoidance assist
Safe exit assist
Highway driving assist
Rear occupant alert

These features provide comprehensive protection for everyday drive scenarios, help to prevent accidents and mitigate their severity when they do occur.

Structural safety

Beyond electronic safety systems, the Santa Fe XRT benefits from Hyundai’s advanced engineering:

High strength steel body structure
Multiple airbags throughout the cabin
Energy absorb crumple zones
Reinforce passenger compartment

These structural elements help the Santa Fe achieve excellent crash test ratings from organizations like the IHS and nNHTSA

Pricing and value proposition

The Santa Fe XRT offer a compelling value proposition for buyers seek a more distinctive SUV without move to a premium price point.

Position in the Santa Fe lineup

The XRT typically sit in the middle of the Santa Fe range:

More expensive than the base see andmid-levellSELl trims
Less expensive than the limited and calligraphy luxury orient trims

This positioning make it accessible to buyers who want something more special than the standard models but don’t need or want to pay for the luxury features of the top trims.

Value compare to competitors

When compare to similar rugged style variants from competitors, the Santa Fe XRT much present strong value:

More standard features than many likewise price competitors
Hyundai’s excellent warranty coverage (5 year/60,000 mile basic and 10 year/100,000 mile ppowertrain)
Complimentary maintenance for 3 years/36,000 miles

These factors make the XRT an attractive option for value conscious buyers who don’t want to sacrifice style or features.

How the XRT compare to other Santa Fe trims

Understand how the XRT fit into the broader Santa Fe lineup help clarify its appeal and target market.

XRT vs. SEL trim

The XRT build on the SEL trim with:

More aggressive exterior styling
Additional exterior features like roof rails and side steps
Unique wheels and trim elements

Automatically and in terms of interior features, they’re rather similar, with the XRT command a modest premium for its distinctive appearance.

XRT vs. Limited / calligraphy trims

The higher end trims differ from the XRT in several key ways:

More luxury orient styling versus the XRT’s rugged look
Available turbocharge engine with more power
Leather seating (versus cloth in the xXRT)
Additional technology feature like larger infotainment screen and digital instrument cluster
More comfort features like ventilate seats and heated rear seats

The choice between these trims come down to whether a buyer prioritize the rugged aesthetic or luxury appointments.

Ideal buyers for the Santa Fe XRT

The Santa Fe XRT appeals to specific types of buyers look for something different in the crowded midsize SUV segment.

Target demographics

The XRT is peculiarly appeal to:

Active lifestyle enthusiasts who want a vehicle that match their outdoor image
Buyers who appreciate distinctive styling without move to a dedicated off-road vehicle
Families who want a practical SUV with more personality than standard models
Urban dwellers who occasionally venture to outdoor recreation areas

These buyers value the appearance of adventure readiness, yet if they don’t regularly push the vehicle’s capabilities to their limits.

Use cases and scenarios

The Santa Fe XRT is considerably suit for:

Daily commute with occasional weekend adventures
Family road trips to national parks and outdoor destinations
Light off-road excursions to camp sites or trailheads
All weather drive in regions with snow or rain

It strikes a balance between everyday practicality and weekend adventure capability.

Competitors in the rugged SUV segment

The Santa Fe XRT isn’t alone in offer a more rugged look variant of a mainstream SUV. Several competitors have similar offerings:

Direct competitors

Toyota RAV4 adventure and try off-road
Honda passport trail sport
Ford edge outfitters
Subaru Outback wilderness
Kia Sorento x line

These models all follow a similar formula: take a popular SUV, add more aggressive styling and some light off-road enhancements, and target buyers who want a more adventurous image.

Comparative advantages

When compare to these competitors, the Santa Fe XRT offer:

More interior space than some competitors (peculiarly the rav4 )
Better warranty coverage than most rivals
Competitive pricing
Distinctive styling that stand out in the segment

Yet, some competitors (especially the sSubaru Outbackwilderness )offer more substantial ofoff-roadapability upgrades sooner than focus mainly on appearance.

Ownership experience

Beyond the vehicle itself, the ownership experience is an important consideration for potential Santa Fe XRT buyers.

Reliability and maintenance

The Santa Fe platform has proved comparatively reliable in recent years, withHyundaii as a brand show significant improvements in quality and dependability rankings. TheXRTt specifically benefit from:

Hyundai’s comprehensive warranty coverage
Complimentary maintenance for the first 3 years/36,000 miles
An intimately establish service network
Comparatively, straightforward mechanical components without complexoff-roadd systems to maintain

These factors contribute to a broadly positive ownership experience with manageable operating costs.

Resale value

Historically, Hyundai vehicles haven’t held their value amp considerably as some Japanese competitors, but this gap has narrow in recent years. The XRT trim specifically may benefit from:

Distinctive styling that appeal to use car buyers
The continue popularity of rugged look SUVs in the market
The transferable portion of Hyundai’s warranty

While not class lead in resale value, the Santa Fe XRT should perform adequately in this regard, peculiarly compare to standard Santa Fe trims.

Conclusion: is the Santa Fe XRT right for you?

The Hyundai Santa Fe XRT occupy an interesting niche in the midsize SUV market. It offers distinctive, rugged styling and practical features at a reasonable price point, make it appeal to buyers who want something different without break the bank.

The XRT is advantageously suit for those who value appearance and versatility over maximum off-road capability or luxury appointments. It’s a practical family vehicle with enough personality to stand out in a crowded parking lot, and enough capability to handle light off-road excursions when the mood strikes.

For buyers who regularly tackle serious off-road trails, a more dedicated vehicle like a jeep or 4runner would be more appropriate. Likewise, those prioritize luxury features would be advantageously served by theSanta Fee’s higher trim levels or competitors from premium brands.

Finally, the Santa Fe XRT succeed in its mission to offer something visually distinctive and much capable within the mainstream SUV segment, provide a compelling option for buyers seek a balance of everyday usability and adventure ready style.