2019 Hyundai Santa Fe XL Safety and Reliability

Safety scores for the Santa Fe XL are high from both government safety agencies, with the IIHS's review of the Santa Fe XL resulting in a 2019 Top Safety Pick due to the impressive forward collision avoidance systems which are optionally available. The NHTSA, meanwhile, gave the XL five out of five stars.

While there's the standard raft of stability controls, the Santa Fe XL's best safety features are those found on the Limited Ultimate model which include rear park sensors, and a multi-view reverse camera, with optional smart cruise control with start/stop, lane departure warning, high beam assist, and crucially, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection. It's these features that make the Limited Ultimate worth the extra spend. Additionally, you'll find seven airbags as standard, including dual front airbags, front side airbags, side curtain airbags, and a driver's knee airbag.

Most modern Hyundais are highly reliable, but the Santa Fe XL has suffered more problems than most of Hyundai's other offerings. J.D Power rated the XL at an overall reliability score of 79 out of 100 subsequent to its review of the family hauler. The Toyota Highlander scores marginally better at 80 out of 100 while Mazda's CX-9 scores worse at 76. A few issues have been reported like slipping gearboxes, stalling, and other potential drivetrain issues. There have been several recalls during the course of the XL's previous incarnation as a Santa Fe, but the 2019 model seems to have rectified many of the issues, and as the run-out model may well be the most reliable one yet, while Hyundai's extensive warranty guarantees peace of mind.