2027 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid SEL AWD Review for Rockaway Drivers

Seven Seats and 35 MPG for the Rockaway Peninsula

Seven seats, 35 miles per gallon, and all-wheel drive packed into a single sport utility vehicle make up the core pitch of the 2027 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid SEL AWD. According to rockawave.com, the vehicle is built specifically for how families drive across the Rockaway peninsula, handling short trips along the stretch, bridge crossings, traffic jams, and beach gear. Dan Rose reviewed the hybrid in a recent video demonstration, mapping out how the vehicle handles life between the bay and the ocean.

Most driving across the peninsula involves stop-and-go conditions. Cross Bay Boulevard during summer months, Beach Channel Drive at rush hour, and the approaches to the Marine Parkway bridge test fuel efficiency constantly. In those slow environments, the hybrid electric motor shoulders most of the work. Official window sticker figures place the vehicle at 35 miles per gallon combined, splitting into 35 city and 34 highway. By comparison, the gas-only SEL achieves 23 miles per gallon. For a driver covering 10,000 miles annually, the hybrid consumes roughly 150 fewer gallons of fuel.

Hyundai Powertrain Provides Traction and Power for Winter Commuting

Peninsula winters bring heavy nor’easters that bury parked vehicles along Shore Front Parkway, requiring drivers to claw their way out of plowed-in spots. The SEL AWD comes equipped with Hyundai’s HTRAC all-wheel drive as standard equipment, giving drivers traction when conditions turn severe. Heated front seats ease the early morning commute across the bridge in February, while the 1.6-liter turbocharged hybrid powertrain generates 231 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque, providing enough pull to merge onto the Belt Parkway with a full cabin.

Hyundai santa fe hybrid front — Photo: kbb.com

Real-world utility faces different expectations from owners, however. One owner noted that while the cargo space easily swallows gear, dogs, and golf clubs with the rear seats folded completely flat, other elements fall short.

The stock audio system is weak. I had to add a sub to get anything approaching decent bass, which is disappointing for something with Bose audio. The biggest frustration is the cruise control. It will not function properly if you are wearing sunglasses in the Colorado sun.

Fuel economy also draws mixed feedback from actual drivers. While official window stickers advertise up to 35 miles per gallon, some owners report averaging closer to 25 to 28 miles per gallon per tank. The vehicle also omits a traditional spare tire, supplying only a flat repair kit instead.

2027 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid SEL AWD Review

Three Rows Seat Seven Passengers and Expand Cargo Space

Carrying capacity remains a strong point for larger households. The Santa Fe Hybrid seats seven across three rows, leaving 14.6 cubic feet of cargo room behind the third row even when all seats are upright. Folding the third row expands cargo space to 40.5 cubic feet, while dropping both rear rows opens up 79.6 cubic feet. USB charging ports populate every row, and separate air vents for the second and third rows help manage heat during July afternoons. The vehicle is rated to tow up to 2,000 pounds for small trailers or kayaks.

Measuring 190.2 inches bumper to bumper, the SUV remains compact enough for tight curbside spaces on beach blocks and narrow driveways in Belle Harbor and Neponsit. Because no physical Hyundai dealership sits directly on the Rockaway peninsula, buyers typically cross the bridges to locations like Plaza Hyundai on Nostrand Avenue in Brooklyn or Empire Hyundai of Jamaica on Hillside Avenue in Queens for test drives.

Leasing options provide an alternative route for local residents. rockawave.com reported that drivers can take a written price from a mainland dealership and forward it to VIP Auto Lease for matching or beating with zero-down terms. Monthly payments for the Santa Fe Hybrid start at $255 per month with zero down, subject to changing manufacturer incentives. Because Rockaway sits within Queens, the city’s 8.875 percent sales tax applies and is generally folded into the monthly payment structure. Hyundai backs the vehicle with a five-year or 60,000-mile basic warranty, extending to a decade or 100,000 miles for the powertrain and hybrid components.