Hyundai Santa Fe XRT

This off-road trim level is ready for when the going gets tough.

Benjamin Hunting | 

May 15, 2025 | 3 min read

Hyundai

The Hyundai Santa Fe XRT trim level provides this three-row SUV with light off-roading capabilities. Here's a look at the features and advantages that set the XRT edition apart from other trims.

More Ground Clearance

The Hyundai Santa Fe XRT is 1.3 inches taller than any other all-wheel drive (AWD) version of the SUV, thanks in part to a suspension lift designed to help tackle off-road obstacles.

In total, the Santa Fe features 8.3 inches of ground clearance, which is less than the off-road-friendly Subaru Outback Wilderness but a match for the similar Honda Passport TrailSport.

Hyundai

Off-Road Tires

A set of all-terrain tires comes standard with the Santa Fe XRT, helping the vehicle handle low-traction situations.

In fact, not only do its Continental TerrainContact tires offer the kind of knobby tread needed to handle driving conditions like mud, sand, and gravel, but their taller sidewall also contributes to the vehicle's overall ground clearance, working in tandem with the suspension to lift the XRT above the fray.

Better Approach, Departure, and Breakover Angles

The combination of a more rugged suspension and big sidewalls helps the Hyundai Santa Fe XRT improve its key angles. Specifically, the XRT's 19.3-degree approach angle is almost 2 degrees greater than the standard version of the SUV, and its 21.8-degree departure angle and 19.1-degree breakover angle represent similar upgrades compared with all other versions of the Santa Fe.

This ensures that the XRT can climb over steeper terrain without rubbing either the middle of the chassis or the back bumper when clambering back down again.

Hyundai

Distinctive Looks

The Santa Fe XRT doesn't go all-out in advertising its above-average capabilities when the going gets tough, but some changes to its styling hint at its off-road potential. They include design elements on its blacked-out wheels that call to mind the beadlock look of more focused off-road fare, as well as black mirror caps, a darker grille, and XRT-badged seats.

Standard All-Wheel Drive

AWD is standard on the Hyundai Santa Fe XRT. While it shares the same AWD system with other models, the XRT has an electronic advantage regarding its traction-control system, which is programmed to reflect the realities inherent in trail driving. This means that the Santa Fe XRT will allow for more wheel spin in low-traction conditions, which can help drivers maintain forward momentum.

Hyundai

Higher Tow Rating

The Hyundai Santa Fe XRT isn't just good for exploring or overlanding — it's also the most capable towing choice in the SUV's trim lineup. While every other gas-only version of the Santa Fe is rated to pull 3,500 pounds of trailer weight, the XRT adds another 1,000 pounds to that figure for a total tow rating of 4,500 pounds.

Benjamin Hunting

Nearly two decades into his career as an automotive journalist, Benjamin has had his hands greasy, his hair blown back, and his heart broken by more than one project car. In addition to his work at Capital One, he has contributed features and reviews to Motor Trend, Car and Driver, Hagerty, Driving Line, Inside Hook, Super Street, European Car, Roadkill Magazine, Motor 1, The Drive, the Toronto Star, the National Post, Business Insider, NAPA, Autoblog, Automotive News Canada, and AutoGuide. He is also cohost of the Unnamed Automotive Podcast and cocreator of the Code 45 and Dead Air graphic novels. In his spare time, he's a friend to vinyl and enjoys keeping the shiny side up during track days.