Hyundai Santa Fe Limited vs. Calligraphy – What’s The Difference?

The Hyundai Santa Fe is a midsize SUV. This car is very reasonably priced and gets excellent gas mileage. If you're in the market for one of these vehicles, you know that it has several trim packages to choose from. But what are the differences between the highest trim levels—Limited and Calligraphy? We've done the research and can tell you precisely that!

These are the main differences between the Hyundai Santa Fe Limited and Calligraphy:

  • The Hyundai Santa Fe Limited has 19-inch alloy wheels. The Santa Fe Calligraphy has 20-inch alloy wheels.
  • The Santa Fe Limited has a standard chrome accent for the grille and door handles. The Calligraphy has a dark chrome grille and door handles.
  • Leather-trimmed seats are standard for the Limited trim. The Calligraphy trim comes standard with premium quilted Nappa leather-trimmed seats.
  • The leather steering wheel is perforated for the Calligraphy trim but not the Limited.
  • The Limited trim weighs 3,907 or 4,017 pounds depending on if you have FWD or AWD. The Calligraphy weighs 3,966 or 4,076 pounds for the FWD and AWD models.
  • The Calligraphy includes a heads-up display, eco-suede headliner, power rear windows, and accent lighting.

As you can see, several things set the Calligraphy and Limited trim levels apart. Please keep reading to learn more about their differences and similarities, some features that come standard with Santa Fe, and more important information!

A comparison between Hyundai Santa Fe Limited and Calligraphy, Hyundai Santa Fe Limited Vs. Calligraphy: What's The Difference?

The Differences Between The Limited And Calligraphy

The Calligraphy trim is the highest specification for the Santa Fe vehicle. So, it has several additional features that Limited does not. Let's take a closer look at these differences.

Price

One of the most notable differences between the two trims is the price point. The Limited has a starting MSRP of $39,110. The Calligraphy has a starting MSRP of $41,110. This is over $10,000 more expensive than the base model Santa Fe.

Wheel Size

New tire and rim
New tire and rim

The Limited trim level comes standard with 19-inch alloy wheels, while the Calligraphy has 20-inch alloy wheels. This is a slight difference in size. However, some drivers feel like 20-inch wheels are less comfortable to drive on than smaller wheels.

Chrome Accents

The Limited and Calligraphy trim levels have upgraded chrome accents. The Limited model has satin chrome door handles and a chrome accent on the front grille. The Calligraphy comes standard with dark chrome for the door handles and grille.

Seat Covers

The Calligraphy model comes standard with Nappa leather-trimmed seats, while the Limited has regular leather-trimmed seats. Nappa leather is considered of higher quality than standard leather.

Brown genuine leather

Nappa leather tends to be soft and is often dyed into pleasing colors. This is less common with standard leather seating. Nappa leather is also durable. With proper care, your seats will look great for years.

Steering Wheel

The Limited and Calligraphy come standard with a leather steering wheel. However, the leather for the Calligraphy is perforated instead of smooth. It's essential to keep both steering wheels clean. Leather tends to crack or get shiny after repeated exposure to dirt or grease.

One downside to having a perforated leather steering wheel is the holes. These can collect fuzz and dirt, making the wheel look dirty. However, some drivers feel that perforated leather is more comfortable than standard leather.

Weight

The Santa Fe Limited weighs less than the Calligraphy does. The front-wheel drive for the Limited is 3,907 pounds, while the Calligraphy front-wheel drive weighs 3,966 pounds. The Limited all-wheel-drive model weighs 4,017 pounds compared to the Calligraphy all-wheel drive's weight of 4,076 pounds.

When a car weighs more, it takes more work for the vehicle to accelerate. This difference in weight may mean that the Limited gets slightly better gas mileage than the Calligraphy.

Heads-Up Display

There are a ton of cool features that are included with the Limited and Calligraphy trims. Both models have a blind-spot monitor and surround-view monitor. The Calligraphy goes one step further and comes standard with a heads-up display.

The heads-up display will project information directly onto your windshield. Information that it can show includes speed and GPS navigation. Windshields that feature a HUD have a special film laminate. If you damage your windshield, it may cost more money to repair because of that feature.

Eco-Suede Headliner

A headliner is essentially the ceiling of your vehicle. These materials hide the metal interior of your car and provide insulation against heat and noise. The Limited model does not specify what type of headliner it has. However, the Calligraphy comes standard with an eco-sued microfiber headliner.

Power Rear Windows

The Limited and Calligraphy models have power windows for the passenger and driver sides. In the Calligraphy, you also have power windows for the rear windows. This feature means you can open and close all your windows without holding a button down the entire time.

Accent Lighting

There are aftermarket options to add ambient lighting to your vehicle. However, this feature comes standard with the Calligraphy trim. A research study has discovered that ambient lighting can decrease fatigue when driving at night. This lighting has also helped to make drivers feel safer in their cars.

Similarities

As you can see, many of the differences between the Limited and Calligraphy are cosmetic changes. Both of these trims tend to have the same mechanical properties and safety features.

Engine

The Santa Fe comes with a 4-cylinder turbo engine. The Limited and Calligraphy models both get 281 horsepower at 5,800 RPM. They both have a torque of 311 pounds per foot at 4,000 RPM.

With the Limited and Calligraphy models, you can tow between 1,650 and 3,500 pounds. The amount you can tow will depend on whether you have trailer brakes or not.

Standard Safety Features

The Limited and Calligraphy also include some great safety features. Here's a list of some of the additions they have:

  • Blind-spot collision avoidance
  • Rear cross-traffic collision avoidance
  • Ultrasonic rear occupant alert
  • Highway driving assist

How Many Santa Fe Trim Models Are There?

Blue Hyundai Santa Fe is driving along the road in the forest

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe has five different models available. They are the SE, SEL, XRT, Limited, and Calligraphy. The Calligraphy is considered Santa Fe's fully loaded model. The SE is the base model and lacks many of the great features included in higher models.

Is The Santa Fe Calligraphy Worth It?

The Calligraphy and Limited have good additional features. The thing that really sets the Calligraphy apart is the heads-up display. If you need the newest technology in your car, then the Calligraphy is worth the extra cost.

What's the difference between Santa Fe Calligraphy and SE?

There are a lot of differences between the base model Santa Fe and the Calligraphy. The Santa Fe SE has a combined gas mileage of 28 or 25 miles per gallon depending on if you have the front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive model. The Calligraphy has a combined mileage of 28 miles per gallon for both drive types.

In addition, the SE lacks all of the upgraded features that the Calligraphy has. So, you'll be missing out on things like HD radio, heated seats, and rain-sensing windshield wipers.

What Problems Does The Santa Fe Have?

Most of Hyundai Santa Fe's problems come from the 2017 and earlier models. Many drivers reported issues with their engines. This was typically a problem with the crankshaft position sensor.

In addition to this problem, Santa Fe has also had rough idling issues, no sound from the speakers, and a recall on the airbag computer.

Fortunately, many of the newer models seem to lack these previous issues.

For more information on Santa Fe's longevity, check out this post: How Long Can A Hyundai Santa Fe Last?

In Closing

Comparison between Hyundai Santa Fe Limited and Calligraphy, Hyundai Santa Fe Limited Vs. Calligraphy: What's The Difference?

The Hyundai Santa Fe is a great car that has several different models to choose from. The highest trim levels are the Limited and Calligraphy. While similar, there are a few key points that set them apart.

Consider these cars' differences in wheel size, weight, and extra features to decide which model is best for you!

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