You and me both. The cupholder situation in this car is sub-optimal, especially if you ferry kids around regularly. With 5 people in the car, the rear can't bring down the arm rest with the cup holders.

 

They should have at least put one on the upper section of each rear door.

 

There are 2 cup holders in the front, and 2 in the rear in the armrest. I know these may not fit 'buckets', but they will take normal cups happilly (Venti-size cups fit fine). I know some sites have made inserts available for bigger cups to fit into these holders for some vehicles, may be able to find something for a Santa Fe 2022 that might work.

There are other bottle holders in the doors, which will work fine if you're using larger cups, as long as they are spill-proof. I know that the rear cupholders aren't available if the center seat is in use, but that's the same for most vehicles really.

For most owners, these cupholders work fine, and look sleek and unobtrusive. Not sure I'd be keen on bigger cupholders sticking out the doors, but suppose different requirements for different people...

 

There are 2 cup holders in the front, and 2 in the rear in the armrest. I know these may not fit 'buckets', but they will take normal cups happilly (Venti-size cups fit fine). I know some sites have made inserts available for bigger cups to fit into these holders for some vehicles, may be able to find something for a Santa Fe 2022 that might work.

There are other bottle holders in the doors, which will work fine if you're using larger cups, as long as they are spill-proof. I know that the rear cupholders aren't available if the center seat is in use, but that's the same for most vehicles really.

For most owners, these cupholders work fine, and look sleek and unobtrusive. Not sure I'd be keen on bigger cupholders sticking out the doors, but suppose different requirements for different people...
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The second row ones are worthless if you have a car seat or three passengers in the back. Don't give Hyundai a pass on this one.

 

I will say the Santa Fe is a vast improvement for cupholders over my previous two cars (a Peugeot and a Citroen). The cupholders in both those cars were so close together (in the front) that you couldn't even do a mid-sized Starbucks type coffee in both holders at once. More designed for 330ml Coke cans. And nothing in the back for the kids...

 

Everywhere but the US, "normal" size is a 12 oz can. Think of it as Hyundai helping you with your diet. Biggie size drinks can have as many calories as an entire meal.

 

This is my second Santa Fe and each time Hyundai has messed up the cup holder situation. In 2013, there were absolutely NO cup holders in the second row.

Fast forward to 2022 and they once again failed. My wife and I like to get fountain drinks from Circle K. Only one Circle K drink will fit in the front console. Big disappointment.

I am waiting to purchase the Santa Fe PHEV and am excited, but wish the cup holder situation was a bit better for our planned road-trips.

I know, first world problems. Thanks.

For the next 30 days on the road, pay attention to all the other vehicles around you. Count the number of occupants in each vehicle. Don;t be shocked if that number on any given day (outside of Sunday) is only (1) inside approx 75% of those vehicles you just observed.

Now does that answer your question why one cup holder is sufficient? So if one cup holder is all that's needed inside a vehicle that's designed with only enough room to have one cup holder on the center console, then no further need to address this topic comes to my mind. In almost every design of the interior console area, the more space you devote to cup holders there, less amount of room is inside that storage department of the console.

You can have your cake and eat it too. Just don't expect the person sitting next to you in the front seat to wash down that cake, by reaching for that 2nd cup holder on the console.

My Hyundai console storage area (one cup holder) is larger than our Kia Soul storage area, which contains two cup holders on the console. Some things inside our vehicles are more important than other things. I prefer front seat-area hiding spaces over an extra cup holder.

 

I am very unsatisfied with the 2023 Santa Fe drink/cup holder situation too!
**The driver’s door drink holder doesn’t hold my basic bottle of water!
We always have the two holders in the middle console filled and it’s very cramped for space.
No other space to sit anything - as phone charger is the only other space.
The armrest console is to chunky and fat.
Janet Capezza

 

I am very unsatisfied with the 2023 Santa Fe drink/cup holder situation too!
**The driver’s door drink holder doesn’t hold my basic bottle of water!
We always have the two holders in the middle console filled and it’s very cramped for space.
No other space to sit anything - as phone charger is the only other space.
The armrest console is to chunky and fat.
Janet Capezza

Since 1962 I've bought and sold over 25 cars until I finally got one with suitable cup holders. I'm fortunate, some of my relatives died and never had a car with cup holders.