Hyundai Santa Fe Long Term Update
October 27, 2009 by Karl Peskett
We’ve just been racking up the kilometres on our long term tester, the Santa Fe Elite CRDi. We’ve passed the 8500km mark, and with no real dramas, there’s not a lot to report.
To be honest, we’d rather it that way, as it means trouble free motoring for any who buys a Santa Fe. The engine is strong, the gearbox smooth, the brakes are good and dynamically it’s more car-like than four-wheel-drive. Steering feel is nothing outstanding, but it’s not too artificial either.
If you’re wondering about space, you’ll probably be surprised to learn that it is exactly the same width inside as a Toyota Prado. Yes, we checked with a tape measure. This means that it’s possible to have a seven-seat diesel SUV without spending a fortune – the SLX CRDi starts from $41,990.
Fuel usage is still coming in at 9.8L/100km, and that’s city-only driving. The other engine related piece of interest is how well the Santa Fe holds up to the heat. On a 35-plus-degree day, we had the car running for virtually all of it as we skipped from shop to shop trying to keep someone in the family happy with a spate of retail therapy.
So it was stop-start conditions with the air-con switched to the “Antarctic” position. The electric fan and compressor clicked on and off the entire time, both trying to keep their part of the car cool. One eye was kept on the bank balance as more bags were loaded (thank goodness we had an SUV) and the other on the temperature gauge. The needle didn’t move an inch. The bank balance was another story…
The stereo also must be mentioned. In the Elite, you get seven speakers, including a subwoofer, and when connected to an iPod or with an MP3 CD, the sound is nothing short of brilliant. There’s plenty of bass, the treble is crystal clear, and there’s no drowning out by the mid-range.
Add to that easy to clean leather seats, self-dimming rear view mirror, dual-zone climate control, sun-roof and roof racks and you’ll agree that the Santa Fe is a pretty comprehensive package.
Next update we’ll be wrapping up and handing the car back. We’ve already taken the car on our long trip and are just calculating the fuel usage. Oh, and trying to calm ourselves down from the near-miss with a couple of kangaroos. Watch this space.
Print it: 
The review all sounds good – I’d expect the forthcoming upgrade with the new Diesel should be even better.
Looking fwd to the updated fuel consumption figure after your country trip.
Saying that though , I can imagine everything which you talked about with the new Sorrento drivetrain wise, should be applicable to the Santa Fe.
IMO the new sorento is a better looking car, interior & exterior
Santafe is originally good car.
The Hyundai Santa Fe was awarded 2008 Consumer Reports “top pick” and was among the top 10 vehicles for 2008 unveiled in the magazine’s issue. The magazine’s annual ratings, based on road tests and predicted safety and reliability, are considered highly influential among consumers
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23390986/
The Hyundai Santa Fe topped the “20 least expensive 2009 vehicles to insure” list by Insure.com. According to research, the Santa Fe is the least expensive vehicle to insure. Low rates tend to reflect a vehicle’s safety.
http://usnews.rankingsandrevie.....to-Insure/
Hyundai’s Santa Fe earned 2007 TOP SAFETY PICK award by IIHS.
http://www.iihs.org/news/rss/pr061107.html
Great car, but manages to be noticeably ugly and totally anonymous at the same time… somehow.
Cant wait for the new model, it’ll be an even better car and it’ll look GREAT just like all Korea’s new offerings.
Take that Japan and pick up your game.
Exactly, as pointed out before – If anything positive develops – at the very least it will pressure all the various makers to lift their respective games if the Koreans are on such a rapid march..
Thus encouraging Toyota to hurry up and release sportier cars. . .
So how much is a Prado? Same space, interesting. Old model Santa Fe is ugly, new model Prado is ugly. If the new Santa Fe is better looking, it may do Toyota a lot of damage. Of course it will probably never be as good as the Prado off road (being a soft roader) but considering most Prados don’t touch the dirt – it shouldn’t hamper many sales.
What interests me now is – how well does it drive? Not the motor/gearbox(now a given) but handling/dynamics on road?
And compared to the Kia sorento.
I’ve driven the new sorento and a 09 santa Fe(superceded diesel) [two weeks apart, not back to back], but a decent test drive only lasts 30 minutes.
We have an 08 forester that tested fine, but ownership shows up its wallowing suspension.
this is not my opinion. other’s rating.
this is reality of hyundai santa fe.
So you ARE just spamming propaganda. Thanks for being honest.
Yup, Unlike your baseless claim, my comments based on proven reference. Unlike your biased opinion, my comments is just show other’s ratings..
i know, some people shoud be nervous by hyundai rising.
So you ARE just spamming propaganda!