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In an ocean of sport-utility vehicles - 60 different names and counting - the Hyundai Santa Fe stands out on its apart-from-the-pack looks and bang for the buck.
The simple fact is the Sante Fe is nearly instantly recognizable and offers, in typical Hyundai fashion, loads of standard content.
An extension of the Sonata car platform, the 2005 Santa Fe is no longer available with a 138-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder.
Since the new Tucson has entered the picture, the Santa Fe is moving ever-so-slightly up-market.
The standard powertrain for the base GLS is a 170-horsepower 2.7-liter V6.
Optional on that model, but standard on the Limited is a 200-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 that's coupled to a five-speed automatic transmission.
The Santa Fe's 4x4 system is of the viscous-coupling variety that dispatches up to 40 per cent of available torque to the rear wheels whenever conditions require extra traction.
Despite its relatively low entry price (up about $3,000 with the deletion of the four-cylinder model), the Santa Fe comes with air conditioning, side-impact airbags, CD stereo, power windows, locks and heated mirrors as well as four-wheel disc brakes and alloy wheels.
With chunky, angular styling (updated for 2005), more than eight inches of ground clearance, a utilitarian wagon body with dual liftgate and lengthy basic warranty, this is a practical wagon with a tight bottom line and a style all its own.
New Hyundai
Santa Fe
The 2006
Hyundai Santa Fe offers a consumer-friendly blend of space, comfort,
features, performance and value that make it a compact SUV worth
considering.
Introduced for the 2001 model year, the Hyundai Santa
Fe cuts to the heart of what most American SUV buyers really want -- the
ride and handling characteristics of a car melded with the styling and tall
seating position of a truck. At the same time, it's big on value. While priced
to match compact competitors like the Tribute and RAV4, the Santa Fe is
based on Hyundai's previous-generation
Sonata sedan
platform, which means that it's technically a midsize SUV and accordingly offers
more room for passengers and cargo.
Like other Hyundai vehicles, this one
is packed with desirable standard features and comes with a strong standard
warranty. And the Santa Fe's
crash test scores have generally been very good. The Sante Fe is
now in the sixth year of its model cycle, but Hyundai has made continual improvements
over the years to keep it competitive among budget SUVs. Most significant among
these was the arrival of a 3.5-liter V6 and a five-speed automatic transmission,
a combination that vastly improved its acceleration. When equipped with
all-wheel drive, this Hyundai SUV
can handle well-groomed dirt roads, but it's not a serious off-roader like the
Xterra or Sorento. However, we would certainly recommend the 2006 Hyundai Santa
Fe to the general consumer looking for a good deal on a family vehicle that
doesn't have any serious faults.
2006 Hyundai
Santa Fe Specifications
Body Styles, Trim Levels and Options:
The four-door Hyundai Santa
Fe is sold in GLS and Limited trims. Standard equipment on the GLS includes
side airbags; air conditioning; power windows, mirrors and locks; a CD player;
16-inch alloy wheels; a full-size spare tire; an auto-dimming rearview mirror;
and foglights. Options on the GLS include a power sunroof and a Monsoon sound
system with an in-dash CD changer. The Monsoon stereo comes standard on the
high-line Limited, along with automatic climate control, a power driver seat,
leather upholstery, heated seats and a trip computer.
Powertrains and Performance:
The GLS model comes standard with a 2.7-liter V6 rated at 170 horsepower and 181
lb-ft of torque; it's paired with a four-speed automatic transmission. Optional
on the GLS and standard on the Limited is a 3.5-liter V6 good for 200 hp and 219
lb-ft of torque. This engine comes with a five-speed automatic. Both
front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive models are available on this Hyundai SUV. Although the smaller V6 is
rated for up to 26 mpg on the highway, the 3.5-liter turns in poor fuel numbers
for a small SUV application -- just 16-17 mpg in the city and 21-22 on the
highway.
Safety:
Four-wheel antilock disc brakes, traction control and side airbags (for front
occupants) are standard on all models. In government crash tests, the Hyundai Santa
Fe received four out of five stars for driver protection in frontal impacts
and five stars for the front passenger. Side-impact testing resulted in a
five-star rating for front- and rear-passenger protection. In frontal-offset
crash testing conducted by the IIHS, the Santa Fe
received a "Good" rating (the highest possible); in IIHS side-impact testing, it
earned an "Acceptable" rating (the second highest).
Interior Design and Special Features:
Inside, the Hyundai Santa
Fe offers reasonable accommodations for five and a 29.4-cubic-foot cargo
bay; fold down the 60/40-split rear seats, and you get a generous 78 cubes. The
cabin boasts a sharp two-tone color scheme and feels high in quality, as Hyundai has fitted it with low-gloss
plastics and solid switchgear. The seats are comfortable, but legroom can be a
bit tight for adults in back, and unlike the Equinox and CR-V, the Santa Fe
doesn't offer fore/aft adjustment for its rear bench.
Driving Impressions:
The 2006
Hyundai Santa Fe has just what most family-oriented buyers want: adequate
power and a smooth, quiet ride. Its handling capabilities provoke little
excitement but unless you're a driving enthusiast, you probably won't mind the
soft setup. If you opt for an AWD Sante Fe,
you'll have a bargain-priced, all-weather family vehicle.
Source: http://www.edmunds.com/
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2006 Hyundai
Santa Fe: Highlights
Traction control and antilock brakes become standard on all Santa Fe
models for 2006. The larger of Hyundai's two compact SUVs is available in
two trim levels. A base GLS model returns. The top-line LX model is renamed
Limited. Both have front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive without low-range
gearing. GLS comes standard with a 2.7-liter V6 and a 4-speed automatic
transmission. A 3.5-liter V6 with a 5-speed automatic is standard on Limited,
optional on GLS. Both transmissions include a manual shift gate. Front side
airbags and antilock 4-wheel disc brakes with traction control are standard on
all models. Hyundai's warranty
is among the industry's longest: 5-years/60,000-mi. basic, 10/100,000
powertrain.
Competition
Consumer Guide® Automotive places each vehicle into one of 17 classes based on
size, price, and market position. Among utility vehicles, Compact SUVs are the
least costly and offer the best fuel economy. Most utilize a car-type chassis
and are not designed for heavy-duty, off-road use. Nearly all are five-passenger
vehicles.
Our Best Buys include Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Mazda Tribute, and Mercury
Mariner. Our Recommended picks are Honda Element, Hyundai Tucson,
Jeep Liberty, Kia Sportage, and Subaru Forester.
Suzuki Grand Vitara and Toyota Rav4 are new or significantly redesigned.
News
Hyundai will have a new Santa Fe for
2006--and a new plant near Montgomery, Alabama to build it. The replacement is
based on Hyundai's redesigned
'06 Sonata
sedan, due in the first half of '05. Sources say the new Santa Fe will
be more a true midsize SUV with V6 power only, available 3-row seating, more
upscale options, and higher prices. It aims at the Nissan Murano, Toyota
Highlander and similar car-based crossovers in the low- to mid-$30,000
bracket.
Santa Fe's
move upmarket makes room for a new entry-level Hyundai SUV, the 2005 Tucson.
Based on Hyundai's
Elantra compact sedan, it's a 5-passenger 4-dr offering front-wheel drive or
optional AWD in three trim levels. The base GL uses a 140-hp 2.0-liter 4-cyl
with manual or automatic transmission. Santa Fe's
2.7-liter V6 furnishes about 173 hp in the GLS and top-line LX and includes
automatic. All Tucsons include
front side airbags and head-protecting front/rear curtain side airbags, plus air
conditioning, power windows and locks, and heated power mirrors. V6 models add
tire-pressure monitor and CD stereo. Options include ABS with traction control,
leather upholstery, and heated front seats. The available AWD normally powers
the front wheels, but can send up to 50 percent power aft if needed; a dashboard
button locks in a 50/50 split. Tucson is sized
close to the rival Ford Escape and Honda CR-V, measuring 170.3 inches long,
about 71 inches wide and some 66 inches high on a 103.5-inch wheelbase. Hyundai pegs maximum cargo volume at 39.9
cu. ft. Hyundai's Kia division will
offer a Tucson with some
differences in appearance and features, probably under the Sportage nameplate.
Prices won't be announced until just before the on-sale date, but one source
suggests a $17,000-$22,000 range for Tucson.
Besides a redesigned Santa Fe, Hyundai will reportedly offer a larger
2006 SUV aimed at the likes of Ford Explorer and Honda Pilot. We think this will
turn out to be a retrimmed Kia Sorento. That's because the '06 Sorento is slated
for a number of changes, including a new 3.8-liter V6, 5-speed automatic
transmission, independent rear suspension, and likely a stretched model with
3-row seating for up to 7 or 8.
Source: http://auto.consumerguide.com/
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Hyundai
Santa Fe: More standard equipment boosts value.
The competent Santa Fe
compact sport-utility is an even greater value for 2005 with its extensive list
of standard convenience, safety, and trim features. The styling has been revised
for 2005 with a new grille, refined body cladding, new tail lights, and a new
rear bumper. Santa Fe looks ready for the outdoors, and its tall seating
position and generous cargo capacity add to its utility.
The Santa
Fe drives well on and off paved roads with decent handling and good brakes.
The 2.7-liter and 3.5-liter V6 engines both deliver good acceleration,
particularly in front-wheel-drive models. The four-wheel-drive system available
with the 2.7-liter engine works well for light off-road duty. A new
electronically controlled all-wheel-drive system available with the 3.5-liter
engine provides solid footing for more challenging off-road and bad weather
conditions. The 3.5-liter engine comes with a five-speed automatic transmission,
an unexpected level of refinement for this class.
Side-impact air bags are standard. GLS and LX versions come with a 218-watt
Monsoon stereo. Best of all, the Santa Fe is
backed by Hyundai's long and
comprehensive warranty, making it one of the most attractive small SUV's on the
market. They say you get what you pay for, but with the Hyundai Santa
Fe it seems like you get a little more.
The Hyundai
Santa Fe is available in two trim levels: GLS and LX. Both levels come
standard with front-wheel drive. Four-wheel drive is available on both models
($1500).
Santa Fe
GLS ($21,499) is powered by a 2.7-liter V6 engine, coupled to a four-speed
automatic transmission with Shiftronic manual shift control. GLS comes standard
with a long list of features, including air conditioning, tinted privacy glass,
power windows and door locks, outside power-adjustable heated mirrors, cruise
control, keyless entry system with alarm, roof rack side rails, new-for-2005
16-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, rear intermittent wiper with washer,
contrasting bodyside cladding and bumpers, 218-watt Monsoon AM/FM/CD stereo with
six speakers, leather-wrapped steering wheel, carpeted floor mats, a cargo net
and retractable cargo cover, and a first aid kit (comprising sunscreen, poison
ivy balm, bandages, and a thermal blanket).
GLS is also available with a 3.5-liter V6 engine ($22,099) with five-speed
automatic transmission with Shiftronic manual override.
The GLS can be upgraded with an in-dash six-CD changer for the stereo ($395),
and a Convenience Package ($495) including fully automatic temperature control,
and a photochromic auto-dimming inside rear view mirror with Homelink
programmable transmitter. A power tilt/slide sunroof with sunshade ($750) is
also available.
Santa Fe LX
($23,499) comes standard with leather upholstery and the 3.5-liter V6 and
five-speed Shiftronic automatic transmission, all features of the GLS plus
automatic air conditioning, heated front seats, a Homelink transmitter, an
electrochromic rear-view mirror, the Monsoon stereo with an in-dash six-CD
changer, chrome door handles and brushed-stainless scuff plates'. Optional: the
power sliding glass sunroof ($750).
Safety features on all Santa Fe
models include four-wheel disc brakes, an anti-lock braking system with traction
control, dual front airbags and front-seat mounted side air bags.
All Hyundais come with one of the best
warranty/service plans in the business: 10 years/100,000 miles on the
powertrain, five-years/60,000 miles bumper-to-bumper, five-years/60,000 miles on
corrosion, and 24-hour roadside assistance for five-years with unlimited
mileage.
The Hyundai
Santa Fe is fun to drive, particularly the V6 front-wheel-drive models. The
optional all-mechanical four-wheel-drive system improves traction in slippery
conditions, but places a burden on the 2.7-liter V6 engine. The all-wheel-drive
system available with the 3.5-liter engine should work better. If you're in the
market for a compact SUV, the exceptionally well-equipped Hyundai Santa
Fe, with its attractive styling and competent manners, may be just what
you're looking for.
Source: http://www.newcars.com
For a great deal on a new or used 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe go to Gary Rome Hyundai. |
