2010 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited
NEWS EDITOR GREG MIGLIORE: This is a respectable utility vehicle that drives comfortably and looks classy on the inside. The only drawback is that the exterior is boring. So mostly good with just a tinge of blandness is the thumbnail version of my review.
To get more detailed, the cabin impressed me greatly. The dark blue and tan interior parts were clean, and the woodlike panels were quiet sharp. I liked the optional nav package, and the touch screen is usable and clear, plus the map is colorful and informative.
The Santa Fe drives smoothly and the chassis is comfortable over bumps and obstacles such as train tracks. The I4 is decent. It gets you up to speed with little trouble, but I did have to dial up 6,500 rpm and then again do better than 5,500 on the tach to merge onto the expressway. A few more horses wouldn't hurt. But the fuel economy is solid and there's a lot of function here.
The steering has a satisfying weight, and the mainstream public will like the higher-up view this vehicle offers. Really, the main drawback for me is the styling. The lines and curves are too subtle, and this simply doesn't stand out in any way to me. Otherwise, a solid ride.
COPY EDITOR CYNTHIA L. OROSCO: This Santa Fe was more than up to the task of transporting wedding supplies, suitcases and the all-important wedding attire north for the big weekend, ferrying bridesmaids for a ladies' day and then shuttling the happy couple further north for a visit to the Upper Peninsula. We had forgotten a large box of tablecloths on earlier supply trips north, and I was afraid that it--along with two large suitcases, a cooler and all sorts of other things big and small--wasn't going to fit in this small ute. However, with the back seats folded flat, all of that and more fit in the Santa Fe with plenty of room to see out the side windows.
Our travels over the week took us from freeways to city streets to the Mackinaw Bridge, and the Santa Fe was well composed for the most part. Some road imperfections did rather upset the ute and tossed us a bit. But otherwise, the handling was solid, the brakes were strong and the Hyundai was respectable in getting up to highway speeds, but you did have to put your foot into it a bit more to pass slower traffic.
Inside, the seats provided good bolster on the longer drives, although we would have liked to be able to adjust the seats down a bit more. There isn't much clearance for your noggin. The materials are quality, and there are plenty of cubbie spots to store things. The nav/radio unit worked well, and even though I'm not a big fan of touch screens, this one was easy to use, bright and readable. Ditto for when it doubled as a backup camera. And on the warmer days, we enjoyed having the windows and sunroof open and the tunes cranked.
While I don't have any major complaints about the Santa Fe, I do agree with Greg that the sheetmetal doesn't really stand out from the pack. And the fuel-economy figures I got from three fill-ups over the week left something to be desired. But overall, this ute is a good vehicle.
2010 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited
Base Price: $27,440
As-Tested Price: $29,815
Drivetrain: 2.4-liter I4; FWD, six-speed automatic
Output: 175 hp @ 6,000 rpm, 161 lb-ft @ 3,750 rpm
Curb Weight: 3,968 lb
Fuel Economy (EPA/AW): 23/22.7 mpg
Options: Navigation package including 6.5-inch screen, premium audio with external amp and subwoofer, rearview camera ($2,250); carpeted floor mats ($125)
Credit: Autocar
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