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Hyundai Santa Fe – First Drive: Choice is a good thing in almost any situation, but especially when you’re shopping for a car. The more models you have to choose from, the more competitive the price, the more features you get and, ultimately, a better vehicle winds up in your driveway.

This is assuming you research your vehicle purchase, of course. And if you’re among those who study up before you venture onto a dealership lot, this will come as no surprise: Hyundai, especially with the debut of a new 2007 Santa Fe, is on the move. Call it the New Toyota, and while doing so is unfair to both the point is nonetheless relevant: Hyundai is doing what Toyota has done for the past decade, which is build safe, reliable and well-made vehicles, set an aggressive price, and watch as one after another leave lots in the hands of happy motorists. Rest assured that officials in Tokyo and Kentucky are spending many more sleepless nights thinking about the emergence of Hyundai than they are worried over any comebacks mounted by Ford or General Motors. The domestic darlings, for all their efforts, have a long way to go before they wipe out years spent building second-rate cars and selling at a discount. Hyundai, on the other hand, is already beginning to craft a name for itself as the “better” buy. The days of being the low-price leader with a great warranty are over, yo – Hyundai is now among the makers of cars with the most to offer. Need a competitor for the Camry or the Accord? Check out the Sonata. Tired of looking at Siennas and Odysseys? Take a gander at the Entourage.

It all comes back to choice.
And now that choice extends to SUVs. The little Santa Fe is no longer so little. It’s grown up, with more room, more power, a more sophisticated style, and a fine interior full of nice touches and thoughtful design elements. Sure, there are holes – every car has its weak spots. For the Santa Fe, it looks like fit-and-finish is a potential issue, and there are competitors with more horsepower or that offer better fuel economy – a major issue in these $3-plus per gallon times. Curiously, Hyundai decided to offer its base Santa Fe with a smaller V6 engine instead of following the herd and bolting in a four-cylinder gas sipper. The difference in fuel economy may be debatable: Hyundai’s 2.7-liter V6 stacks up as an efficient powerplant, but the absence of a four-cylinder may leave the Santa Fe at a competitive disadvantage as rising fuel prices drive up the desirability of smaller engines.

All in all, however, the Santa Fe is everything a mid-size SUV needs to be – and slightly more – at a competitive price. In this, one of the most hotly contested of new car segments, that’s news other automakers will be loath to hear but music to the ears of thousands of SUV buyers looking for choice and who are, increasingly, choosing a Hyundai.

super hyundai santa fe

One of the fastest growing vehicle segments is midsize crossover SUVs, and it’s easy to see why. These vehicles offer the style and functionality of a traditional SUV while providing the sporty ride quality, handling and fuel economy of a car. For much of this decade, Hyundai’s offering has been the midsize Santa Fe.

There was a time when the only reasons to favor a Santa Fe over its competition were its low price, lengthy standard features list and Hyundai’s generous warranty. Introduced for the 2001 model year, the first-generation model was affordable but failed to perform to the levels of its competition in most other areas. Thankfully, the all-new second-generation Hyundai Santa Fe is a big step up in terms of styling and performance. Highlighted by its contemporary appearance and upscale and roomy interior design, the current model is one of the better values in the $20,000-$30,000 price bracket of the midsize crossover SUV class.

Current Hyundai Santa Fe

It takes only one glance at the second-generation Hyundai Santa Fe, which bowed in 2007, to see that Hyundai has made a strong effort to move upmarket. The midsize SUV comes in three trim levels — GLS, SE and Limited. The base GLS model is powered by a revamped version of the previous model’s 2.7-liter V6, which now makes a respectable 185 horsepower with the help of variable valve timing. A five-speed manual transmission is standard, and a four-speed automatic is available as an option. The base drive configuration is front-wheel drive, and all-wheel drive (AWD) is optional across all trim levels.

For many consumers, the SE trim is going to be appealing because of its more potent 3.3-liter V6. The 242-hp engine is available exclusively with a five-speed automatic transmission. The Limited trim is equipped with the same drivetrain and adds leather seats, a power driving seat and dual-zone automatic climate control. The Limited can also be had with an optional 605-watt Infinity sound system with 10 speakers (made standard, along with a sunroof, for ‘08) and a rear-seat entertainment system with wireless headphones.

Inside the Santa Fe, there is definitely a new contemporary feel and a higher level of comfort. The dash lights, gauges and displays glow blue, and the center stack controls are positioned neatly. An optional third-row seat, which bumps the vehicle’s passenger capacity from five to seven, is optional. All trim levels are well-stocked with standard convenience and safety features and come with a generous powertrain warranty.

Hyundai Santa Fe is a compact / mid-sized crossover SUV based on the Hyundai Sonata platform. It was introduced for model year 2001 as the first SUV from Hyundai, Ford Escape issued / Mazda Tribute and Pontiac Aztek. The Santa Fe was an important step in the restructuring of society in the late 1990s because, despite the criticism of journalists to conceal their appearance, the SUV was a success with the American buyers.
Hyundai Santa Fe