Over a decade on, auto makers are still sorting out what car buyers are looking for in a crossover. In what ways should a crossover be more like a car, and in what others should it more resemble an SUV? Two rows, or three? Older members of the class are like time capsules, capturing what manufacturers were thinking at that point in time. And so we have the Hyundai Santa Fe, refreshed for 2010 but last totally redesigned for the 2007 model year.
In recent years Hyundai’s designers have become (or at least been allowed to be) much more adventurous. The Santa Fe’s sheetmetal was crafted earlier, so it’s tasteful but conservative, cleaner but less chiseled and less visually intriguing than more recently designed Hyundais like the half-size smaller Tucson crossover. The interior is much the same, with a simple design and, in a conventional ploy to appear upscale, plentiful faux timber. Also no trendy panoramic sunroof; a single conventional roof portal above the first row will have to do.
The conservative design makes for a much better driving position than in the Tucson. From the driver’s seat it’s possible to reach the base on the windshield, much less the center stack. In the Tucson it’s hard to reach the radio tuner. With a high seating position, conservatively raked windshield, and a relatively low, compact instrument panel, the view forward is very much old style SUV. Such outstanding visibility is the primary reason people who will never venture off-road started buying SUVs in the first place. On the other hand, this driving position makes the Santa Fe feel dated.
The Santa Fe was originally designed to have a third-row seat. Consequently, there are a couple inches less second-row legroom than in the smaller Tucson. Adults will fit, but there’s no room to stretch out. For 2010 the third row is no longer offered, perhaps because the Veracruz now exists to better serve that need. Shoulder room is more plentiful than in the Tucson. Cargo room even more so. Fold the second row and the Santa Fe will hold 78 cubic feet of your stuff; the Tucson only 56.
The base engine in the Santa Fe is the same 2.4-liter four-cylinder that powers most Tucsons. If you’re only seeking 175 horsepower, you might as well buy the more up-to-date Tucson (unless you want to be able to easily reach the radio). The best reason to buy a Santa Fe over the Tucson: the larger crossover’s available 276-horsepower 3.5-liter V6. Given the Santa Fe’s very retro curb weight of just over 4,000 pounds, the strong six can move it quite swiftly, and not use too much gas in the process. The EPA ratings are 20/26. I observed about 24 on the highway, so these might be a little optimistic.
The Santa Fe’s center of gravity is high and its suspension tuning is much softer than the Tucson’s, so it’s not going to be the enthusiast’s choice. While the Tucson was designed with the European market in mind, the Santa Fe was designed for Americans. But though the Santa Fe lacks the Tucson’s taut “seat of the pants” feel, it handles intuitively and its steering, though loose on the highway, seems more fluid and natural. The steering might even communicate a bit much—minor impacts make their way through to your fingertips. Though the Santa Fe is truly midsize in width, it’s a few inches less lengthy than the typical midsize crossover, so (especially in combination with the driving position) it feels a little more maneuverable. Ride quality is smoother than in the Tucson, and cushier than the average crossover, but not the most composed. On the highway there’s a moderate amount of wind and road noise. No Lexus, but hardly loud, either.
The Tucson might be much more current, but the “dated” Santa Fe continues to outsell it nearly two-to-one, with 76,680 shifted during calendar year 2010. (Even with the Santa Fe removed from contention in the three-row contest, Hyundai only managed to sell 8,741 people on the Veracruz.) Part of the reason could well be the Santa Fe’s more conventional driving position, its more upscale appearance, and its available V6.
Price also clearly plays a role. The MSRP of the fully loaded tested example (V6, AWD, leather, sunroof, nav) might not seem low at $33,340, but (non-Korean) competitors tend to be thousands higher. A further indication of value: Hyundai has only priced the Santa Fe about $1,500 above the Tucson, and even with the V6 it’s only about $3,000 more. This is before incentives. Hyundai currently has $1,500 of rebates available for the Santa Fe, but none for the Tucson. So with the four-cylinder, the larger, more luxurious SUV is priced about the same as the smaller one. The related Kia Sorento is priced about $1,000 higher, but includes about $2,000 in additional “stuff” (based on comparisons using TrueDelta’s car price comparison tool), most notably the third row and attendant rear HVAC no longer offered in the Hyundai.
The Santa Fe doesn’t have trendy styling, sharp handling, or an especially roomy back seat. Compared to more recently designed competitors it both looks and feels dated. But it provides the upscale styling cues, commanding view from the driver’s seat, and easy to reach and operate controls many buyers in this segment apparently want, all at an attractive price. So maybe the latest crossovers aren’t heading in the right direction?
Hyundai provided an insured, fueled vehicle at a drive event.
Michael Karesh operates TrueDelta, an online source of car reliability and pricing data.
Santa Fe outsels it’s superior stable-mates? Who do these guys think they are Impala vs. Malibu? (Which until recently Impala outsold Malibu. Sorry if the humor goes over your head it’s an old TTAC meme.)
The Santa Fe sells because it is priced right (even better so with incentives), because of the lack of availability of the Tucson, and the fact that the Tucson has a harsh ride and terrible visibility. A ride in the Santa Fe V6 after driving the Tucson usually show the advantages of the Santa Fe to most of my customers: more room, better ride, more power, less price. Easy sale.
Same reason some people buy Impala’s over Malibus.
What is going on with the crude date-removal photoshops jobs? Is this TTAC or New York Times?
I’m wondering whether the remaining dated photo indicates that we’re seeing 4 year old photos, or that the photographer doens’t know how to work his camera.
It is at least a couple months old. Note the trees and the ground when compared to the Optima review.
I don’t think the interior was that nice in 2007. Interiors are one place where Hyundai has been trying really hard.
There’s also a Coke can hiding out in one of the photos. Innocent mistake, or is Michael getting some checks for subliminal product placement?
I drove this car a couple months ago, same day I drove the Sonata 2.0T, Sonata Hybrid, and Equus reviewed earlier. Not quite as high a priority, so I kept this one in my back pocket for a slow news day : ) Didn’t learn they needed it until 1 PM today, and submitted it around 3:30, hence the quickie with the photos. No quick and easy way to remove the datestamp from the interior photo, so it stayed. Apparently also no quick and easy way to remove the stamp well from the others, so probably should have left the date on them as well…
Didn’t learn until after the fact that the datestamp had somehow been turned on with the camera. I suppose one of the little icons should have clued me in. But the timestamps don’t show up when you review the photos in the camera, only later.
Figured everyone would realize that 1/1/2007 was the default.
As you can tell by the setting sun I stayed quite late at the drive even to evaluate as many cars as possible. This was the last one, and in my rush to get it done (I was already in deep with the wife) did not notice the coke can until after the fact.
I thought it was an innocent mistake like that, but why 1. shop them out, 2. leave one in? Seems like a case when cover-up is worse than the crime.
it’s a 2011 santa fe, not the 10… depending on the silver irridecent color or if that’s the radiant silver, not a 2007 though. I know you talk a lot about the ride, but your missing a lot of the key features people are looknig for with the santa fe, the rear side vents, the extra storage in the tail gate, reclining rear seats and not to mention standard bluetooth and usb/aux input. Thought this was a full car review… not just the driver seat…
As for the tuscon, you have audio controls on the steering wheel… but guess you didn’t see that cause it’s too “hard to reach the regular controls”…
and it’s funny that you are sort of compairing apples to oranges… a small suv vs a mid size… they do have some same features but that’s about it. 2 different markets.
Michael,
how’s 2007 Santa Fe holding up?
The 2007 date stamp is almost fitting. That’s where this car belongs.
It’s not a 2007! Check out Justin Berkowitz’ review of that here
https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2007/02/hyunadai-santa-fe/
The camera in question is a Kodak. Z712 maybe?
As far as I can tell the stamp is part of the image, and cannot be removed at the click of a button after the fact. I have taken another swing at removing them, now just a matter of how soon someone with access to the system replaces them.
It might not be in line with the current design science Hyundai has, but it’s still inoffensive and simple.
Didn’t they suspend production of this or move it to the Kia plant in Georgia to make room for Sonatas and Elantras in Alabama?
As for the photo dates, the date was probably never set on the camera!
They resumed production a few months ago, I think. But it was suspended for a few weeks.
The date has been set a few times on the camera, but it resets itself every time you change the battery, and usually I don’t bother. Photos taken earlier in the day have the correct date (see my review of the Equus.)
My new camera retains the date when the battery is changed, one of its many advantages over the old one.
Ah thanks Michael didn’t know they started again, the guys at the local dealer were clueless when I asked.
I had the same problem with an old Kodak digital camera and just turned the time stamp off. Ironically enough it remembered that setting but not the one for the time or date.
Ok, just played Sherlock Holmes. In the Optima post Michael revealed that he recently bought a new camera (Panasonic FZ40). There were timestamps in all of the photos of the cars he tested in Korea, but they were the correct ones. So, he must have bought the camera before he went. This was probably the last vehicle he tested before going to Korea. That would make it the second week of November that he did this test. Michael?
Never went to Korea. I attended an event at Hyundai’s technical center near Detroit. All of the photos with the timestamps were taken the same day. As explained above the date reset itself when I changed the battery part way through the day.
Oops. That i10 had Michigan plates on it. I totally missed that. My mistake. I’ll go back to being Watson now…
We got one of the first 07’s in Austin about 4.5 yrs ago and it’s been great vehicle. 2.7L six has been trouble free. We got a 2-row and the rear legroom is excellent. Very quiet on the road and handles well. The doors have a very ‘German’ thunk when you close them. I sort of expected the paint to have faded pretty bad by now but it still shines like new(wax helps). Fit and finish has been inconsistent with both visors having fallen out of the headliner but covered by warranty. Seat fabric is somewhat sub-par and stains easily. Not looking forward to the timing belt expense in about a year. Otherwise very good vehicle for the wife and family trips. Mileage has been about 17/24.
Why is the 2.4L GDI not in this yet?
And, why does Hyundai currently offer four different engines that make between 260 and 274 horsepower?
Probably expense. They’d have to raise the price by a few hundred dollars to include the GDI engine, and a low price is what sells Santa Fes. For those who want more power there’s the V6.
I didn’t know Hyundai made the Highlander!
The fact that this has a normal sunroof and not a panoramic makes it more attractive. I steered a relative towards one of these a few months back….she’s most pleased. Great value for the dollar – for the price of a CR-V you get a bigger, perhaps more luxurious vehicle (at least interior wise). Nothing wrong with that.
Here’s hoping they don’t screw up the pending redesign too much…..
Why not review the 2011? I know the 2010 and 2011 is the same, but 2011 offers different paint choices and well, it is 2011 and the 2011’s are out.
This is a great SUV for someone looking for a more conservative look that will not age as quickly as the newer Sonata or Tucson. There’s actually wood grain and aluminum to break up the endless plastic textures along with that modern blue lighting that bathes the interior at night (even the front cupholder glows blue). Perfect price and size for someone looking for the traditional SUV look and slightly larger than a CRV or Rav4.
My only complaint is the road noise with the 18″ alloys, although wind noise is very minimal and the ride is quite good, it does have a stiffer ride than most other crossovers.
You know, one of the things I love about my Saab 9-5 is the ability to kill all the lights save the speedometer. It makes it look like the headlight are twice as bright.
Giving up that feature would be a tough hit in itself, let alone the slathering of blue (the perfect color for ruining night vision) light that’s so ‘modern’. When I’m driving at night, I’d rather be able to see even where my headlights don’t reach than be reassured of my trendiness by blazing blue cupholder that I can reach with muscle memory…
Signed, a 32-year-old old guy. Get off my lawn!
@PeriSoft,
The blue lighting is strictly a “mood” thing that doesn’t interfere with visibility. Gauges are 1980s Honda-simple with white-on-black fonts and neutral backlighting.
I reviewed the 2010 because that’s the one they had.
Good review, Michael. I drive an ’08, and agree with all points, including some of the “Impala” comments by the B&B. The Santa Fe doesn’t capture a lot of attention, or set new standards for driving dynamics, but it’s a pleasing, solidly-built vehicle that ages well.
PS: How refreshing that nobody has mentioned the fact that the upscale interior is marred only by hard dashboard plastic. Oops.
There’s no mention of an upscale interior. Only plenty of faux timber in a ploy to appear upscale.
Where I live the Santa Fe is an SUV , not a crossover. It is also the best-looking SUV you can buy. How can you call it dated? Because it doesn’t have pimp wheels like an X5 ?
For Hyundai’s current thinking see the Tucson. More rake to the windshield, more car-like driving position, busier detailing, more chiseled surfaces. The Santa, while subtly attractive, looks bland compared to more recent designs and more like those popular 5-15 years ago. Also more upright.
I called it a crossover based it’s based on a car platform, has no low range gearing, and isn’t intended for serious off-road use.
he thinks the santa fe needs a make over to compete in the new market… even though the 2 only changes on the outside have been the tail lights and fog lights, it has done very well, and plenty of consumers love it over the rav 4 and crv… they are planning on a new design for the santa fe in 2012, and will be bringing back the 3rd row seat and eliminating the veracruz for a few years, and bringing that back at a later date. Hyundai is on it’s 24/7 mission, so i wouldn’t put hyundai’s styling out of date just yet, especially when you look at the new explorer(yuck!)…
My wife and I bought a 2010 Santa Fe (SE middle model, FWD, Harbor Gray metallic) last April. I cross shopped the Tucson and the Honda CR-V. Here’s what I found:
The Santa Fe has pretty good visibilty out all around. The Tucson? Rear visibility is so bad that a rear view camera would be a nice option. I am not a fan of this latest styling trend of ever smaller window area.
The 2010 Santa Fe refresh was a nice upgrade over the 2009, with standard Bluetooth/iPod integration, and the upgraded powertrains. The 3.5L powertrain feels like a low 7 second to 60 performer, with 34 more HP, an extra gear, and better gas mileage than the 2009.
I went with the FWD over the AWD for a few reasons: FWD was lighter, I liked the handling better (felt more willing to turn in), the brakes felt better (less pedal pressure for the same deceletation rate – must have been the lower rotating inertia), and it didn’t add to the MSRP. Big disadvantage: Lots of torque steer (and lighting up the traction control) in heavy acceleration from 1st gear.
I quickly eliminated the CR-V from consideration due to the following reasons: Overpriced locally (the Honda stealership had a $2000 “market adjustment” tacked on to the MSRP), interior wasn’t as nice or as spacious in the middle models, and the Hyundai dealership (Hyundai of Wesley Chapel, in Wesley Chapel FL (Tampa FL suburb) went to considerable effort to answer my questions and make the sale (3 different test drive days).
I haven’t missed the 3rd row, do appreciate the bigger trunk area compared to the Tucson (haven’t had to flip down the 2nd row once, and it accomodates luggage for 4 passengers without blocking the rear window), like the full safety feature roster (can’t think of a safety feature that even the base Santa Fe doesn’t have), and it has been very reliable (only problem so far was a rear passenger door power lock mechanism that stopped working, was fixed under warranty).
After test driving several vehicles in this class, I bought my mother the Santa Fe. Your review was right on. It has a GREAT seating position which lends itself to comfort and outstanding visibility. Plenty of space and a great value with the LE V6. And the manuverability is also impressive compared to its competition. Easy to park is important too. My mother is gettting up in age and visibility, entry and exit ease, and reliability are all important. Great value. No show stopper but it does what it says it does for a fair price.
After reading the comments from owners, especially the last two, it sounds like the answer the question posed at the end of the review could well be yes.
Styling trends often end up being taken to extremes and then provoking a backlash. Maybe we’ll start seeing cars with superior visibility in a few years?
On the other hand, Santa Fe owners could still represent a minority in the current market. After all, I bought a used Taurus X partly because it is so functional, but there weren’t enough people like me for Ford to keep producing it.
I think that gas mileage and drag coefficients are going to be more dominant factors in the future of car design, greatly affecting seating position and visibility. My wife has a real problem with cars with poor visibility. I am a lot more tollerant. She hates driving my Stealth.
i for one appreciate the older less “flowing” styling of recent Hyundai’s. We know for sure the next generation will have poor visibility and not age as well as the current one.
Well, I just cross-shopped 12 vehicles, test drove 9 (some twice) and surfed the Internet back and forth for weeks (thanks TTAC and TrueDelta !) I’ve just bought a Santa Fé Limited V6 AWD over my final 3 contenders: Toyota Venza (a sea of cheap plastic and rides like a 1980s GM), Subaru Outback (can’t get an iPod or the Nav to work properly in a 45K car) and a Mazda CX-7 (smallish, so-so reliability, expensive). Tried the CR-V, the Rav4, the Equinox, the Rogue, the Murano, the Edge, the Tiguan and the Veracruz. Ultimately, the Santa Fé offers one of the smoothest rides (ok, maybe not that crisp), lots of space and storage, good visibility, ok reliability, all the current conveniences, decent mileage, an outstanding Infinity sound system with surround and full iPod integration at an amazing prize. It was almost 10K cheaper than a comparitively equipped Venza over 5 years. Who cares about depreciation and a slightly dated look (in the eye of the beholder) at the price !
Congratulations on your new acquisition. I think you made a smart choice since we both seem to have come to the same conclusion. although for maybe slightly different reasons. I have not had to take the vehicle back for a single issue. Hope you have the same experience.