"Zero defects"- that's been Hyundai's operating credo since 1999, and it applies top to bottom in the firm's org chart. This commitment to quality is paying off. Hyundai products have walked away with - or is that driven away with - numerous awards of distinction. The all-wheel-drive (AWD) Santa Fe Limited is an excellent example of why Hyundai deserves the accolades its been receiving.
Conservatively styled but sized right
The original Santa Fe was in my view a styling disaster. I couldn't warm-up to its weak, bulbous looks. Fortunately the second-generation Santa Fe, which arrived as a 2007 model, replaced the original CUV's cartoon image with a California-inspired design that doesn't offend conservative thinkers; unfortunately, I doubt it inspires creative thinkers.
Tepid as the exterior styling may be, interior design work exceeds expectations. The Santa Fe's cabin is a study in straightforward functionality, which should be benchmarked by those manufacturers that believe complexity buys desirability.
It was refreshing to find an audio system that's easy to program, a climate system that's simple to operate and single-purpose steering wheel controls that are intuitive to use. This logic-based functionality is housed in an upscale cabin that exhibits build quality superior to what should be expected from an automaker that not long ago was producing some of the crudest vehicles in the North American marketplace.
The Santa Fe will comfortably accommodate five adults in seats that are surprisingly supportive. The front perches in my Limited tester were heated and featured 8-way power adjustment. The 60/40-split rear bench seat provides adequate legroom and plenty of headroom. Although my ride was not third-row equipped, a 50/50-split third row bench is available.
Dropping the second row seat in order to maximize cargo capacity is a breeze. Doing so results in a relatively flat load floor producing a cavern capable of ingesting 2,213 liters of cargo volume. A fixture I found particularly handy is the external grab handle on the rear hatch. It simply makes opening the hatch easier than fumbling around trying to find a concealed latch plate.
Conservatively styled but sized right
The original Santa Fe was in my view a styling disaster. I couldn't warm-up to its weak, bulbous looks. Fortunately the second-generation Santa Fe, which arrived as a 2007 model, replaced the original CUV's cartoon image with a California-inspired design that doesn't offend conservative thinkers; unfortunately, I doubt it inspires creative thinkers.
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| The original Santa Fe was in my view a styling disaster. Fortunately the second-generation Santa Fe replaced the original CUV's cartoon image. |
Tepid as the exterior styling may be, interior design work exceeds expectations. The Santa Fe's cabin is a study in straightforward functionality, which should be benchmarked by those manufacturers that believe complexity buys desirability.
It was refreshing to find an audio system that's easy to program, a climate system that's simple to operate and single-purpose steering wheel controls that are intuitive to use. This logic-based functionality is housed in an upscale cabin that exhibits build quality superior to what should be expected from an automaker that not long ago was producing some of the crudest vehicles in the North American marketplace.
The Santa Fe will comfortably accommodate five adults in seats that are surprisingly supportive. The front perches in my Limited tester were heated and featured 8-way power adjustment. The 60/40-split rear bench seat provides adequate legroom and plenty of headroom. Although my ride was not third-row equipped, a 50/50-split third row bench is available.
Dropping the second row seat in order to maximize cargo capacity is a breeze. Doing so results in a relatively flat load floor producing a cavern capable of ingesting 2,213 liters of cargo volume. A fixture I found particularly handy is the external grab handle on the rear hatch. It simply makes opening the hatch easier than fumbling around trying to find a concealed latch plate.
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| The 60/40-split rear bench seat provides adequate legroom and plenty of headroom. |