AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |
Back to Blog
Hyundai suv models 20071/17/2024 ![]() The leather front bucket seats have firm cushioning but offer a comfortable driving position. Cloth seats are standard and leather ones are optional. The cabin had a hint of the chemically new-car smell that’s plagued a number of Hyundais we’ve tested, but it wasn’t as bad as others, and it should fade over time. That said, other trim and dashboard plastic has nice graining, and the overall fit and finish is good. The brown faux wood trim is unconvincing, and the turn-signal stalk has a notchy feel. While the silver-colored trim pieces in Hyundai’s new Veracruz three-row crossover actually look pretty good, the treatment in the Santa Fe looks a little cheap black plastic would have been fine instead. That’s not to say it got everything right. The Limited trim level had a number of unexpected details, like dual sunglass holders, a woven headliner, thick carpeted floormats, rich bluish-purple lighting and active head restraints for the front seats that adjust forward and back as well as up and down. The Hyundai Santa Fe’s all-new cabin is a big improvement over its predecessor’s aging design. Body roll is noticeable through tight corners, but it’s by no means excessive for this class. The Santa Fe’s manageable size feels stable on the highway, where it’s surprisingly quiet even on concrete interstates adept at generating cabin noise. Other aspects of the Santa Fe’s handling capabilities are certainly praiseworthy. The Santa Fe steers just fine, but don’t expect it to be a source of driving joy. The Limited’s 18-inch alloy wheels wear lower-profile tires than the ones mounted on the GLS’ 16-inch wheels, which might offer a little more ride comfort than the 18s. Even so, a little more damping would have been appreciated. Chicago in the spring - where smooth pavement is hard to find. ![]() It didn’t help that most of my driving was done in the Land of Potholes - a.k.a. The Santa Fe’s very stiff suspension was probably the most surprising aspect of the SUV. The Santa Fe’s all- disc brakes have no trouble stopping the SUV, and pedal feel is nice and natural. Both automatics include Hyundai’s Shiftronic clutchless-manual mode that gives the driver control over gear changes. Shifts are smooth, even those that occur under full-throttle acceleration. ![]() Whether it’s accelerating hard when merging onto the highway or just making its way through traffic, the five-speed automatic transmission always seems to be in a sensible gear for conditions. With the 3.3-liter V6, the Hyundai Santa Fe is swift enough to easily handle most drivers’ power needs. Front-wheel and all-wheel-drive models are offered. The Hyundai Santa Fe SE and Limited have a five-speed automatic. A five-speed manual transmission is standard in the GLS, but a four-speed auto is optional. The base GLS has a 2.7-liter V-6 while the midlevel SE and top-of-the-line Limited - the trim level I tested - feature a larger 3.3-liter V6. The Hyundai Santa Fe is offered with a choice of two V6 engines. It also has numerous standard safety features and an impressive warranty. The newly optional third-row seat increases the maximum seat count to seven, and the new cabin’s overall refinement is surprisingly good. The new Santa Fe is larger and its engines are more powerful, but it also gets better gas mileage than its predecessor. ![]() The overhaul gives new life to a model that was desperately in need of an update to stay competitive in the midsize body type SUV segment. If we were to pick the best redesigned SUVs for 2007, Hyundai’s Santa Fe would be among the finalists. ![]()
0 Comments
Read More
Leave a Reply. |