Rants and Raves
DAVE VANDERWERP
With recent leaps in every aspect of its products, Hyundai now sports an enviable lineup (with the possible exception of two of its older products, the Tiburon and Tucson). The Santa Fe boasts competitive power, space, interior quality, and interior and exterior design at a reasonable price. Tall drivers will want a telescoping steering wheel, however, and the transmission reacts a couple winks slower than the best in the business. Now, the Santa Fe isn't much fun, with tires that quickly give way to squealing in protest to my morning on-ramp blasts and steering feel that is a bit artificial, but I'd bet neither of these qualities matter much to SUV shoppers.
TOM ADAMS
I had twelve cartons of wood flooring to haul and the choice of a CL63 AMG or the Hyundai. The instinct was to look like a fool while traveling in luxurious style, but these cartons were ten feet long, too long to fit through the Mercedes' armrest pass-through. So begrudgingly, I took the Santa Fe. It swallowed up all twelve cartons of flooring just barely, with the rear seats down and the front passenger seat tilted forward. Even with 1000 pounds of wood on board, this budget-priced crossover still seemed capable of decent acceleration. The interior impressed me with well-fitted plastic and quality workmanship. It's not fancy, but well put together. No iPod input! This was surprising. Overall this car is plain and inoffensive, especially in its driving manners. You will never bully another motorist in this SUV, and it's small enough that you likely won't be bullied by a hybrid driver either.
Download this car's window sticker for pricing information.
