Overview & Reviews

The base trim level has been dropped. The 2.7-liter V6 is now standard (the LX still gets the 3.5-liter V6), as is an automatic transmission. Also newly standard this year are four-wheel antilock brakes and traction control. Exterior changes include a new grille surround, side cladding, taillamps, tailgate handle, rear bumper design and alloy wheels. Inside, there is new seat fabric, an upgraded two-tone color scheme and a revised instrument cluster. A power driver seat is now standard on the LX, and a compass is included with the optional sunroof.

• Reasonable price, strong warranty, roomy interior, long list of standard features, solid construction, good crash test scores.

• Thirsty at the pump for a small car-based SUV, soft suspension limits handling ability.

User Reviews:

Showing 1 through 10 of 193.00

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  Hate the jerky ride - 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By annette conwau - October 9 - 11:16 pm

  The accelarator is a nightmare...there is a lag time between touching the pedal and the movement of the car. It is VERY difficult to hold at a constant speed if you are driving under 30 miles per hour. The ride is so distracting that it is hard to enjoy any other aspect of the car. The passenger side air bag is almost impossible to activate when someone sits in the seat. In a crash, it would be useless.

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  Lied to Deceived - 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By BOB - June 23 - 5:03 pm

  The dealer never informed me of the outrageous and extremely costly maintenance schedule. Didnt know I was buying a Jaguar!! Better think twice about buying!! Timing belt must be replaced at 60,000 at a cost of at least $600. If you dont replace, and something goes, you buy a new engine. If Hyundai is so confident of powertrain warranty. They should step up to plate and warranty timing belt to 100,000. Gas mileage a joke!

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  Never Again Jeeps for me - 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Rick - June 1 - 12:23 am

  Only half the vehicle a Grand Cherokee for 3/4 the price. Comes with lots of options but they dont preform very well. The 4wd drive dosent work well if you spin your tires. It cuts in and out and at times the pauses leave you with no power going to any wheel. The interior is roomy but components are lacking in quality. The rear seat bottems are made entirely of foam (no frame) and dont lay flat when folded down. The floor carpet and mats are econo big time. The vehicle must draw its outside air close to the road because the exhaust flumes from other cars get sucked inside big time. Lots of AC in the winter because of using the recirculating feature. The body and doors are quality.

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  airbags - 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By sue - January 21 - 10:40 am

  i purchased this vehicle with the assumption that if the vehicle rolled over that the side airbags would deploy......did not happen. car flipped 6x and not 1 airbag deployed. just want to save someones life....dont count on them to save you.

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  Strange, drawn out problems - 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Angela Tweet - December 4 - 10:00 am

  I loved Hyundai when I purchased my 2005 Santa Fe. The car was pretty amazing until spring of 10, when it started to show signs of overheating, without the thermostat going up. Lithia told me it was fine, and I drove it until it started stalling. I took it back in, paid for a new radiator (not under warranty after 60K), and dealt with either cracked radiators/ bubbling coolant or not having a vehicle for 3 months. They couldnt figure out what was wrong. Head gasket had to be replaced (under warranty) but since that had been what blew out the radiator, why didnt I get any refund? Or the more than $1k of equipment that they didnt seem to care was stolen from my car while they had it!

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  hyundai review frwn - 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By wm nundahl - August 29 - 4:00 pm

  the vehicle is nice to drive , but the service and warranty mean nothing. i have had problems with there home office, the dealer itself and the way the handle their customers, if there is any warranty work to get done , seems they have to get hold of there service rep. and then you dont kmow when your going to here from them, you can complain all you want and bring warranty issues to thier attention and you might as well have been talking to the wall. i have had issues that have been on going and were resolved 6 mos. later-- do you call this customer service i dont. seems they are more concerned with thier bottom line, and they only seem to do whats nesc.

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  Warranty issues - 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By H Leal - May 25 - 10:03 am

  Nothing but warranty problems. The 1st was rust spots all over. It took over 6 months and 2 dealerships, warranty dept, regional DPSM, BBB. Now body side moulding fell off, they said not covered because it is 3/36000, but its 5/60000. Conference calls with dealer, warranty dept and DPSM still nothing done. Service and warranty mean nothing. I bought because of warranty and it is all a lie. Never buy another again.