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-
Favorite vehicle to date - 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe
By bristol6 - December 19 - 8:43 pm2005 Santa Fe LX AWD. The first car i ever owned was a Hyundai. Since then i owned a BMW, a Dodge, a Mazda, and a Chevy, and I have returned again to Hyundai. My Santa Fe is reliable, capable, comfortable, and relatively easy to maintain. They are fairly common vehicles so parts arent hard to find. Plenty of space inside, and enough room in the cargo space to stow whatever you want. Folding the back seats down is easy and quick. I put some Toyo All-Terrain tires on mine, and i am comfortable driving it across fields, through mud, snow, ice, and sand. If youre looking for a reliable fun midsize SUV that you can take anywhere, this is your ticket.
-
New Owner! - 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe
By Amanda - July 4 - 10:26 amIve wanted a Santa Fe since they debuted. Im a previous Hyundai owner & adore the warrenty. I never had a problem that wasnt covered by the bumper-to-bumper warranty & when it expired, the cost was pretty minimal for the add. 15k miles that I drove it. I did my research & waited until my finances allowed for a new car payment. I did all of my price negotiating via email with three different dealers. This is difficult, but Im email savvy & was persistent/firm (but courteous) with the sales people. Using the quotes (everything in writing), I was able to negotiate $3000 below invoice. Do your research, get everything in writing, be firm & know what you want to spend (down & monthly).
-
Santa Fe - 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe
By garbear - January 26 - 3:53 amI was disapointed by the power of the vehicle but overall its been a good suv 1st time owner of a Suv. Company has burned me as far as settlement for wrong sticker information left a sour taste in my mouth not happy.
-
hyundai santa fe - 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe
By wayne kitchen - October 18 - 11:46 pmThis vehicle does not handle well on wet pavement especially in moderaate rain showers. The drivers compartment does not have adequate stretch room for the left leg and foot. The gas mileage is awful.Easy to par
-
Ya Gets What Ya Pays For - 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe
By Scott - June 17 - 10:50 pmFor the money, you probably cant go too far wrong here, but overall this is probably just an average SUV for its class. The exterior styling is a bit radical for some tastes, but it does stand out well in a crowd, and doesnt have that "shoebox on wheels" look most SUVs have. The handling on the 4WD model is a bit mushy, and the fuel economy isnt great for its size, but it does have enough zip when you need it. Ive found the seats less than totally comfortable on long trips, but otherwise the interior is decent. The reliability has been good so far, and the warranty is unbeatable. Overall, while not outstanding or overly impressive in any one area, probably still a great bargain for the money
-
Smile - 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe
By Niall - March 13 - 5:16 amI have had absolutely no problems with my Santa Fe during the first year of ownership. It has a well thought out interior for space and is a comfortable long road trip experience.
-
We made a good purchase - 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe
By Dick in AZ - February 15 - 3:00 pmWe bought this Santa Fe about a month before making a 2000 mile trip back to Ohio. It was three years old when we bought it and had 32,000 miles. After driving it 6,000+ miles so far, I have to say it is the most comfortable vehicle I think I have driven to date (Im 63, 57" 150#). The display for the air conditioning/heating is rather hard to see while driving, but functions well. We get about 16-18 around town, and the first time I checked it on our trip, we got 27mpg @ 75mph with the air on! I like the way it handles but it is a wee bit top heavy, but it has never been a problem. The only negative comment I have is the gas pedal; it seems sluggish, then suddenly leaps forward.
-
Comfortable & practical, but gas hungry - 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe
By jpc477 - January 4 - 1:36 amUp until buying my Santa Fe I had always driven the smaller cars (Honda Civic, Mazda Protege). Its a good vehicle & very comfortable inside, but I might end up selling it & going back to a sedan. I expected my gas mileage to go down with it being an SUV, but still thought Id at least average in the low to mid 20s with it being a 6 cylinder and not an 8 & not being that big. However Im averaging 17 to 20 miles to the gallon and thats even with driving very conservatively. The ride is smooth but I find myself being afraid of any sudden moves. Overall its not a bad vehicle but be ready to pay more at the pump if you get one.
-
New Owner - 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe
By pbg - July 19 - 12:20 amSo far, lived up to all expectations. Solid ride, good power, and handles well.
-
Disappointed at mileage - 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe
By Darrell Colonius - July 6 - 5:46 pmSeems like a pretty solid car and handles very nice. But I do not like where the heater and air conditioner controls are located. You have to take your eyes off the road to adjust because they are located so low in the compartment. For the size, the gas mileage is terrible.
