Overview & Reviews

One of Hyundai's longest-running nameplates, the Santa Fe is a car-based crossover SUV aimed at buyers seeking the elevated ride height and useful cargo area of a traditional utility vehicle in an easy-to-drive package. Modern versions of the Hyundai Santa Fe are midsize with three rows of seating, quality cabin furnishings and user-friendly tech features. Whether you're shopping for a new or used Santa Fe, value is a big part of its appeal. The standard equipment list is generous, as is Hyundai's warranty coverage.

Earlier versions of the Hyundai Santa Fe range from compact to midsize in dimensions and have seating for five passengers. The 2007 and later models are a big step up in styling, performance and interior space, and they're worth considering if you're shopping for a used midsize crossover. Hyundai has since subdivided the Santa Fe line into two models: the two-row Santa Fe Sport and the three-row Santa Fe. The latter is more luxurious than its predecessors, offering premium styling and plenty of power.

User Reviews:

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  One of the best in its class - 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By bahappy12 - November 9 - 12:40 am

  The Hyundai Santa Fe is second best in its class according to consumer reports magazine. It is rated second, right behind Honda CR-V. It is a little more roomy than the CR-V and better warranty overall. CR-V was also a little more expensive. Years ago, Hyundai was not rated very good, but they have made drastic improvements over the past few years.

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  Poor Gas Mileage so far - 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Big Bruno - November 6 - 11:23 pm

  Greetings, I knew my new SUV is fine with the exception of the gas mileage. Im getting about 16-17 MPG driving in the suburbs. Everyone tells me the mileage will get better after 3,000 miles. I have about 1,500 so far. I sure hope so.

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  2013 Santa Fe 2.0T - 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By rhiannon2 - November 5 - 5:55 am

  We purchased our Santa Fe in Jan 2013 and have had many issues with it. The steering is terrible and apparently nothing can be done. We have had 2 alignments already but it has not helped how the vehicle wanders and pulls.We had to have transmission replaced at 4,800 km and there was a recall on the back up sensors that could short out and cause a fire. At 5,200 km it is experiencing stalling and rough running issues as well as check gas cap light. Not impressed with hyundai refusing to pay for towing over 100 km since we do live in rural Alberta and closest dealership is over 100 km away.I have been left stranded by this so called new vehicle.I have lost confidence and now afraid to drive .

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  POOR MILEAGE - 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By BIGJON - November 2 - 5:16 pm

  not as quiet as i thought it would be,but acceptable. ride is kind of choppy. very poor fuel mileage, overall about 16-17 mpg, around 17-18 mpg on hwy using cruise control. trip computer only estimates fuel mileage at time of reading, not actual overall mileage. my opinion is spend the extra money & buy the honda.

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  Very Happy - 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Blockhead - November 2 - 4:30 am

  I didnt start out looking for an SUV, but I wanted a vehicle with AWD and a hatch back. My last car was a Passat sedan and I was looking for something with that had greater reliability/functionality. After driving subcompact SUVs and crossovers I was dissatisfied with the power and the cargo capacity. With continued research I stumbled on the Santa Fe which many publications consider a safe, comfortable and reliable SUV. Once I drove it I was sold. It rides great especially on the highway and the seats are extremely comfortable. I have had it for one week and put 1K miles on it with no problems. Mileage is 21 in mixed driving. I have received complements on looks of the car.

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  NC Coast - 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Williams - November 2 - 3:36 am

  I am leasing this vehicle and may buy it at lease-end. I have had no problems with it at all and no squeaks as some have complained of. I consistently get close to 18 MPG in the city and 22-25 on the highway. The Santa Fe feels very secure and with most SUVs, you get a nice commanding view of the road. The 2.7 engine can be a little sluggish - Id rather have the 3.3 engine.

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  A very solid vehicle - 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By cam36 - October 31 - 10:07 pm

  Mine is a Limited, FWD. Bought in June of 2010. Just turned 37,000 miles. Runs great. Nice power and handling. 20-22 mpg combined winter and summer--all right for v-6 w 276hp. Has been completely reliable thus far with absolutely no mechanical issues at all! The only complaints I have are the road noise at highway speeds and its sensitivity in acceleration from a standstill, it wants to jump right out there...not much room for finesse. If you need to floor it to pass or maneuver, it takes a noticeable lapse of time where it does nothing ( like a turbo hesitating before it kicks in) and then it snaps to and takes off. Aside from these things, its been a great vehicle.

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  Better yet uglier than my previous 2013 Santa Fe - 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By goblin - October 31 - 6:19 am

  ...Or, lets talk about the Santa Fe Sports poor brother Disclaimer - this is a review from a Hyundai owner for Hyundai owners. If youre looking to compare with other similar vehicles, your mileage may vary. Previously owned - 2002 Mitsubishi Diamante, 2010 Sonata, 2013 Santa Fe Limited. If you like me have been fascinated by Hyundais 2013 Santa Fe (long base, not Sport), you like me have been charmed by its many qualities and irritated by its few quirks. On the quality side - amazing design, amazing bang for the buck. Performance, acceleration - everything was pretty much as it should be. For the 2013 model (the first of the series) though, there were a few annoying issues. To name them - a convoluted equipment level choice (you HAD to have the captain chairs on the back if you wanted a panoramic roof), and, probably the one and only real issue - a rear suspension which was too soft for its own good (probably a straight port from the shorter wheelbase Santa Fe Sport), which was ok when driving alone with a light load, but not ok at all with a full house. This has apparently addressed prior to the 2017 model discussed here, so if you drive a 2015 for example - this might not apply to you. If you have a 2014 though, it probably does. The other issue was that you would probably have test driven an entry level model (same engine and suspension), but once you opted for the limited you had to chime the larger wheels (19") in, which would make the ride even harsher (why on Earth would all brands decide that "Luxury" rhymes with "larger low profile tires" is beyond me). Other than that, the 2013 Santa Fe was pure joy all the way. Enter the 2017. As mentioned - its pretty much the same, yet not the same vehicle. So Ill just point the differences: - It is very easy to mess up a good design, and just like Infiniti did it 10 years ago with the FX, Hyundai has been able to do the (few) subtle changes that changed the design for the worse between the 2016 and the 2017 models. Compared to it competition the Santa Fe is slightly narrower. In the previous versions this has been nicely compensated with a design which emphasized horizontal lines - including for the lower part of the fender and the fog lights which were horizontal. The 2017 Santa Fe Sport ALSO has horizontal fog lights, which make it look wider a wilder. Not so for the Santa Fe. The vertical fog lights (Im quite sure someone was very proud with that choice) manage to "close" the horizontal line of the cars fascia and to isolate it between two vertical lines going up, making the whole vehicle look narrower and taller. Always wondered why the 2017 Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport dont look equally dynamic seen from the front ? Now you know. On the back, a change as subtle as inverting the position of the backup lights (on the bottom part of the taillight on the 2017 rather than on the top part in the previous models) is enough to disrupt the lines of a behind which, already by design, is heavier, and different from the perfect behind of the Santa Fe Sport and thus very, very easy to mess up. Last but not least - the absolutely perfect design of the 2013-2016 Santa Fe alloy wheels in Limited trim, combining elegance and dynamics to perfection, has been updated to a bland, smaller looking (if not smaller physically), average Joe alloy wheel design. Now that we bashed the exterior, lets enter the vehicle, shall we ? The other reviewers remarks about the interiors plastic put aside (I wouldnt know, have not compared with other brands), I found the 2013 dash close to perfection in design, and almost so in ergonomics. The large central volume radio button (Limited with navigation) was perfect and easy to find, and the rest was up to speed. The navigation has always been probably the most intuitive to use in the car world. Same for the huge, easy to find fan control button. The only real faux pas were the stupid Plus / Minus temperature control buttons, which should have always been rotary buttons (like on my 2010 Sonata, which - behold - had rotary temp control buttons but a linear Fan control button. Eeeeh... theyll get it right for my retirement year...) In 2017, the Fan controls are the same or almost (good and bad), the radio is a banal two small rotary buttons setup (bad). The navigation and the head unit have more possibilities, but somehow the navigation screen doesnt look as clean, there is no way to switch between connected phone units while driving, little things like that. The front seats are just as beautiful as the previous ones (very, very comfortable for whoever likes german like seats, or "made of soft wood", as the French call them). The seats ventilation is genius. Beautiful thing. Finally, memory seats. The easy entry/exit feature Ill discuss later. Now, lets drive. Or not. Apparently, space is limited. Lets see if we can add another review...

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  2008 Hyundai Santa Fe - Great Value - 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By orzecap - October 30 - 10:06 am

  My wife and I spent 2-3 months researching the purchase of a new vehicle to replace our worn-out Dodge Caravan minivan. Final decision came down to the Santa Fe and Toyota Rav4. The Santa Fe won primarily on the greater "bang for our buck", the Rav4 interior felt cheap compared to the Santa Fe. The Santa Fe has more than adequate power. The ride is smooth and quiet. The interior is well thought out and comfortable. The exterior styling is attractive, but not "over- done". This vehicle is a pleasure to drive. I will have to see how reliability will be over time, but Hyundais great warranty helps with piece of mind in that area.

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  Great Spunky SUV - 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By kmdavis - October 30 - 10:00 am

  Great vehicle for the price. I have had no problems with the vehicle.