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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  NOT SO GREAT AFTER ALL !!! - 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By MAZZ - July 10 - 9:43 am

  Dont be fooled by the 10 warranty!!!! It b-- s---...... Dealers say " I cant duplicate the problem... Are you kidding me, I am in the car with the tech and he cant feel the vibration, noise, and twisting of the steering...I was floored. The ride is rough...And steering is light....I have 68k miles, and I am disappointed.... I need new tires after 40k miles (have firestones) now (not cheap tires). I have had nothing but issues - front suspension...

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  Good all around - 2001 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By DISA27 - June 13 - 2:33 am

  Havent experienced any of the previous stated problems. Probably because I perform regular maintenance and treat it like an AWD V6 SUV, not Formula 1. I dont beat on it too much, occasional off-road fishing trips performs awesome in the mud (minus the 9 in of ground clearance. Decent gas mileage 20-24 with mixed driving and K&N flat filter.

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  Revised: No Longer completely satisfied! - 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By tedrik - May 29 - 10:00 am

  This is an update from my review from 05/09/10. I absolutely loved everything about this car (past tense). I have been experiencing transmission problems which seems to be worsening. I am experiencing rough- "clunking" and abrupt shifting from 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd gear. Also at first start after overnight I hear a metal clanging from underneath towards the back/underside of the vehicle right after the first "clunk". Hyundai has "no fix". They have been reflashing the tcms, ecms, installing "new transmissions" with the same problems! Hyundai needs to step-up and remedy this problem. Purportedly it was defective transmissions from 1st production runs.

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  quality control needed - 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By michael Hollander - May 28 - 12:06 pm

  My new Hyundai has 4500 miles and has been in the shop five times. It is in the shop now (three days so far). It looks good, drives well, has horrible gas mileage (averages 15 m.p.g.).I have owned Ford Explorers, Jeep Grand Cherokees, two Acura MDX, and now this. There is a unfixable squeak on both front doors when your elbows tough them .

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  tire towing problems - 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By markxs - April 9 - 1:43 pm

  There is a definite front tire alignment defect on this vehicle. The tire warranty is bogus since no tire store will pro-rate remainder of warranty claiming it is from hitting too many potholes.

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  Bad Rack and Pinion - 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By Anthony Lupo - February 4 - 5:33 pm

  Had to replace rack and pinion three times. Also, inside door liners, had to replace rubber twice. For all those who own this vehicle, make sure you have the rack and pinion checked. If the steering wheel doesnt stay straight once its aligned, it could be your rack and pinion.

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  Love the car, but not customer service - 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By luvmysanta - December 17 - 10:00 am

  I love my car! For a great value, I got tons of stuff! People walk up to me in parking lots, and ask about it! Unfortunately, the customer service Ive encountered has bean really, really, REALLY bad! Theyve made it clear early on in my ownership, that if something does go wrong, they will not honor the warranty, or make any attempts to help the customer. I had a small concern, that I brought to their attention, and they just tried to sell me another car (requiring several thousand in cash), rather than fix the problem. Ive been trying to get the problem corrected since November of 2001, with no luck (its now April of 2003).

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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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  So what gives with the gas mileage? - 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe
  By stacey - August 12 - 10:46 am

  Purchased car used with 17K miles from dealer. Reading was 20.1 mpg, drove it home and mpg began to drop immediately. Went as low as 12.8 but then had problem with 02 sensor. Dealer said that mileage would improve after replacement. It got a little better, now back up to 15.1, city.On trips to Tahoe the best mpg was 18. Overall, I like the car but given the times, one cant make buying decisions on cars w/o taking mpg into account. I would never have bought this car if Id known what the true mileage would be. I think that all of the disclaimers given by both the dealers and the feds are outrageous. A consumer should be entitled to minimal expectations for such a critical feature.