Hyundai Santa Fe Review, For Sale, Colours, Interior, Specs & News
Hyundai's Santa Fe debuted in the early 2000s, and it's evolved from a larger mid-sized SUV competitor against the Honda CR-V to a smaller large SUV with three-row, seven-seater capability over successive generations. The Toyota Kluger is the main rival.
Today, the Santa Fe sits underneath the slightly-bigger but closely related flagship Palisade SUV, offering the choice of V6 petrol or four-cylinder turbo-diesel power. Front and all-wheel drive are also available. The cheapest grade starts from $44,700, rising to $69,550 for the most expensive version.
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Check out real-world situations relating to the Hyundai Santa Fe here, particularly what our experts have to say about them.
- I am looking for an auto transmission wagon or SUV, that tows at least 1500kg and does not have a CVT.
While the CVT is enjoying a bit of a purple patch right now with many car-makers using it for its efficiency benefits, you’re not the only one, Gregg, that doesn’t want to own such a thing. The CVT’s history is littered with failures, although to be perfectly fair, they are a lot better now than they’ve ever been.
But even if you can accept their reliability track record, some owners will just never take to the CVT’s characteristics of allowing the engine to rev up and have the rest of the vehicle catch up. It can feel very alien and it’s hardly a sporty sensation, either.
With all that in mind, you probably should start looking at things like the two-wheel-drive versions of something like, say, the Toyota Kluger or Hyundai Santa Fe. Both are available in two-wheel-drive, both have conventional 8-speed automatic transmissions and both can haul a decent load (2000kg and 2500kg respectively). The Toyota even offers a hybrid driveline, but, sadly for buyers like you, that uses a CVT transmission.
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- My 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe has a transmission fault, what should I do?
I definitely agree that 60,000km is pathetically short for the lifespan of a modern transmission. And if, indeed, the transmission has failed or is showing dramatic wear in that distance, I’d be asking Hyundai to help out with the cost of repairs. Even though the vehicle is out of warranty (by only about a year it would seem) the low kilometres and full factory service history might give Hyundai cause to come to the party on a pro rata basis.
Meantime, don’t hit the panic button yet. The fault could be a much simpler one than you might be imagining and could be something quick and easy to fix. The problem could be as simple as low transmission-fluid level. If the quoted cost to examine the transmission is putting you off, try an independent transmission specialist who should be more than familiar with this unit.
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Why is my 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe unresponsive when I press the accelerator?
There’s no point giving an engine a double-dose of whatever the manufacturer recommends as the correct amount. And that applies to everything from injector cleaner to windscreen washer fluid. It’s also true that these injector cleaners will sometimes work if the problem is a simple case of a build-up of dirt and gunk that shouldn’t be on the injector, but if the problem is an actual worn injector or some other problem, then all the cleaner in the world won’t help. You’ve asked if the condition might improve with time, and in the case of a dirty injector that is gradually cleaned by these products, then the answer is maybe.
The fact that your engine runs perfectly once warmed up is the interesting part. That suggests that there’s something going on when the engine is first started. Does it start easily? If not, the glow-plugs (which pre-heat the combustion chamber on a diesel) could be malfunctioning. I’d also be checking the fuel delivery pressure as these modern, common-rail diesel engines use very high fuel pressure to work properly. If the injectors aren’t getting the correct pressure from the moment you hit the key, they can run very poorly. That would then lead me to check for a dirty fuel filter and perhaps even the condition of the pump and its regulator. You might even find the problem is related to the turbocharger or even the throttle-by-wire system that is having a temperature-related hissy-fit.
The first thing to do now would be to have the vehicle scanned and, in particular, look out for fault code P0401. This will be logged as a problem with the EGR system, but is often caused by carbon build-up in the engine rather than a problem with the actual EGR valve. This fault code can also be associated with loose turbocharger plumbing which can lead to boost leaks and the sort of sluggish behaviour you’ve noted. Either way, it’s a good clue about where to look. It’s also worth noting that Hyundai was aware of a problem with the engine fuel-filter fitted to engines built around the time of your car. A change of the filter cartridge was a simple fix, so make sure that’s been done on your car. A Hyundai dealership will be able to check if your car was affected and whether it’s been fitted with the new filter.
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- Which popular mid to large SUV is best for a family?
This is a really interesting question, because most car-makers tend to quote their products’ luggage capacity in litres, rather than a set of dimensions in each direction. Even then, it’s not that simple as there are different methods fort calculating the cubic capacity of a load space, and the two methods are not readily comparable. It’s also a bit of a con-job, because a figure in litres mean very little to most people, while actual measurements in centimetres would be much more relatable.
In any case, since you obviously have two kids with cellos and school-bags, it’s clear that you’ll also need the rear seat for at least one passenger, so you need to find a vehicle that either has enough space in the rear with the first two rows of seats in place, or a car that has a split-fold rear seat to allow longer loads (like a cello or two) to pass from the luggage area into the rear seat space. The good news there is that many (if not all) SUVs do, in fact, have this split-fold seat, and that will surely accommodate even a full-sized cello which, after a bit of scratching around, I discovered is about 121cm long.
If, however, you need to occupy the whole rear seat with passengers, then you need to find an SUV that is wide enough to accept the cellos loaded across (or diagonally across) the car. That won’t be easy, because most vehicles just aren’t that wide inside. Even a conventional full-sized car-based Holden or Ford utility (which aren’t being made any longer) is only about 1400mm wide. And if you check out something like a Hyundai Santa Fe, it’s load area with the third row is feats down is just 1080mm at its narrowest point. Even the huge Hyundai Palisade is just 1111mm across the narrowest point of its load area. There will be areas where the space is wider, but that narrowest point is usually between the rear wheel-arches.
I’ll also take a punt and suggest that the cellos in question are either in carry-bags or even hard-cases which would add even more to their length. So you might find it very difficult to find anything that will accommodate a 1.2 or 1.3 metre cello lengthways in the luggage area without resorting to folding down half the second-row seat. Even a big car like a Volvo XC90 has just 1220mm of load length with the rear seat in place, and mid-sized station-wagons typically have less than a metre between the tailgate and the rear seat. The best idea might be to make a short-list of cars you’d be happy with and then visit the relevant showrooms with a tape measure (or even a cello) in your hand.
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See All Hyundai Santa Fe Q&As
Disclaimer: You acknowledge and agree that all answers are provided as a general guide only and should not be relied upon as bespoke advice. Carsguide is not liable for the accuracy of any information provided in the answers.
Hyundai Santa Fe Models Price and Specs
The price range for the Hyundai Santa Fe varies based on the trim level you choose. Starting at $46,050 and going to $69,550 for the latest year the model was manufactured. The model range is available in the following body types starting from the engine/transmission specs shown below.
2023 | SUV | 3.5L, —, 8 SP AUTO | $46,050 | $69,550 | |
2022 | SUV | 3.5L, ULP, 8 SP AUTO | $44,700 | $69,550 | |
2021 | SUV | 3.5L, ULP, 8 SP AUTO | $36,300 | $71,060 | |
2020 | SUV | 2.4L, ULP, 6 SP AUTO | — | $67,430 | |
2019 | SUV | 2.2L, Diesel, 8 SP AUTO | $31,100 | $61,820 |
See All Hyundai Santa Fe Pricing and Specs
Hyundai Santa Fe Towing Capacity
The Hyundai Santa Fe has maximum towing capacity of 2500kg for the latest model available.
2023 | SUV | 1650kg | 2500kg | |
2022 | SUV | 1650kg | 2500kg | |
2021 | SUV | 2000kg | 2500kg | |
2020 | SUV | 2000kg | 2500kg | |
2019 | SUV | 2000kg | 2000kg |
See All Towing Capacity for Hyundai Santa Fe
Hyundai Santa Fe Seats
All Santa Fe models come with seven seats. The Santa Fe is appointed with black cloth, while both the Active and Elite enjoy synthetic leather seats. The Highlander model is upgraded to Nappa leather. Both the Santa Fe and Active front seats are manually adjusted, while the Elite model’s driver’s seats have a 10-way power adjustment with 2-way lumbar support. Highlander’s driver’s seat has a 14-waypower adjustment with 4-way lumbar support and knee cushion. Only on the two top grades is the front passengers seat electric.
Heated front seats are standard on the two top models, while the Highlander also enjoys ventilated front seats and heated rear outboard seats in the middle row.
The middle row seats have ISOFIX mounts on the outboard seats and three top tether child seat mounts. The middle row has a 60/40 spit fold and lay flat when folded. The third row has a 50/50 split fold.
Hyundai Santa Fe Colours
The Santa Fe has four standard colours – ‘White Cream’, ‘Lagoon Blue’, ‘Typhoon Silver’, and ‘Abyss Black’. The Active model has an additional colour – ‘Magnetic Force’. The Elite and Highlander models has an additional two colours – ‘Taiga Brown’, and ‘Rainforest’.
To confirm current colour availability, please check the manufacturer's website.
Hyundai Santa Fe Interior
The Hyundai Santa Fe’s dashboard is headlined by an 8-inch touchscreen multimedia system and a 4.2-inch instrument cluster on both the Santa Fe and Active models but they are upgraded to a 10.25-inch touchscreen and 12.3-inch instrument cluster on the Elite and Highlander models. Only the Highlander model enjoys a head-up display.
The Highlander model comes with a panoramic sunroof, a heated steering wheel and adjustable ambient lighting.
Hyundai Santa Fe Accessories
Standard equipment in the Santa Fe: 4.2-inch digital instrument panel, 8-inch touchscreen multimedia system, 17-inch alloy wheels, full-size spare tyre, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto reversing camera with rear parking sensors, Bluetooth connectivity, wireless charging pad, 5 x USB port, 2 x 12-volt ports, LED lights, keyless entry and push button start.
Hyundai Santa Fe Dimensions
The dimensions of the Hyundai Santa Fe SUV vary according to year of manufacture and spec level.
2023 | SUV | 1685x1900x4785 mm | 176 mm | |
2022 | SUV | 1685x1900x4785 mm | 176 mm | |
2021 | SUV | 1680x1890x4770 mm | 185 mm | |
2020 | SUV | 1680x1890x4770 mm | 185 mm | |
2019 | SUV | 1680x1890x4770 mm | 185 mm |
The dimensions shown above are for the base model. See All Hyundai Santa Fe Dimensions
Hyundai Santa Fe Boot Space
The Sante Fe’s boot is a good size when all seven seats are in action, with 517L VDA of cargo capacity available. That jumps up to 782L VDA when the rear seats are folded flat.
Hyundai Santa Fe Fuel Consumption
The Hyundai Santa Fe is available in a number of variants and body types that are powered by Diesel, — and ULP fuel type(s). It has an estimated fuel consumption starting from 6.1L/100km for SUV /Diesel for the latest year the model was manufactured.
2023 | SUV | 6.1L/100km | 2.2L | Diesel | 8 SP AUTO | |
2023 | SUV | 10.5L/100km | 3.5L | — | 8 SP AUTO | |
2022 | SUV | 6.1L/100km | 2.2L | Diesel | 8 SP AUTO | |
2022 | SUV | 10.5L/100km | 3.5L | — | 8 SP AUTO | |
2022 | SUV | 10.5L/100km | 3.5L | ULP | 8 SP AUTO | |
2021 | SUV | 7.5L/100km | 2.2L | Diesel | 8 SP AUTO | |
2021 | SUV | 10.6L/100km | 3.5L | ULP | 8 SP AUTO | |
2020 | SUV | 7.5L/100km | 2.2L | Diesel | 8 SP AUTO | |
2020 | SUV | 9.3L/100km | 2.4L | ULP | 6 SP AUTO | |
2019 | SUV | 7.5L/100km | 2.2L | Diesel | 8 SP AUTO | |
2019 | SUV | 9.3L/100km | 2.4L | ULP | 6 SP AUTO |
* Combined fuel consumption See All Hyundai Santa Fe Pricing and Specs for 2023
Hyundai Santa Fe Wheel Size
The Hyundai Santa Fe has a number of different wheel and tyre options. When it comes to tyres, these range from 235x65 R17 1 for SUV in 2023.
2023 | SUV | 235x65 R17 1 | — | 235x65 R17 1 | — | |
2022 | SUV | 235x65 R17 1 | — | 235x65 R17 1 | — | |
2021 | SUV | 235x65 R17 1 | — | 235x65 R17 1 | — | |
2020 | SUV | 235x65 R17 1 | 17x7 inches | 235x65 R17 1 | 17x7 inches | |
2019 | SUV | 235x65 R17 1 | 17x7 inches | 235x65 R17 1 | 17x7 inches |
The dimensions shown above are for the base model. See All Hyundai Santa Fe Wheel Sizes
Hyundai Santa Fe Speed
The Santa Fe doesn’t have an official 0-100km/h sprint time.