Hyundai Santa Fe: Why this could be the ultimate family SUV
Hyundai’s big seven-seat SUV combines all the essential gear to keep the whole family happy. And there is one safety feature that could turn out to be a lifesaver.
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For modern families, Hyundai’s Santa Fe seven-seater SUV ticks the boxes for size, safety, features and low-ish ownership costs.
The best-selling grade is the top spec Highlander, featuring Benz-like luxe including airconditioned front seats, heated rear seats and a digital dashboard. We’re testing the diesel-powered entry-level Active, on the road for less than $50,000.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Iain: Do you know the worst thing about getting old?
Jules: Wrinkles, a sore back and you shouting at the television for no reason?
Iain: No. It’s that suddenly I don’t want a noisy, impractical sports car, I want a seven-seat SUV. With a Hyundai badge.
Jules: Somewhere, your 20-something self is screaming.
Iain: I know. But priorities change, and SUVs have come a long way. I like how we can seat our two kids and some of their friends, my bike fits in the back with a swift drop of the seats, and these on-road-specific seven-seaters actually drive really well.
Jules: Your pipe and slippers, sir? I take it you like the Santa Fe?
Iain: It just makes sense. Yes it’s boring, has a diesel engine and our Active doesn’t feature fancy equipment. But Hyundai’s not skimped on safety or practical buttons to quickly rearrange the cabin furniture.
Jules: It looks quite flash. I’m a fan of its big front grille and slitty front lights. The wheels are way too small though. They really should fill those plastic-covered arches.
Iain: That’d be one reason to get a higher grade. Big price leap though. Our entry-level all-wheel-drive Santa Fe is $48,490 on the road. It’s nearly $8000 more for the mid-spec Elite and $19,000 extra for a Highlander.
THE LIVING SPACE
Jules: Entry level maybe, but there’s quality here. The cloth seats are sink-in cosy and the lumbar adjustment’s electric.
Iain: It’s a big, simple layout, with good attention to detail. The dashboard’s stitched, soft and attractively curved, with lots of smart storage for phones and the like.
Jules: It may not be jazzy, but at least there’s a mix of greys, blacks and even brown to liven the cabin. Great to have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, too.
Iain: If I’m being picky, there’s no keyless start and the 7-inch touchscreen looks small by today’s standards.
THE COMMUTE
Jules: I don’t like big SUVs that feel like trucks. The Santa Fe’s the opposite. It’s easy to drive and doesn’t feel cumbersome.
Iain: Hyundai’s set it up really well. It doesn’t lean too much in corners despite its size, but does a fine job of soaking up road bumps. Radar cruise control in the entry-level’s excellent.
Jules: But that diesel’s noisy when you push it. I like its pace off the mark, but it doesn’t sound as refined as some modern diesel engines.
Iain: You spend too long in BMWs. I reckon it’s perfect for everyday family driving. I’d prefer the V6 petrol Santa Fe for the drive experience, but we returned 7.6L/100km in this diesel. We’d get nowhere near with a V6.
THE SHOPPING
Jules: We rarely need the third row of seating, and they fold with just a simple pull of a strap. The middle row of seats slides forward, making the boot mighty.
Iain: I agree. Really versatile. There’s no electric tailgate on the Active, or a 360-degree camera. You need to spend big on higher grades.
SUNDAY RUN
Jules: Why does a car like this have a Sport mode?
Iain: One of life’s mysteries. I pressed it and the engine made more noise, but I don’t think progress was quicker.
Jules: I’d happily spend a weekend cruising highways in a Santa Fe, rather than backroads. It’s quiet at speed, purrs along and chews through the kilometres with ease.
Iain: All-wheel-drive too, so you could tackle a bit of unsealed road for a family camping trip.
Jules: It’s big enough to sleep four of us inside. Why bother with a tent?
THE FAMILY
Iain: Credit to Hyundai, they’ve thrown all the active safety you need at this Active. It automatically brakes if you’re going to hit a car, pedestrian or cyclist, including when reversing.
Jules: The lane-keep assist works well too. The kids loved it steering itself between lines.
Iain: Speaking of kids, it also has a rear occupant alert that uses an ultrasonic sensor, monitoring rear seat movement, and flashes lights and sounds the horn if you’ve left a child inside the car. Excellent, lifesaving technology.
Jules: Two USB ports and air vents in the back, though not climate control. The legroom is massive for the middle row.
Iain: There’s a one-touch walk-in switch to easily access the third row of seats, so no need to manually flip and slide. The rearmost seats just about accommodate adults and they have their own airconditioning controller back there too.
THE VERDICT
Jules: Not as desirable-looking as seven-seaters such as the VW Tiguan Allspace or Mazda CX-8, but I’m impressed with the all-round package.
Iain: The Santa Fe hides its size well on the drive and is one of the few SUVs that could tempt me out of a family station wagon. A standout seven-seater.
HYUNDAI SANTA FE ACTIVE 2.2D AWD VITALS
Price: $48,490 drive-away
Warranty/servicing: 5 years/unl’td km, $2239 for 5 years/75,000km
Engine: 2.2-litre 4-cyl turbo-diesel, 147kW/440Nm
Safety: 5 Stars, 6 airbags, reversing camera, AEB (includes pedestrian and cyclist), blind-spot collision avoidance assist, lane-keep assist, rear cross-traffic assist, radar cruise control, rear occupant alert
Thirst: 7.5L/100km
Spare: Full-size
Boot: 547L
Originally published as Hyundai Santa Fe: Why this could be the ultimate family SUV
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