Hyundai Santa Fe

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Price Paid:  $30000.00 from Canada

Year / Model Reviewed:
2008 Santa Fe

Summary:
I am in Quebec (Canada) and have a Santa Fe 2008, which I paid 30 000$Can new, with 0% interest. So far, so good. It's better gas mileage than the Jeep TJ I had, but still a little much with the present gas prices we have here lately. I had a problem starting the car a few months ago, which they checked and did not find the cause of. Next tune-up, they re-checked at my demand and found there was a problem with the "chip" in the key, which was not recognized at times by the car. And this was fixed free of charge since it's on warranty. The main issue I have with the car is not the car itself, but the dealer, which isn't that helpful in having curtesy cars available, etc. But really it's nothing compared to some of the problems I see others are having.

Strengths:
Space, nice smooth ride, nice suspension, handles road well, good acceleration and breaks.

Weaknesses:
Seats/headrests are not ergonomic, hurts the back for long rides. I need a cushion on my lower back. Would help if headrests were adjustable, they push the head too much forward, forcing us in a slouchy position. Also, since the gas prices went so high, I wish I had gotten an even less gas consuming vehicule.

Similar Products Used:
Jeep TJ, Cherokee, Grand Cherokee, Hyundai Tucson.

Price Paid:  $24000.00 from Key Hyundai

Year / Model Reviewed:
2007 Hyundai Santa Fe

Summary:
Nice design, and a very quiet and nice ride....when it runs. The transmission is an afterthought on this car, after having two replaced by the dealer. The second transmission skips and slips, but I can actually go around 20 miles, before this happens.

I am told that 20-25 miles, stop and let it cool down. Just a "quirk" of the model and I have to live with it.

Strengths:
OK. It does have an attractive exterior body design.

Weaknesses:
Cannot drive it more than 20 miles without overheating transmission. They last about 3 months.

Similar Products Used:
Ford Explorer. It has 160,000 miles on it and the same transmission. You can actually drive it over 20 miles!

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.43 of 5, 7.00 votes

Price Paid:  $24000.00 from Dealer

Year / Model Reviewed:
2007 Honda Civic Si

Summary:
Awesome car for balls out driving. Lots of bad things as well. The worst is a lack of throttle response from 2 -7 mph. Yes, that's right, if you are in neutral or in gear but have the clutch depressed, then rev the engine between 2 and 7 mph, you will not have any throttle response. It's so bad that if you were at a yield sign, coasting through, then realized you needed to get on the throttle because a car is about to slam you, the lack of throttle response causes an unsure moment as to whether or not your car will get out of the way in time. It's that bad. The Si I road tested before buying mine had the same problem, though at the time I didn't realize what it was and that it was a serious, ongoing issue. Another issue is the severe hesitation when cold, and even when warm, though to a lesser degree. I mean severe! My '94 Accord with 260,000 miles has an engine that is silky smooth, even when cold. Now we're in 2007 and can't have a vehicle that runs smooth when cold? Honda really messed up with their Drive By Wire ( DBW ) and computer programming. Another issue is the tire hop when, god forbid, it's even a little wet out. The hop is so bad that it jars the heck out of the car. Not something that I would expect from a limited slip differential, not to mention the suspension setup. Another bad thing? The quality of the body panel seams. Each and every one of the seams on the body are off. Either more space than another, or a panel may be actually sticking out further than the panel that is next to it. The battery struggles to turn the motor over as well. Always feels like it's struggling when cranking. When cold, the fast idle gets confused and will "catch" and go from 1750 to 2250 after a quick blip of the throttle.

If it weren't so sexy, I'd drive it off a bridge while hitting 8000 rpm. Then I'd get insurance money to buy a car that has body panels that match and a throttle system that is not electronic. That would mean, I dare say, that it wouldn't be a Honda. Sorry Honda, your DBW sucks and your reluctance to address and fix these issues are your downfall in my eyes.

Toyota anyone?

Strengths:
Motor, handling, looks

Weaknesses:
DBW - all aspects of it; body seams. Honda needs to fix the lack of throttle response from 2-7 mph before I or anyone else sues them after getting into an accident.

Similar Products Used:
1985 CRX Si
1989 CRX Si
1990 Accord DX
1994 Accord EX
2005 Civic DX

Price Paid:  $30000.00 from Attrell Hyundai - Br

Year / Model Reviewed:
2007 Santa Fe GL 3.3L AWD

Summary:
My 2007 Santa Fe GL with the 242 horsepower 3.3 Liter V6 engine and All Wheel Drive is a quality vehicle all round.

The ride is super smooth, which is a result of the 4 wheel independent suspension. The cabin is super quite with next to none road noise!

The engine and transmission are a good match. Awesome acceleration with super smooth shifting from the 5 gear auto tranny. A cool transmission feature on all 3.3L models is the 'SHIFTRONIC' manual shifting (Sport Shifting). With shiftronic engaged, the driver has full control over gear selection! Just like a manual transmission, minus the clutch. Great for adverse weather conditions!

I found first gear to be 'very' short. However, as I played with the shifter a bit (in sport shift mode), I noticed that the driver is able to select 2nd gear while at a stand-still. No need to start off in 1st!

Another cool feature of the sport shifting is that even though you can 'manually' row up and down through the gears, if you need to make a quick stop, the tranny will take over and shift down for you! Cool huh?

The All Wheel Drive models are an 'On-Demand' set up. If the computer senses wheel spin, engine power is split 50/50 to the front and back. Once the slippage subsides, it's back to front wheel driving. The driver has the option of 'locking' the rear differential to give 'full-time' 4x4 drive.

Brakes are excellent, however, if you need to make a quick stop, it takes quite a bit of peddle press to slow the vehicle.

Dash controls are placed well and easy to operate. At night, all controls are lit with a awesome blue light. It looks like the cockpit of a jet fighter plane!

The Santa Fe (sans sunroof) welcomes taller drivers 6'+. In models without a sunroof, there is plenty of head room for tall people. Leg room is ample also. If you opt for a sunroof, be prepared to loose significant head room! My advice... if you're tall, sit in a model that has a sunroof and one that doesn't... You make the call.

The seats are firm and comfortable. The head restraints (front seats) move both up/down and forward/backward. The F/B adjustment allows the occupant to adjust his/her head rest to such a position that will provide 'full' head restraint... Kudos to Hyundai for this very cool feature!

The second row seats (not sure about third row) recline... Wow, this vehicle is awesome! This is the first car that I have known to have reclining 'rear' seats.

For those of you who are considering the 7 passenger Santa Fe, do not expect to carry 7 adults! Reason being, the third row seats are only big enough to carry small children. Average size adults will not be comfortable in the third row.

The stowage area in the back has plenty of room with two hide-away storage bins. A smaller one for jack, tools etc... and a larger one for misc. stuff. Blanket, first aide kit, kids toys, whatever...

There are 3 power outlets for cellphones etc. One for each row of seating.

Very anxious to try out the AWD... Bring on Winter!!!

Hyundai has a winner with the redesigned Santa Fe. Honda watch your back... here comes Hyundai!

Best vehicle I have ever owned!

Thank you Hyundai!

Strengths:
Well designed and thought out, fit and finish, super smooth ride, quite cabin, engine and transmission, controls, safety features.

Quality, quality, quality!

Weaknesses:
Reversing visibility is slightly hampered by the two wide rear pillars. Be careful while backing up people!

Dome light too far back.

No 'auto-on' for 'map lights' upon vehicle exiting.

Shifter should have some sort of physical locking device while in 'Sport Shift' mode.

Similar Products Used:
None...

Price Paid:  $20300.00 from Henderson Hyundai, N

Year / Model Reviewed:
2007 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS

Summary:
Quality vehicle, built well, drives like a car and has all the safety features you could ever want. Great vehicle for the price! Yet to take it on a long trip, but we're sure it'll be great. CARGO SPACE galore!

Strengths:
SAFETY! Six airbags STANDARD! Exceeds all US safety requirements and got highest all-over safety rating by any SUV, ever (even in a roll-over)! Hyundai offers a 2.7L V6 and a 3.3L V6 and the 2.7 gets pretty good gas mileage. Great vehicle for a family of 4 or less. Masive cargo/storage area in 5 passanger, but it also comes in a 7 passanger option. Not much leg room in the 7 passanger and you loose all the cargo space when the 3rd row seats are in use (can fold them down when not in use, for cargo space). Center console is very well designed and easy to use.

Weaknesses:
Not too much to complain about. The base model GLS offers everything you need, the options are nice but not really necessary in this level of vehicle. The 5 passanger is kind of tight for a family of 5 (3 car seats in the second row), but still works OK for us.

Similar Products Used:
Have driven a 2005 Hyundai Tucson 2.7L V6... the 2007 Santa Fe is a much larger and more comfortable vehicle when you need room for 3 car seats. For the extra $2000, go with the Sanat Fe!