Hyundai Santa Fe Review
Published: 16th May 2007
Hyundai Santa Fe
Safety and Security 
The new Hyundai Santa Fe comes fully equipped with the latest in on-road active safety systems, including; ESP (Electronic Stability Programme) and ABS with EBD (Electronic Brakeforce Distribution).
ESP is fitted as standard to CDX and CDX+ models and uses a network of sensors to monitor different aspects of vehicle behaviour, such as deceleration, power input, yaw rates and wheel slippage. If it detects the driver is in danger of losing control of the vehicle, it automatically intervenes, regulating power and braking to maintain stability. We of course would like to see ESP as standard throughout the range.
All versions of the new Santa Fe are fitted with six airbags, (eight in the seven seat models) with driver and front passenger front airbags (the passenger airbag is now fitted with a cut-off switch), front side airbags and roof curtain airbags. On seven seat models the roof airbags extend through to the third row seats. Three point seatbelts are provided on all seats and, on higher-grade models, active head restraints are provided for enhanced protection against whiplash injuries.
Comfort and Refinement
The Santa Fe is quite a refined and quiet place to be and although it is diesel, in practice it is never intrusive. Wind noise is minimal, even at motorway speeds. I spent over 12 hours behind the wheel on a pretty much non-stop tour of mid-Wales and it really didn’t miss a beat and remained very composed. The electric driver’s seat, with fully adjustable steering wheel allowed us to obtain a good driving position. Perhaps the seats could do with a little better lumbar support. We found the leather wrapped steering wheel was rather too hard/slippery and could do with restyling.
My rear seat passengers commented that the Santa Fe was far more comfortable than the Land Rover Discovery 3 in the rear, which might be attributed to the seating.
We did have an issue with the dual climate control, we where either too hot or too cold and it didn’t seem to be able to keep the cabin at a constant temperature. The foot operated (both release/applied) parking brake should be copied by other manufacturers, it puts Mercedes-Benz foot/hand brake to shame.
How It Looks - Exterior
The new Santa Fe is far removed from the rather awkward old model. It is now very attractive with well proportioned styling. Hyundai have certainly taken a few design cues from European SUV's and have carried it off well.
How It Looks - Interior
Simply don’t mention the wood trim, it is horrible - please Hyundai don’t do it again. And we aren’t the only ones who hate it everyone who sat or rode in the SUV didn’t like it. Otherwise the Santa Fe is quite good inside, although the jury is out about the blue glow from the instrument panel at night, fortunately from my perspective it can be dimmed.
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