Hyundai Santa Fe Highlander 2017 review

Smoo-ooth. Hyundai has really nailed the way the car feels when it drives. It’s positively silky, and not heavy in the slightest, like a few of the other cars in this class can be. The Santa Fe cruises along exactly how I thought it would when I first heard the name. 

Granted, being in the top of the range Highlander, the lush, creamy leather seats may have had something to do with the serene feeling that comes over you, because this car does make you feel great. It’s high off the road so you immediately feel safer, and it’s big, but not enormous.

The steering is responsive, so the car handles really well. It has enough power to get up the hill near my house quite easily, and while not exactly zippy, it’s strong. If it were a celebrity (what? You don’t give your cars celebrity doppelgangers?), it would be Pink, because it’s gutsy but a really sweet drive.

The small turning circle really helps - the Toyota Kluger, Nissan Pathfinder and Mazda CX-9 all have a turning circle of 11.8 while the Santa Fe’s is 10.9 - positively tiny for a seven-seater. And you notice it when you’re trying to park or do u-turns. Ever tried to drop the kids at school and had to do a million turns while looking for a park? Yep. This helps. 

It’s also shorter than those other seven seaters, which means it’s easier to park. The front and rear parking sensors and reversing camera are invaluable, and if you really get stuck it has 'Auto Parking' which means it will park itself.

It’s big. Look, it’s not as big as the Nissan Pathfinder or the Toyota Kluger because they are both a bit longer than the Santa Fe, but there is definitely enough room. And then some. So you feel like you’ve got a fair bit of air around the cabin.

The second row is just as comfortable. I have two girls (aged four and six) who brought far too many things camping with them and they were still happy and comfy enough to sing. It was full, for sure, but that’s just because my children have a bad habit of wanting to bring their whole room with them, how about yours?

The third row is easily accessible.

Of course, they missed the rear entertainment system they had in the Kluger and the Pathfinder, as the Santa Fe doesn’t come with one.

The third row is easily accessible once you pop the second row seats down and move them forward, I was able to climb into the back quite easily. Note well: I am 163cm, not exactly a giant, so tall adults might find this a bit tricky, but children will be fine. The back feels airy and spacious, thanks to the huge sunroof which extends down to the second row.

The boot space is good, but the Kluger and Pathfinder are better.

Boot space is good. I’m not going to say great because the Kluger and the Pathfinder are better, as they are longer cars. But it’s good. It held all of our camping gear - enormous tent, pillows, camping mattresses, stove, gas tank, food and enough wine for a woman who didn’t want to go camping in the first place (read: a lot of wine). Yes, it was full, but for everyday use, with things like groceries and small children’s bikes and prams, there is plenty of room.

Inside, it feels lush and stylish.

Inside: It’s quite fabulous. And I’m fairly certain that has a lot to do with the cream leather seats. They are just the colour to compliment my balayage, thanks very much. I’m not sure how hard wearing they’ll be over time if you’re a fake tan lover, though. Maybe take a towel with you if you must sit in the car straight after a spray. But gosh, on first glance they are lush, and they really contribute to the stylish feel of the car. Plus, they’re heated in the first and second rows.

The steering wheel also looks great and feels lovely under the hands, which I always think is a big thing - you’re driving the car every day and it’s things like this that make all the difference. The speedo area also looks premium, and the interiors have been designed well, with a lot of thought put into each spot.

It's sleeker on the outside than its chunky competitors.

Outside: It’s sleeker than its competitors. The Pathfinder and Kluger seem like boxy brutes in comparison, and even the Mazda CX-9 is boxier than this. It’s also smaller, which helps the look.

Picture this: I’m standing at the car loaded up with dusty, dirty camping equipment having survived the weekend. I just wanted to get in the car and go home but lord knows my keys weren’t handy to actually open the boot so I could dump everything in there. And suddenly, the boot opens... on its own, like magic.

The boot is excellent for grocery runs and with kids.

It was one of those a-ha! moments. The value of this cannot be underestimated, especially if you’ve ever been one of those mums carrying a crying child + groceries + your handbag + other heavy crap and you just need to open the car. We’ve all been that mum, right? Also, the boot is low enough to swing groceries and prams into without having to hoist too high.

There are five cupholders in total, two in the front, two in the second row and puzzlingly, just one in the third row, plus a bottle holder in each door.

Storage wise, there’s a spot in the front to throw keys, phone and sunnies, which is probably the first thing I look for in any car. If you’ve failed on this, you’ve failed me - I’m the type to lose things quite easily, I don’t need to be losing things in my car as well. There’s also a decent sized storage bin in the centre console, and pockets on the back of the front seats for children to pop their extra special bits and bobs in. And a glovebox, naturally.

The fuel efficiency on the Santa Fe Highlander diesel version is better than good for a car this size. Hyundai claims a 7.8L/100km on the combined cycle.

At $57,090 plus on road costs, the Santa Fe comes in around $10,000 cheaper than the top of the range Kluger, Pathfinder and CX-9, but you are missing things like the rear entertainment system. Personally, I know which I’d prefer (the 10 grand cash thanks).

There's a five year/unlimited warranty offered with 12 months between services. The services come in at $385 each apart from the 60K service which is $505, so you're paying $2045 in total over the five years, a pretty good deal.