2009 Hyundai Santa Fe Reviews

Ewan Kennedy reviews the first, second and third generation Hyundai Santa Fe between 2000 and 2015 as a used buy.

Don Bate bought his 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe SLX diesel manual in 2011 when it had done 25,000 km. It has now done 72,000 km, 30,000 of which have been towing his 1750 kg caravan. He says the Santa Fe is a superb towing vehicle. It gets 7.2 L/100 km around town and 10.5 L/100 km towing on the highway. The clutch had to

Ewan Kennedy road tests and reviews the used 2000-2013 Hyundai Santa Fe.

Larger than average for its class, the Hyundai Santa Fe is a popular SUV that can be used as a family car provided the offshoots haven’t reached their hulking-teen stage.There's good legroom in the rear, but some of that legroom has been gained by stealing space from the front seat occupants. A third-row seat option arrived in the all-new model in 2006. As good luggage space, including side bins and hidden storage space under the floor panel. A retractable blind and luggage net combine to improve safety and security. The rear glass can be opened separately if you don’t want to lift the whole tailgate, a real convenience in cramped carparks.Off-road Santa Fe's better than average for its class and can cope with harsher conditions than those likely to be demanded by the typical owner. It really is a 4WD, not simply an SUV. But don’t mistake if for a full house off-roader or you may get yourself into stuck in awkward areas. The Santa Fe first reached Australia in 2000 and sales were moderately good from the start, though it its somewhat over-the-top styling didn’t appeal to everyone.An all-new, larger, model was launched in May 2006 with a more mainstream look that saw it pick up a lot of buyer interest. The 2006 model was offered with a third row of seats for the first time. As in any vehicle of this size, the extra row of seats steals a lot of the boot area. Ride comfort is generally good and handling is nicely sorted for Australian conditions.The Koreans really seem to have a feel for what Australian drivers like in their vehicles. In the bush the Santa Fe copes well with corrugations, in the suburbs speed-bumps seldom cause any real grief. Santa Fe originally arrived only with the power of Hyundai's 2.7-litre V6 engine, but the range was expanded in 2001 when a four-cylinder 2.4-litre unit arrived. The four-cylinder engine wasn’t all that popular and was taken off the Australian market towards the end of 2003. That’s no reflection on the four-cylinder engine itself and it should make a good used-car buy.Four-cylinder engines in a car of this size can be a bit of a compromise in performance and Hyundai was smart in only importing it with a five-speed manual version as an automatic could have taken away enough grunt to make it unacceptable for some drivers. All V6-powered Santa Fe models have a four-speed automatic transmission. The V6 auto has a sequential function to give the driver a fair degree of manual control and is useful for getting the best from the engine.From late 2006, Hyundai offered its Santa Fe with a turbo-diesel engine for the first time in Australia. The potential fuel savings make it worth hunting down. The Hyundai dealer network is large and generally widespread in Australia. Because most Santa Fe 4WDs are used in the metropolitan areas dealers aren't that common in the bush, so check in our local area to make sure spares and service are on offer close handy. Spare parts prices are about average for this class.Santa Fe is fairly traditional in its mechanical makeup and the good home mechanic will find themselves able to do much of the work. It always pays to have a good workshop manual at hand, and don’t attempt any safety related repairs unless you really know what you are doing.Insurance charges are moderate, though there does seem to be a bigger than average spread of premiums between companies. So it’s worth taking the time to shop around for the best deal for your circumstances.Hyundai Santa Fe works extremely well considering it’s the company’s first attempt at a vehicle in this class. It has since been joined by the slightly softer Tucson SUV and the tough Terracan off-roader, thus making Hyundai very much an integral part of the booming Australian 4WD/SUV scene.WHAT TO LOOK FORLook over the interior for signs of it having had a hard time at the hands of uncaring children. Build quality is generally good, but there can be the occasional rough one.Check for signs of underbody damage caused by harsh off-road use. The body corners and doors sills are often the first to suffer. Also look at the protection plates under the engine for damage.While you are under the vehicle look for white stains that may be the residue of salt water picked up during a trip to the beach. Salt water can create corrosion much faster than fresh.Look for fine scratches in the paint where the body has been squeezed past branches. Deeper scratches are likely to have been caused by trees or rocks.Check that the engine starts easily, that it pulls well and doesn’t hesitate when accelerated suddenly.Make sure the transmission operates smoothly and easily and that there are no funny noises from the driveshafts and universal joints.CAR BUYING TIPBeware the SUV that has been taken to off-road areas by people that don’t know a lot about driving on unsealed surfaces. It may have suffered body, underbody and even suspension damage. 

Life - human and automotive - is so unpredictable. When my 75-year-old father went looking for a car to retire with, he sought reliability, durability, comfort and a long warranty.  He bought a Hyundai, thinking that with a five-year warranty it should ‘see me out’.In fact, he saw it out. The Hyundai Lantra is still ultra-reliable in the hands of a mate of mine while my now 84-year-old father has moved himself and my active mother into the latest Corolla.  I would have expected my parents to drive a Mercedes-Benz in later life as a reward for their tenacity through economic depressions and wars.In fact, they chose economy in reverence to their working-class lives and have come out with only minor financial scars from their post-retirement car purchases.  You can as well. Carsguide readers with retirement looming all want new cars. Most of them want a 4WD or something powerful to tow a caravan or boat because ‘we're not dead yet’.It doesn't have to be expensive, but if you are retired or just on the point of pulling the pin on a working career, you want the least possible hassles.  We'll start this week with 4WDs and SUVs. These are some choices. They clearly aren't all that is available and personal choice will play its role. At the very least, this should get you thinking.4WD is for the adventurer who actually wants to go off the beaten track. These have excellent towing ability, diesel engine options (the better choice), a versatile cabin with seven seats that can be removed when not wanted, good safety levels and a comprehensive feature list. On the downside, they are big, less comfortable than a sedan, require more expensive servicing and repair (especially tyre replacement) and for aged limbs can be difficult to get in and out.Toyota Prado (from $55,990)Solid, high resale (and high initial purchase), great off the road and in the latest model, comfortable on the road.Engine: 127kW/410Nm 3-litre 4-cyl turbo-dieselTransmission: 6-speed manual/5-speed auto/2-speed transferEconomy: 8.3 l/100kmSafety: 7 airbags, ESC, traction controlLand Rover Discovery-4 (from $81,990)Exceptionally competent and fitted out with excellent comfort. Fourth generation aims to rid Land Rover of quality bugs.Engine: 180kW/600Nm 3-litre V6 biturbo-dieselTransmission: 6-speed auto/2-speed transferEconomy: 9.3 l/100kmSafety: 8 airbags, ESC, traction controlMitsubishi Pajero(from $49,290)Great all-rounder on and off road at an affordable price. Better cabin package than Prado.Engine: 147kW/441Nm 3.2-litre 4-cyl turbo-dieselTransmission: 5-speed auto/2-speed transferEconomy: 8.4 l/100kmSafety: 2 airbags, ESC, traction controlSUV: Don't want to go to the Outback but like the practicality of a tall wagon? The SUV usually has all-wheel drive but less rugged construction and no low-range gearbox. Some are even only front-wheel drive so save on purchase price and fuel consumption.Hyundai Santa Fe (from $37,990)Practical, versatile and reliable with a long five-year warranty. A good allrounder. Only available as a diesel and with all-wheel drive.Engine: 145kW/421Nm 2.1-litre 4-cyl turbo-dieselTransmission: 5-speed manual/5-speed auto/AWDEconomy: 6.7 l/100kmSafety: 6 airbags, ESC, traction controlPeugeot 4007 (from $45,490)Culturally diverse Peugeot made by Mitsubishi (it's basically an Outlander shell) in Japan with an aggressive grille and very desirable turbo-diesel engine and optional six-speed auto.Engine: 115kW/380Nm 2.2-litre 4-cyl turbo-dieselTransmission: 6-speed manual/6-speed auto/AWDEconomy: 7.0 l/100kmSafety: 7 airbags, ESC, traction controlSubaru Outback diesel (from $40,490)Long-awaited diesel expands Subaru's out-of-town ability in a very desirable package. New style isn't the prettiest but is functional and roomy.Engine: 110kW/350Nm 2-litre 4-cyl turbo-dieselTransmission: 6-speed manual/AWDEconomy: 6.4 l/100kmSafety: 7 airbags, ESC, traction control

Petrol power has gone out of favour in the team Hyundai camp. So too the budget two-wheel drive base model of the Santa Fe which has been given the flick. For 2010, Hyundai has dropped the petrol 3.3-litre two-wheel drive wagon and the petrol 2.7-litre all wheel drive versions. Like it or not, the new range is now all diesel and all all-wheel drive. The three variants new share a new win-win 2.2-litre unit - more power and reduced fuel consumption.There's also a new in-house designed six-speed lightweight auto which, combined with the engine, has delivers more torque than the manual making it the ideal tow machine. With the smaller Tucson Hyundai was one of the first to offer a two-wheel drive version of a wagon as a way of getting more city dwellers into its fold - buyers who wanted the look of an all-wheel drive wagon but didn't need off-road capability.But that marketing game plan no longer works as well in the current economic climate, according to Ben Hershman, Hyundai's public relations manager. The two- wheel drive Tucson stays in the Hyundai lineup, but the front wheel drive Santa Fe version has been culled.Hershman says the new 2.2 diesel, which cost $227 million to develop (with the help of Bosch), gives buyers the performance of the old 3.3 petrol but at lower running costs. He says offering a two-wheel drive midsized wagon doesn't make sense, when the new Santa Fe has so much to offer. But you never say never in the automotive business and Hershman has left the door open for the two-wheel to return (quote) if there is demand in the future (unquote). So watch this space.For 2010 the SLX replaces the old SX as the base model, with entry pricing up $1000. There are now three variants: the SLX, Elite and posh Highlander. The base SLX comes standard with five-star crash rating (up from 4 stars) , traction and stability control, six airbags, parking sensors, cruise control, iPod and USB connectivity, audio controls on the steering wheel, 17-inch alloys and fog lamps.The Elite adds a cool box, wide-angled cabin mirror, auto headlamps, power adjustment for driver's seat, roof rails, push button start, smart key entry, dual climate control zone air conditioning and leather steering wheel.The Highlander gets a rear parking camera, leather upholstery, powered front passenger seat, six-stack CD/MP3 audio, 18-inch alloy wheels, rain sensing wipers and a sunroof.Hyundai has ticked all the right boxes with this revamped wagon.More power for cheaper running costs will be a big draw card as Hyundai fights for sales with Holden's Captiva, the Kia Sorento (which shares the same engine/transmission package) Toyota Prado and any one of half a dozen contenders in the medium SUV bun fight.The new R-Series 2.2-litre common rail turbo diesel - this one gets the new piezo electric injectors for faster and cleaner light up - proves without a doubt that the days of cumbersome, noisy, smelly diesel wagons have long gone. This family seven-seater is clearly a winner. Affordable to run, good towing capacity, well equipped and sharply priced.The new engine is quiet for a diesel, at least from the cabin. Matched to the new six-speed manual there's abundant and wide-spread low to mid-speed torque; but in typical diesel fashion the performance does peter out once you get past about 2200 revs.The cabin layout is functional and comfortable; the instruments and switches big and clear. The control to lock the rear dif has been moved from the centre console to the right of the steering wheel and out of reach of passengers or kids.The downside: I'm still not convinced the styling works from all angles. Hyundai has gone for a more muscular look and the face now has the familiar Hyundai family look about it. No complaints about the cabin though. The third seat pews are best in class and can seat adults in comfort. The rear is not a kids-only zone like some of the Santa Fe's rivals. And you can control the rear air conditioning system from back there as well.Make One Degree of difference today by calculating your carbon footprint and finding out what you can do to reduce it.

Described by the company as ‘a car for all reasons’, the Sante Fe combines the off-road capabilities of a purpose built 4WD with the practicality of an SUV and the drivability and comfort of a sedan.Our Sante Fe was powered by a 2.2litre, single overhead cam, in-line 4 cylinder turbo diesel engine. CRDi stands for Common rail Direct injection. The turbo diesel produces 114kW at 4000rpm and 343Nm at 1800-25000rpm. A five speed automatic with electronic sequential manual mode gets power to the wheels. Fuel figures are decent for a seven seater at 8.2 litres/100km.It’s around a ruler’s length short of five metres long and almost two metres wide and it doesn’t try to be anything too flash. But the Santa Fe is a neat, modern package complete with body coloured and heated external door mirrors, twin chrome exhausts and roof rails with easily adjustable cross bars.Inside the SLX is again neat and clutter free.The multi function leather steering wheel enables easy access to most of the daily necessities and the dash is clean and well laid out, finished subtly with maple wood and aluminium highlights. There is also a trip computer, cruise control.But seating and cargo and storage space is where the Santa Fe comes into its own. The third row of two seats – to make it a seven seater – are almost invisible as they fold flat into the rear cargo floor when not in use, and are easily flipped up when needed.There is cool box in the centre console and retractable storage bins in the floor in front of the second row of seats. As well as several cup and bottle holders throughout the cabin, there’s a dash-top lined storage compartment with lid, map pockets and a padded, twin compartment front centre arm rest.The Santa Fe SLX achieved a 4/5 star ANCAP crashworthiness rating and comes with a comprehensive airbag package. Other safety features include electronic stability program, traction control, anti-skid brakes and electronic brakeforce distribution.The Hyundai Santa Fe automatic CRDi SLX starts at around $41,990. For more detailed pricing, check with your dealer.Okay, on the outside there’s not much difference to the average SUV but that’s where the sameness ends.The dash is neat and clean and the materials used to put it together look and feel substantial. The leather, wood and alloy trim give it a hint of prestige without going overboard. One small gripe is that the seats are a bit flat and could hug our manly curves a little better but my concern is negligible.Most of the electronic bits and pieces can be controlled using the multi function steering wheel and everything else you actually have to lift a finger to operate are fairly self-explanatory.For a big boofy SUV, it drives just like a sedan. You don’t seem to get that ambling sway and worrying body roll when cornering, that a lot of other – more expensive - SUV’s haven’t seemed to have ironed out yet.The turbo diesel engine has excellent acceleration and it pulls the two and a half tonnes with no trouble, allowing for simple overtaking and merges. The V6 would be nice to try but we were more than satisfied with the torquey oil-burner. We had the five speed automatic with HiVec – unique to the diesel – and there was a pleasing lack of indecision on gear changes, unfortunately still common in a lot of autos these days.Small to medium-sized bumps and pots were eaten up and not one gouge or rut was followed.Vision is great all round and barring a little wind noise off the wing mirrors and perhaps the odd grumble from the tyres on dirt, sound-wise the Santa Fe is pretty quiet.Overall, if you’re after a good, smart-looking and solid family truck from a company going places, you really should give this a try.