2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited Road Test and Review

2017 Hyundai Santa Fe exterior front angle by Cherise Threewitt ・ Photo by Cherise LaPine Threewitt

Hyundai’s Santa Fe is a midsize SUV often overlooked by buyers in a hot segment full of flashy, high quality competitors. That’s not to say the Santa Fe isn’t flashy or high quality itself; in fact, it beats our expectations on both counts.

After a week of driving the Santa Fe, we’re trying to figure out why it lags behind the class leaders in sales. The 2017 Santa Fe Limited is sharp looking, well equipped, and it provides plenty of power. It’s fairly priced in base form (although our tester was loaded with expensive extras, which we’ll discuss in more detail later.) And, even better, the Santa Fe has been refreshed for this model year, bringing some much-needed new features to the equation. In terms of value, the refreshed 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe is hard to beat, though more subjective factors can get in the way.

Pricing and Trim Levels

The 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe starts at $30,800 for the SE mode. Upgrading to all-wheel drive tacks on an additional $1750 (which is true for all models in the lineup). Next up is the Limited, which starts at $34,950, followed by the SE Ultimate at $38,700 and the Limited Ultimate at $38,700.

The total price on our test vehicle, a Santa Fe Limited Ultimate with all-wheel drive, came in at $44,295, including the delivery charge. This total also includes the $2100 tech package, with features such as smart cruise control, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, and HID headlights. Carpeted floor mats add another $150 to the total.

If you’re looking for a lower cost option, the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport, a 2-row SUV otherwise similar to the Santa Fe, starts at $25,350; all-wheel drive is an option here, too, again for $1750.

Powertrains, Performance, Fuel Efficiency

For 2017, all four trim levels of the Hyundai Santa Fe come with just one engine, a 3.3-liter V6 that produces 290 horsepower and 252 lb.-ft. of torque. A 6-speed automatic comes standard, and a drive mode select system is new for this year.

The Santa Fe’s engine provided strong acceleration off the line in city traffic, and allowed us to pass with ease on the highway. It never felt sluggish or strained. The 6-speed transmission felt well matched to the engine and shifted smoothly. However, a more efficient continuously variable transmission (like those used by many competiitors) would probably be of benefit here; the all-wheel-drive Santa Fe is rated by the EPA at 18 MPG city, 24 MPG highway, and 20 MPG combined, but over a weekend of combined city and highway driving, our actual average mileage was in the mid-teens. (Santa Fe Sport models have the option of two less powerful, but more efficient, engines.)

Hyundai's Santa Fe is a good choice for buyers who will need to tow with their new crossover, as it’s rated to pull a load of up to 5000 pounds. This an average tow rating for a V6-powered vehicle in this class, but the Santa Fe already includes the necessary wiring for a trailer.

Exterior Design and Lighting

The 2017 Santa Fe is more sophisticated than an inexperienced buyer might expect from a Hyundai suv; granted, this generation of the Santa Fe has been around since the 2013 model year, but its design is now more of a cohesive part of the brand’s lineup rather than a stylistic outlier. Our tester, finished in Becketts Black paint, didn’t showcase the vehicle’s contours and creases as well as some of the other exterior options, but it did serve well to highlight the Santa Fe’s upscale lighting.

The lighting scheme for the Santa Fe Limited Ultimate trim level includes LED daytime running lights, headlight accents, fog lights and tail lamps. Our Limited Ultimate tester came equipped with the $2100 Ultimate Tech package, which included, among other features, adaptive HID headlights. The Limited Ultimate also includes 19-inch split 5-spoke alloy wheels instead of the standard 17s or 18s.

Interior Design and Capacities

Our 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited Ultimate featured a gray leather interior with heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats, and a heated steering wheel. The second row featured optional captain’s chairs, which reduce available seating from seven passengers to six, but are a good choice for buyers who can sacrifice that last seat because they give each occupant their own space. The front seats were comfortable and supportive, even on longer drives.

Our tester was equipped with the optional hands-free liftgate, activated via key fob. Cargo capacity behind the third row is just 13.5 cubic feet, which isn’t too impressive or particularly competitive. Folding down the third row opens up a total of 40.9 cubic feet, and folding down the second row opens a total of 80 cubic feet.

We did have one major gripe with the interior layout. When the Santa Fe’s driver’s side sun visor is in use, the right corner of it blocks the left edge of the rearview mirror, which hurts the field of vew and is really distracting.

Audio and Infotainment

The 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited Ultimate is loaded with features. Our test vehicle was equipped with an Infinity premium audio system that offers AM/FM radio, HD radio, SiriusXM satellite radio, CD, MP3, and USB capability. This was all controlled via the optional 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which also featured Android Auto, a new offering for this year. We weren’t able to test out the Android Auto, but everything else worked smoothly. (Apple CarPlay compatibility is expected to be added later this year, via software update.)

The infotainment system, overall, was easy enough to navigate, though it was much simpler to scroll through the SiriusXM stations using the steering wheel-mounted controls. The surround-sound audio system was crisp and clear.

Base Santa Fes come with a 6-speaker audio system, a 5-inch display screen, Bluetooth, and the aforementioned steering wheel-mounted controls.

Available Equipment

Standard features for all versions of the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe include a rearview camera, automatic headlights, remote keyless entry, Bluetooth, and daytime running lights.

Options abound for 2017, via higher trim levels and various equipment packages. A Premium package can be added to the base model, which brings safety features such as blind-spot warning, lane-change assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and side mirrors with turn signals. This package also has convenience features such as a proximity key (that also activates a hands-free liftgate), pushbutton start, an auto-dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink, fog lamps, heated front seats, and leather upholstery. Most of these features are included with the Limited trim level and above.

Our Limited Ultimate tester had second-row captain’s chairs and the Ultimate Tech package, which includes driver assistance features such as smart cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning.

Safety Ratings and Technology

The 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe does very well on safety tests, earning a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA. The Santa Fe also earns an Acceptable rating from the IIHS for ease of use of its LATCH child seat installation hardware. Santa Fe models with a second-row bench seat offer two full sets of LATCH hardware and a third partial set.

As mentioned, a rearview camera is included with all versions of the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe. Incliuded in the long list of optional safety equipment are a 360-degree camera, lane-change assist, blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic alert.

Some advanced safety and driver-assist features are available only on upper trims. This includes adaptive headlights, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and lane-departure warning.

Photo by Hyundai