The little SUV that could... be a little better.
Written: Mar 20 '05 (Updated May 18 '06)
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Pros: Shiftronic, Monsoon stereo, quiet ride, space for size, fuel economy.
Cons: Annoying cruise control, needs more power, it is an SUV (I like cars).
The Bottom Line: Small SUV alternative to Honda CRV, Toyota RAV4, with better warranty, smaller price.
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| paxman356's Full Review: 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe 4WD |
While on vacation in Colorado, I had the chance to drive a Hyundai Santa Fe. Everything, from look, to feel of this car is not what I expected from a Hyundai. It wound up being a very enjoyable drive.
My first complaint comes from the engine bay. The 2.7 liter V6 packs enough power, but since I was in the mountains, that power was muted somewhat, making the car seem anemic. Luckily, for those who are in the mile-high club, Hyundai has a 3.5 V6, or if you prefer better gas mileage, a 2.4 I4.
Sitting behind the wheel for the first time I was impressed by what I saw. It came with a Monsoon sound system with RDS (radio information), CD and cassette, and 6 speakers, a Shiftronic 4 speed automatic transmission, easy to read dials and a great view.
The Shiftronic was my favorite feature, especially with the drive I took through the mountains. A click to the right of D gives you the power to choose your gear. Going downhill I would shift down to keep off the brakes. Once it was stubborn, though, and would not downshift unless I shifted to drive and back to Shiftronic. I know it will not shift down if you are going to put the engine over the red line, but I know I was not anywhere near that. It is a minor, but annoying glitch.
The Monsoon Stereo was a beautiful piece. The dials were nice and thick, the buttons big and intuitive, the display large and easy to read, and the sound was enjoyable whether turned up or low. The RDS was also helpful in keeping track of different radio stations, and different songs on the radio.
Driving the Santa Fe was also a pleasure. It is not overly tall, and actually cornered well. Except for the low power, it was easy to squirt through traffic, and was competent enough to take the on ramps with confidence. It is also very quiet, a surprise for something this small that is also an SUV.
SUVs are not about performance, though. They are about looks and cargo carrying ability. The Santa Fe is a great looking vehicle. It is not boxy, but curvy. The hood has an almost racy look, while the grill/bumper looks rugged. It is chunky on the side, with some gaudy looking side cladding, but a clean finish in the rear. It may not be the best looking vehicle around, but I would be proud to own it. Inside room is plentiful for its size, with 60/40 fold down seats in the back to pack in whatever moves you.
It is the little things that really get you about a car, and they are plentiful in the Santa Fe. Like many cars, you can unlock all the doors with a second turn of the key in the door. You can open the whole hatchback, or the glass separately. The 4wd is seamless and automatic, with no switches to confuse you with. The rear view mirror also contains the reading lights. The console storage has two levels, one for little things, and a deeper one underneath for bigger things. All of the switches are within easy reach, like the automatic windows, rear view mirrors, and power locks on the driver side door.
The cruise control has one thing going for it. There are two lights in the instrument panel, one that tells you it is on, the other that it is set. This is a feature most cars should follow. From there, it is downhill. While it did not hold a constant speed in the mountains (who could?) it did well on the highway. Changing speeds once the speed is set was not as easy though. I could tap the speed down one MPH at a time, but to speed up, I had to hold in the excel button. It is a minor nag, but still a little thing that would get annoying with ownership.
Overall, I do not think I would prefer ownership of a Santa Fe. I have never been a big SUV fan. But this little Hyundai is pretty nice. Put all these features in a small car, fix a few of the nagging complaints I have, and I would love to own it. To each his own, though. If you need a little SUV that gets about 25mpg, has a 10 year, 100,000 mile warranty, and has some good looks with competent handling, the Santa Fe could be for you.
Recommended:
No
Amount Paid (US$): 30 a day
Condition: New
Model Year: 2004
Model and Options: LX 2.7 V6
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paxman356
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Reviews written: 26
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