2007 Hyundai Santa Fe [ 2008 ]
Hyundai Santa Fe
Overall Score - 8.0 (Very Good)
The Santa Fe delivers safety and value, but can't match the performance of other vehicles in this class. If you're in the market for an affordable midsize SUV, you should also consider the highly rated Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander.
The 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe has been redesigned for 2007 and auto reviewers generally like what they see. Edmunds considers it "one of the top values for the 2007 model year" and adds that, compared to last year, the SUV is "larger, safer, more powerful and more luxurious." Car and Driver says, "For an SUV that costs well under 30 grand, you get a lot here: a roomy interior, decent feature content, reasonable refinement, and V-6 power. The Santa Fe is definitely worth checking out." And Kelley Blue Book says that the Sante Fe is a "good value in the mid-size SUV category."
The Santa Fe earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's (IIHS) 2007 Top Safety Pick award, a designation given to just 20 other cars. The car earned a score of "good" (the top score from the IIHS) in front, side and rear impact crash ratings. The SUV also earned five out of five stars in front and side impacts in government crash tests and four out of five stars in a rollover test. "The Santa Fe is loaded with safety features," says Cars.com. Improved safety is one reason Edmunds says, "It should serve suburban families quite well." The Santa Fe seats five in two rows and comes with an optional third row of seating to fit up to seven passengers. It comes in three trim levels, all of which look similar but which offer different engines or features.
Many reviewers found the 2007 Santa Fe's performance adequate though not remarkable. Consumer Guide says, "Santa Fe needs more zip, refinement, and a better ride/handling balance, but many people should find this a satisfying choice." New Car Test Drive adds, "the driving experience is transparent, meaning there is nothing outstanding, negatively or positively." And Edmunds found braking "longer than expected for this class of SUV."
Still, most reviewers feel that the Santa Fe is a solid choice for those who need room for kids or gear. As Kelley Blue Book puts it, "The Santa Fe is right at home running the kids to soccer practice (made easier with the new optional third-row seat), hauling groceries from the super market or heading to the mountains for the weekend." IntelliChoice rates the Sante Fe an "average" value, based on total cost of ownership compared to others in its class, but also named the Santa Fe a "SmartChoice" for repair costs.
Santa Fe Performance - 6.9 (Mediocre)
Reviewers find the 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe to be unremarkable but capable, especially around town, with V6 power and agile handling. New Car Test Drive expresses the consensus of most reviewers: "Overall, the driving experience is transparent, meaning there is nothing outstanding, negatively or positively." continue
Santa Fe Exterior - 7.8 (Good)
While the Hyundai Santa Fe's previous models were known for looking a bit quirky, most reviewers praise Hyundai for the newly redesigned exterior, which has made the SUV more conventional but more likeable. As Kelley Blue Book says, "Hyundai showed good taste in moving away from the overly busy appearance of the previous Santa Fe." continue
Santa Fe Interior - 7.7 (Good)
Reviewers are impressed with the interior of the 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe, which was completely redesigned with the rest of the vehicle. Motor Week says the "interior design is the best yet from Hyundai" and Edmunds says, "Hyundai spent a lot of time on interior design, and the result is a very attractive dash and high-quality materials." continue
Santa Fe Safety - 9.8 (Excellent)
The 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) 2007 Top Safety pick award for its front, side and rear crash protection. It also received perfect 5-star ratings in government front and side impact crash tests and a 4-star government rollover rating. continue
Santa Fe Reliability - 5.0 (Mediocre)
The 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe reliability score shown
is the Predicted Reliability rating provided by J.D. Power and Associates.
This score is based on trending the past three years of historical initial
quality and dependability data from J.D. Power's automotive studies, specifically
the Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) and the Initial Quality Study (IQS).
The Santa Fe offers "one of the industry's most generous warranties," says MSN. This includes a bumper-to-bumper five-year/60,000-mile warranty.
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