2010 Hyundai Santa Fe

• Overall
• Prices
• Performance
• Exterior
• Interior
• Safety
• Reliability

Performance - What the Auto Press Says

The Santa Fe provides acceptable performance, but it doesn't stand out.

• "Good ride and handling; overall driving experience is class competitive; eager acceleration with the V-6." -- Car and Driver
• "Smaller crossover SUVs like the Mazda CX-7 and Mitsubishi Outlander are sportier and more rewarding to drive hard, though the Santa Fe's handling is certainly composed and can actually be fun at times. The trade-off is that the ride can be very busy on the highway on models with the larger wheels. During normal driving, the brake pedal feels about right, but can get soft during hard braking." -- Edmunds
• "Overall, the driving experience is transparent, meaning there is nothing outstanding, negatively or positively. The steering has a pleasant feel, neither too tight nor too loose, the brakes work well if not dramatically, the ride is smooth and the vehicle is quiet." -- New Car Test Drive

Acceleration and Power

The 2010 Santa Fe comes with a new direct-injection 2.4-liter V6 engine or a 3.3-liter V6. The smaller engine is expected to make around 200 horsepower and should improve fuel economy by 5 to 10 percent. The larger V6 comes with a five-speed automatic transmission and makes 242 horsepower and 226 pound-feet of torque. Reviewers have not yet tested the new base engine, though previously most of them have preferred the larger engine. The EPA has not yet rated the 2010 model, but gave the 2009 model's larger 3.3-liter engine a rating of 17/24 mpg city/highway.

• "The 3.3-liter V6 gives other models adequate pep and is the better all-around choice. In Consumer Guide testing, a 2WD Limited did 0-60 mph in 8.2 seconds." -- Consumer Guide
• "The 3.3 V6 provides lively acceleration in the city and good passing on highways, with a responsive automatic transmission." -- MSN
• "The Shiftronic automatic transmission responds quickly to manual gear selections making driving on curvy roads an almost sporty experience." -- Kelley Blue Book

Handling and Braking

One of the major improvements in the recently redesigned Hyundai Santa Fe is the handling, which most find both smooth and comfortable.

• "Small bumps are smothered well, regardless of tire size. Large bumps induce uncomfortable bounce and sideways rocking, plus some minor vibration through the floor and steering column." -- Consumer Guide
• "[A]s is the trend in SUVs and crossovers, the Santa Fe is built using unibody construction for a car-like ride and more responsive handling. The benefit for consumers, of course, is refinement. Bumps and road blemishes are isolated from the cabin by the frame and suspension, dissipating jolts so that passengers remain comfortable." -- Autobytel
• "The all-new unibody chassis has been specifically tuned for better on-road handling, and our test drive bore that out. Better balance from the front- and all-wheel-drive models is a significant improvement over the previous gen, due in large part to a crisper steering response." -- Motor Trend
• "Braking is a little on the long side however, with emergency stops from 60 averaging 135 feet." -- Motor Week