Hyundai Santa Fe

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Hyundai Santa Fe

Manufacturer	Hyundai Motor Company
Production	2001–present
Class	Mid-size crossover SUV
Body style	4-door SUV
Layout	FF layout/All wheel drive

First generation

Production	2001–2006
Assembly	Ulsan, Korea
Engine	3.5 L Lambda V6, 200 hp (149 kW) 2.7 L Delta V6, 173 hp (129 kW) 2.0 L D4 Diesel I4 (not for North America)
Transmission	4-speed automatic 5-speed automatic 5-speed manual
Wheelbase	103.1 in
Length	177.2 in
Width	72.7 in
Height	66.0 in
Related	Hyundai Azera Hyundai Sonata Kia Optima
Similar	Ford Escape Mitsubishi Outlander Pontiac Aztek

Second generation

Production	2007–present
Assembly	Montgomery, Alabama Ulsan, Korea
Engine	2.7L 185 hp V6 3.3L 242 hp V6 2.2L 150 hp Diesel I4 (Not for North America)
Transmission	4-speed automatic 5-speed manual 5-speed automatic
Wheelbase	106.3 in.
Length	184.1 in.
Width	74.4 in.
Height	67.9 in.
Related	Hyundai Veracruz
Similar	Mitsubishi Outlander Saturn VUE/Opel/Vauxhall Antara Toyota RAV4

Facelifted Hyundai Santa Fe

2001 Hyundai Santa Fe (International)

The Hyundai Santa Fe is a mid-size crossover SUV based on the Hyundai Sonata platform. It was introduced for the 2001 model year as Hyundai's first SUV, released at the same time as the Ford Escape/Mazda Tribute and Pontiac Aztek. It was a major milestone in the company's restructuring program of the late 1990s. The Santa Fe, despite being criticized by journalists for its obscure looks, was a hit with the American buyers. Hyundai dealers were having a hard time keeping them in stock, let alone keeping up with demand. The Santa Fe quickly became Hyundai's best seller and was a major factor in keeping the company afloat in the United States. However, in other countries such as Australia, where SUVs have gained enormous popularity in the past 10 years, the Santa Fe has proved unsuccessful. There, it is outsold by the class-leading Toyota RAV4 by a factor of nearly 7 to 1, and is one of Hyundai's least successful models.

Worldwide, the Santa Fe competes with the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V and Mitsubishi Outlander, whereas in the United States, it would compete with the Chevrolet Equinox and Ford Edge (or the smaller Escape). In the United States, the Santa Fe was offered in base GL trim, mid-line GLS, and luxurious LX. As of 2007, the Santa Fe falls between the Tucson and the related Veracruz (formerly the Terracan).

2001

In its first year in production, the Santa Fe was offered with one of two engine and transmission combinations. In North America, a fuel-efficient although underpowered 2.4 L four cylinder engine was standard equipment and could be mated with either a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic. A 2.7 L Delta V6 offered more power than the four-cylinder but was only available with the automatic. Front wheel drive was standard (with traction control optional with the V6) and 4WD was optional. A 2.0 L Common Rail Turbo Diesel (CRTD) was offered outside the United States. Australian Santa Fes went on sale in November 2000 with only one engine/transmission choice - a 2.7L V6 mated to a four-speed semi-automatic transmission. 4WD was standard. A cheaper 2.4L four cylinder joined the range several months later in 2001, but was only available with a manual transmission.

2002

The Santa Fe entered its second year without any changes. Demand for the Santa Fe continued to be up with the best but owners were making lists about what they'd like to see changed in the Santa Fe.

2002.5

In a rare mid-year model change, Hyundai increased the size of the fuel tank from 17 to 19 U.S. gallons and reorganized the location of the badges on the tailgate. Hyundai also changed the interior layout of the console. The Position of the clock was also moved from the roof of the car to the center of the console.

2003

In 2003, Hyundai pulled out its list of owners' suggestions and complaints for the Santa Fe and reorganized the lineup. On the list of dislikes were the fact that the hood used a prop and not gas struts, the glovebox was not illuminated, among other things. All of these issues were addressed including the most common complaint of all: not enough power. So, Hyundai introduced the 3.5 liter V6 in addition to the other two gas engines in North America. The brawny 3.5 liter pushed out 200 hp through a 5-speed automatic transmission. The bigger engine also came with a computer-controlled four-wheel drive system. The clock was moved from the roof to the dashboard and the controls below the air vents on the center stack were redesigned. Along with the refreshed dashboard, automatic transmission models were given a chrome shift gate surround as opposed to the matte silver plastic style used in the 2001 and 2002 models. A Monsoon high-performance sound system came standard on the mid-level GLS model and came with a 6-disc CD changer on the top-tier LX. Rounding out the changes in the 2003 model was the discontinuation of the highly unpopular Pine Green which in some owner circles has gained the nickname 'Yucky Green'. In Australia, the four cylinder Santa Fe was dropped in 2003, due to slow sales, leaving the 2.7L V6 automatic as the only model.

2004

Hyundai continued to post sales records with the Santa Fe as it rolled into 2004 with very minor changes. The manual climate controls on the base GL and mid-line GLS were revised very slightly. The remote keyless entry system was given a confirmation 'chirp' when the 'LOCK' button on the remote was pressed twice.

2004.5

Midway through the year the AM/FM antenna was moved from on the glass in the rear drivers side window to a three inch rubber antenna in the center of the roof just above the tailgate.

2005 The Santa Fe received its its final facelift for 2005. Among the changes were the grille, taillights, rear bumper, interior instrument cluster, as well as the juggling of options and the like. The instrument cluster was redesigned with the speedometer now reading 140 mph (earlier models only indicated 130 mph) and a better-designed toll ticket slot in the driver's sun visor. Both sun visors also received extensions so the sun could be blocked out better when coming in from the side. The base Santa Fe was discontinued that time, making way for the Tucson.

In Australia, all models received body-coloured (painted) bumpers from 2005 on. The color 'Sandstone' was discontinued in favor of a slightly different color named 'Mocha Frost'. The GL trim was dropped as was the four-cylinder engine and its respective 5-speed manual transmission. The 2.7 L V6 took over duties as the base engine. A passenger airbag cutoff that prevents the airbag from deploying if the seat is unoccupied (or occupied by a small person) was also added. A 3-point seatbelt was added to the center rear seating position, as well. The calendar function, housed in the overhead console, often considered infuriating and unnecessary, was removed and a compass took its place.

2006

The last year of this Santa Fe saw few changes. Two colors were discontinued for 2006, Merlot and Canyon Red. A rare color, Dark Emerald Green, was introduced mid-year. It does not appear in any sales brochures and must be ordered by the dealership. The LX trim level was renamed the 'Limited' and got a corresponding tailgate badge, a first for the Santa Fe of any trim level. Another first was the availability of a monochromatic paint scheme, a departure from the contrasting gray cladding previously standard. The monochromatic option was only available on the Limited in black, however and required customers to order the sunroof with it. A Power driver's seat was also made standard on the limited trim, not ever available on a Santa Fe before. In total, these options ran $1900, pushing the Santa Fe's total asking price to nearly $30,000.

In Europe, the new Santa Fe model was launched in April, offering a new 2.2 litre diesel engine and updated 2.7 litre petrol V6.

2007

The next-generation 2007 Santa Fe debuted at the 2006 North American International Auto Show. The first production Santa Fe rolled off Hyundai's Montgomery, Alabama assembly line on April 18, 2006. It shares this assembly line with the current generation Hyundai Sonata. The new generation sheds the old style's quirky design in favor of a more contemporary look, bearing resemblance to the current Toyota RAV4 (the Tucson looks similar to the previous RAV4).

In the United States, the new generation is offered in budget-minded GLS, sportier, mid-level SE, and poshly lined, top-shelf Limited versions. The new Santa Fe sees the return of a manual transmission but only when mated with the 2.7-liter V6. The 3.3 liter V6 (a retuned version of the same engine found in the Sonata) is standard on the SE and Limited and comes only with a 5-speed automatic. Body lean in turns, a problem with the previous generation, has been curbed in the new Santa Fe. Both road and wind noise have been hushed, as well.

Newly standard on the latest iteration of the Santa Fe are all the safety features the previous model lacked or charged as extra. Electronic Stability Control (ESC), side curtain airbags for all seating rows, a tire pressure monitor, active front head restraints and anti-lock brakes are all standard. A heated windshield wiper grid located in the front wipers' 'park' position helps to thaw ice buildup on the blades in colder climates. Some features like the tailgate flip glass and the lower body cladding didn't make it into the new model.

The interior has been upgraded as well with a Lexus-like blue and white electroluminecent gauge display, blue-lit dashboard controls, a gated shifter pattern, illuminated cupholders, and higher quality leather on Limited models. The rear seat head restraints caused visibility problems in the previous model due to their size. The new style features 'shingled' head rests that when lowered completely, sit flush with the top of the seat, helping to maximize rear visibility. The middle rear seating position now comes with its own head restraint and a three-point seatbelt built in. LATCH child seat anchors are also standard.

Pricing has remained competitive despite the upward move in size and feature content. A GLS 2WD with the manual transmission lists at US$20,945 (about the same price as the competing RAV4 and CR-V). A Limited all wheel drive model loaded with the Touring and Ultimate Packages sells for $32,695. This is considerably less than a comparably equipped Chevrolet Equinox or Ford Edge which do not offer Hyundai's outstanding warranty coverage.