Full of Surprises
The Good: I won't say this is a stunning looking vehicle because it's not. However, it's handsomely understated, especially with the latest body updates. The ride is supple and comfortable, while being well balanced. It's not athletic but well composed. The noise is very well controlled. The cabin is very quiet with minimal (if almost no) tire or road noise. The interior design is a little disappointing (the center dash looks like an elephant face) but the material is good quality and the fit and finish is top notch. I haul a complete drum and recording kit every weekend and I can fit almost everything in the trunk, even without having to fold the rear seats down. What little items that can't fit in the trunk can be easily carried on the rear seat. The ergonomics of the chairs are very good. I drove 5 hours before feeling any hint of discomfort. The options (Mine is fully loaded Ultimate) are beyond what I expected of any vehicle in this class. To top it off, the vehicle uses regular fuel, cost effective to maintain, and insurance friendly. There is a lot to love about this vehicle.
The Bad: This vehicle is not without its faults. Specifically, there are two issues, one minor and the other more significant. The minor "issue" (more of a mild disappointment), is the headunit. Hyundai (and Kia) had the fastest and most accurate navigation interface in the market. The growth of software over the years seems to have a taken a toll on the hardware (which I suspect was never updated since early 2010). The response isn't slow but there is a slight lag that seems out of place of Hyundai rig. However, this is probably me being spoiled from their earlier units (which in fairness did not have as much features). Also, the touch screen needs to go. You will inevitably need to key in commands (radio, nav, etc.) as the vehicle is moving. The buttons on the screens are small and with the bumps and shakes of a moving car, they are extremely hard to aim. You end up pressing some other button which is extremely frustrating. Please just install a control knob and a button. The other more "significant" issue is the fuel mileage. I have the 2.0L turbo engine, which is a turbocharged 2 liter 4 cylinder. This engine is averaging at 22.5~23 mpg every tank. The vehicle is driven in eco mode and the car isn't pushed. I would expect mid to high 20s (if not low 30s) with a 4 cylinder engine but 22.5? That's just down right horrible, especially considering that a 3+ ton Yukon Denali isn't too far off from this number (20.7 was my Yukon Denali's number). Remember, the Denali has the even bigger (bigger than non-Denali I mean) 6.3L V8. Yet at that mpg, the power isn't as good as the 3.3L V6 (available on the longer non-sport Santa Fe). One of our family members have the new Kia Sorento, which has the same 3.3L V6, and it gets 25~26mpg. The question is then, what's the point of this engine? It gets much worst mpg and far less power than the V6 (There is no single upside). The non-turbo 2.4 at least gets better mpg number (albeit the power is down). Get rid of this engine and just give me that V6 (V6 is not available on the Sport Santa Fe, regardless of trim or options).
Recommended
Verified Owner
