A Good SUV with a few Annoyances.
Read that 78% of all vehicle sales in 2019 have been either SUV's or Pick-up Trucks. So instead of another Sonata, I decided to test drive the Santa Fe. Being higher up in the air while driving, and not having my sight blocked by the SUV in front of me at the stop-light, felt really good.
Also, it was a pleasant surprise to experience that the Santa Fe drove just as smoothly at 90mph, on the highway, as my past cars did. It feels rock-solid at speed, though there is more cross-wind buffeting, due to it's higher profile.
The exterior of the Santa Fe is really classy, especially when viewed from the front. The paint is thick and shines to a high gloss. My exterior color is blue. Due to the thickness of the paint, the color changes hue slightly in different lighting conditions. It's pleasantly stunning to see. Interior is roomy with lots of amenities, if you get a mid-level Santa Fe or higher. The Hyundai sound systems contain something that American cars seem to be getting rid of....a "Midrange" frequency control for the radio. I rented a Cadillac last year for a cross-country drive with my wife, and the stupid radio only had Treble and Bass controls! Hey U.S. automakers, as America ages we need more Midrange.
Now for the Negatives...IN MY OPINION:
1.) The Santa Fe turns itself off when you're at a Red Light. (Saves you a pint of fuel per year.) Bad idea. I've already read about people being stranded in 2019 Santa Fe's because the car wouldn't turn itself back on when the light turned green. There is a button on the console to turn this feature off, but you have to turn it off every time you start the car. Can't permanently disable it.
2.) The daytime running lights cannot be turned off while the car is idling...and they are VERY bright. If you're in a parking lot at night waiting for someone, with the engine running because its cold outside, every crook, or curious person, knows you're sitting in that car. For safety reasons, I'd prefer that nobody knows!
3.) The transmission and engine frequently don't work well together. Take your foot off the gas to coast, and the Santa Fe feels like you're dragging 10 bags of sand. It's slows way too quickly. In "Sport" driving mode, that "drag" is even more pronounced. My Santa Fe is often very "jerky" at speeds under 35 mph. Sorta feels like the engine oil is bad..or low. But I checked, and it's neither. Will have this annoyance checked during my first oil change at 7,500 miles. (I have 4,830 now.)
4.) For those of you who live where it snows, be aware that the "Front Collision Sensor" is low on the front bumper. Road salt, glaze, snow, cover it quickly, triggering flashing ALARM! stating that the Collison Avoidance System has malfunctioned and has shut down. The annoying bright yellow warning icon stays illuminated on your dashboard until you pull over, and wipe off the front sensor panel. But you'll quickly find that it was a waste of time. In 10 more minutes, it's covered with slush again.
Recommended
Verified Owner
