2013 Hyundai Santa Fe
Hyundai introduced the all-new 7-passenger Santa Fe.
As the default family vehicle is shifting away from the used-to-be-ubiquitous minivans to larger wagons and SUVs, Hyundai is getting serious in the market segment with its new mid-sized SUV Santa Fe.
Powered by Hyundai's award winning Lambda 3.3L GDI V6 engine, the new Santa Fe boasts more horsepower and torque than the Toyota Highlander, the Honda Pilot and the Nissan Pathfinder (all 2013 models). The Santa Fe is also lighter than the three competitors, and its MPG is expected to be higher (even though Hyundai is extremely cautious stating any, after the trust-busting fiasco).
The Santa Fe is slated to replace the unpopular and discontinued Veracruz, which is a larger SUV with the third-row seating, and the Santa Fe joins the smaller Santa Fe Sport, which is already being sold.
While the Santa Fe looks to be a solid competitor in the segment, it lacks some of the more technologically advanced safety features, such as lane departure and collision warnings, which are increasing becoming available on other new family vehicles, including the Mitsubishi Outlander that was also world-premiered on the same day at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The new Santa Fe does come with other useful standard safety features like the Vehicle Stability Management and Electronic Brake-force Distribution systems, among many others.
The Santa Fe comes in two seating variations: 6-passenger with two captain chairs as the second row, and 7-passenger with a 40:20:40 folding bench as the second row. For any family with car seats or boosters, the 6-passenger configuration is a must. Accessing the third row with the 7-passenger configuration would be almost impossible. With the 6-passenger configuration, the interior configuration becomes almost like a minivan, where kids "walking around" the cabin between the two captain chairs on the second row would be feasible.
The new Santa Fe is a viable substitute for a minivan, especially with the 6-passenger seat configuration. With its stylish exterior, who wouldn't want to be a soccer dad?
Hyundai introduced the all-new 7-passenger Santa Fe.
As the default family vehicle is shifting away from the used-to-be-ubiquitous minivans to larger wagons and SUVs, Hyundai is getting serious in the market segment with its new mid-sized SUV Santa Fe.
Powered by Hyundai's award winning Lambda 3.3L GDI V6 engine, the new Santa Fe boasts more horsepower and torque than the Toyota Highlander, the Honda Pilot and the Nissan Pathfinder (all 2013 models). The Santa Fe is also lighter than the three competitors, and its MPG is expected to be higher (even though Hyundai is extremely cautious stating any, after the trust-busting fiasco).
The Santa Fe is slated to replace the unpopular and discontinued Veracruz, which is a larger SUV with the third-row seating, and the Santa Fe joins the smaller Santa Fe Sport, which is already being sold.
While the Santa Fe looks to be a solid competitor in the segment, it lacks some of the more technologically advanced safety features, such as lane departure and collision warnings, which are increasing becoming available on other new family vehicles, including the Mitsubishi Outlander that was also world-premiered on the same day at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The new Santa Fe does come with other useful standard safety features like the Vehicle Stability Management and Electronic Brake-force Distribution systems, among many others.
The Santa Fe comes in two seating variations: 6-passenger with two captain chairs as the second row, and 7-passenger with a 40:20:40 folding bench as the second row. For any family with car seats or boosters, the 6-passenger configuration is a must. Accessing the third row with the 7-passenger configuration would be almost impossible. With the 6-passenger configuration, the interior configuration becomes almost like a minivan, where kids "walking around" the cabin between the two captain chairs on the second row would be feasible.
The new Santa Fe is a viable substitute for a minivan, especially with the 6-passenger seat configuration. With its stylish exterior, who wouldn't want to be a soccer dad?
