Insurance Group: 30
MPG: 38.2
CO2: 197
0-62 Mph: 10.2 secs
BHP: 194 BHP
Range: 588 miles
PROS: Good level of standard kit, reliable, practical, cheap
CONS: Not very cheap to run, undesirable brand image
The Santa Fe is fitted with a 2.2-litre oil burner which develops 194bhp and 322lb-ft of torque. This translates into a 0-62mph time of 10.2 seconds and a top speed of 118mph. The automatic gearbox takes the edge off the performance and the Santa Fe is not a fast car; however, the engine offers enough low-down grunt to prevent it from feeling sluggish.
Unfortunately, the Santa Fe is disappointing in the handling stakes. It leans a lot through the bends and the steering feels oddly disconnected. Because of this, you never have to confidence to press on and find yourself backing off before sharper turns. However, the ride is excellent and the Santa Fe is very refined.
The Santa Fe is very well equipped. You get alloys, electric windows, climate control, cruise control, rear parking sensors, leather seats, Bluetooth and a CD player with MP3 connectivity all included as standard. Sat-nav will set you back £1100 and metallic paint costs £495.
The Santa Fe is also relatively good looking. It is conservatively styled but certainly looks the part thanks to its muscular flanks and swollen wheel arches.
The Santa Fe offers plenty of cabin space and can seat seven occupants in relative comfort. The rearmost seats are only really suitable for children but this is to be expected in a car of this size. The Santa Fe's boot is absolutely enormous with 969-litres on offer with the rear seats up and 2247-litres on offer with the rear seats removed.
The Santa Fe scored four stars in the Euro NCAP safety tests and should be very safe indeed with a surfeit of airbags and driver aids. It should also be very reliable - the Koreans know how to screw a car together well and offer a five year unlimited mileage warranty for further reassurance.
The Santa Fe 2.2 CRDi Premium (7 seat) Auto 5dr costs £27,745 which is very reasonable for such a large 4x4 with a seven-seat capacity.
The running costs are quite reasonable for a car of this type but are still quite high. You'll only get 38.2mpg combined and CO2 emissions of 197g/km mean that the Santa Fe falls under VED band J. The Santa Fe will depreciate very quickly too so it might be an idea to buy a nearly new example.
The Santa Fe is a good car with an undesirable badge. It is good value but £25k is a lot of money to fork out for a Hyundai and this may put buyers off.
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