Anything negative about Hyundai Santa Fe?

Shadowfax

Shadowfax

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We have been SUV shopping to replace our 07 Rav4. We had a list of needs to rule in or out what we looked at. Cargo space to match or beat the Rav, Full Power Passenger seat, and Audio.

Most were too small, some were more than we needed and ones we loved were a bit over the budget we set.

We started out with the Acura MDX which is actually over the $50K total we set, loved the seats, ride, lack of shift stick and knob and more. Then we started driving the rest.
Volkswagen Atlas, Ford Explorer, Volvo XC-90 (again over budget but we test drove a used one that we liked), When we drove a Hyundai Santa Fe early on, we walked away pretty impressed and really could not list things we did not like. We were scratching our heads trying to figure out how they can offer so much vehicle for what they cost.

We saved the GMs for last thinking from the beginning we would end up with a Buick because we love our LaCrosse so much.

Chevy Traverse was way too big and the Equinox was way too small.
GMC Acadia was similar to Traverse and more than we needed. The Terrain was pretty sweet except it rode like a Truck and a few other negatives on features.

The Buick Enclave was over budget and bigger than we need. The Envision falls in between. It was really nice except for a few things. Smaller cargo, lack of underneath storage, rear seats and headrests so high they block the drivers view, and the Console is way too high and you whack your elbow on it getting in or moving in your seat. Leg room was a little lacking, but it drove a lot like the LaCrosse and had decent sound. But, the trim level with a decent stereo is $4k higher than what we drove and only has 1/2 the features of the Santa Fe Ultimate.

So last night we went back and drove the Hyundai again...below is the update and question

For the money, warranty, 0% financing and every possible option, the Santa Fe is looking like a winner. But, the one thing I was not as happy with were the seats. The seats were OK, a little on the BMW stiff side. When you get in and sit down, you don't sigh in comfort like my Lacrosse. The ride was not quite as smooth as the MDX or the Buick Envision but adequate and much better than my Rav.

I found 2 Volvo XC-60s close by that I can afford and we will take a closer look at the RDX just to make sure we are not settling.

But the Santa Fe Ultimate for $35K is a really good value if it holds up. With a 5 year bumper to bumper and 10 year drive train, it's worry free for a good long while. Oh and 5 year Roadside also.

The Santa Fe is actually larger length and width to my 07 Rav4, but every vehicle we looked at is in the 29" to 31" in height. The Rav is 37" high.

Both the RDX and the XC-60 are a tad smaller than the Rav but if the comfort level and stereo is that much better, it will be a tough decision.

I sure could use the extra $10K for Tax season and Roth IRA contributions and if we end up not loving the Santa Fe (if we got one) we can sell it and chalk it up to a lesson in settling.

I still have a dumb mental block putting a Hyundai in my driveway (let alone being seen driving one) but they are driving a really hard bargain to ignore.

2018 was the least problematic year for the SF but 19 is a slightly new model. Hopefully not enough changes to mess that rating up.

Please, if anyone has anything negative to say about Hyundai or the Santa Fe, let me hear it.
 
Thanks Mike, we did drive that one early on. On the large size but pretty nice. It did drive more like a truck tho. I can't recall the rest of my list of cons.

This is all pretty stressful, I always say the 3 most stressful purchases are 1- House, 2- Car, 3- Mattress and I guess 4th would be Audio Gear :)
 
We had a Santa Fe for about a year and my wife hated it. I thought it was ok, but a little gutless. What about the Ford Explorer? 2019 is supposed to be nice.

I really loved the Honda Pilot when I drove it.

My wife is more of an SUV person. I drive a F-150 and love it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Mike, you cannot get full passenger power seats in ANY Honda, you can get 3rd row seating and DVD players, but the passenger gets no adjustment. It was also a lot of car for the money but lacked simple needs.

I was never a Ford person but we did check out the explorer. Can only get a model with 3rd row seating so you lose storage. You also have to pull at least 3 cords to put them down while the earlier models were 1 touch motorized. The main thing that is messed up with the Explorer, and other fords like the Taurus, is the engineer that designs the front door pulls is an idiot. They put the door pull on the wrong side of the center line of the door to give you some proper leverage closing them from the inside and they are heavy. The door pull should be about 3 inches further back to be in the right place for weaker woman and girly men.

I guess I should have listed all the ones we drove and why we ruled them out, but I am narrowed down to the Hyundai if the RDX and or XC-60 don't absolutely blow me away for the price.
 
Brian,
Take a look at the Subaru Forrester, which I believe is similar size or slight bigger than the RAV4. The only thing that I am not 100% sure about is the powered passenger seat, since we only looked at the low end of the model range when we purchased for a car that we get us from point A to B safely :lol:
 
Is a third row a must ? if not take a look at the Ford Edge, I've rented them several times and feel they are the most comfortable of the 'two rowers'.

As for Hyundai , I've had them numerous times in rental vehicles and have always been impressed with their intuitive design, simple things like back lit control buttons, etc.

As for negatives you ask ........... resale, they are not Honda or Toyota after all, not yet anyways !
 
My wife drives a 2014 Santa Fe Sport. It handles quite well, has lots of cargo space, and we've had no mechanical issues. However, the audio system leaves a lot to be desired, and there's a fair bit of road noise (compared to my 2010 Lexus RX). I was considering the 2019 model myself, until I saw the (IMHO, ugly) front exterior design.

I'm now considering the 2019 Acura RDX, but haven't taken a test-drive yet. It's a new model redesign, and apparently has some computer and transmission glitches (which Acura is apparently addressing). FWIW, the audio system is supposed to be incredible!
 
Brian

If you haven't already make sure you drive the comparable Kia model as the styling is different and sometimes the options and features too. My wife has driven a Hyundai Tucso since 2111 and loves it plus never a mechanical hiccup. I'm not a SUV person so haven't put many miles behind the wheel.
 
Mikado463 said:
Is a third row a must ? if not take a look at the Ford Edge, I've rented them several times and feel they are the most comfortable of the 'two rowers'.

As for Hyundai , I've had them numerous times in rental vehicles and have always been impressed with their intuitive design, simple things like back lit control buttons, etc.

As for negatives you ask ........... resale, they are not Honda or Toyota after all, not yet anyways !
Click to expand...

Do not need 3rd row at all and prefer without. Edge is too small. I already know about resale, but if it's 10k less when you buy it and I get 4K less than a used Toyota, it's a wash.

Neither Honda or Toyota has better than 4way passenger seats. The only Toyota that has it is top trim of Avalon.
 
Jack said:
Brian

If you haven't already make sure you drive the comparable Kia model as the styling is different and sometimes the options and features too. My wife has driven a Hyundai Tucso since 2111 and loves it plus never a mechanical hiccup. I'm not a SUV person so haven't put many miles behind the wheel.
Click to expand...

Jack, seems like the only interior you can get from Kia is Black. They are just a Hyundai geared for the younger sporty crowd.

Thanks for the input.
 
Shadowfax said:
Do not need 3rd row at all and prefer without. Edge is too small.
Click to expand...

incorrect, you obviously have not compared current models ! The Hyundai Santa Fe , of which you speak, not the XL, is no larger than the Edge. If anything cargo space is somewhat less (measured with a tape measure, volume as well)

As for your math on the resale vs Honda / Toyota, I think it's a bit off.

Regardless I do like the Santa Fe as well, but as Alan (Sleepysurf) said, other than the top audio system it's fair at best
 
Mikado463 said:
incorrect, you obviously have not compared current models ! The Hyundai Santa Fe , of which you speak, not the XL, is no larger than the Edge. If anything cargo space is somewhat less (measured with a tape measure, volume as well)

As for your math on the resale vs Honda / Toyota, I think it's a bit off.

Regardless I do like the Santa Fe as well, but as Alan (Sleepysurf) said, other than the top audio system it's fair at best
Click to expand...

I take a tape measure with me and draw diagrams of each cargo area. With the Edges chopped of back, you lose a bunch. Tape measure wise from back of front seat to rear door and the width of opening, only the Volkswagen Atlas and Volvo XC90 were bigger than the Santa Fe. The Ultimate, I am looking at, has an Infinity system in it. Reasonable but not as good as the Bose system in my Lacrosse for what that's worth.
 
I had a 2013 Santa Fe Sport. It was OK, great warranty, never had anything wrong with the SUV. Handled pretty good, nice power from the Turbo, rides a little stiff. I sold it and got a 2017 F150 SuperCrew
 
Last night we looked at the Subarus for a sanity check. I still have a bad taste in my mouth from the Lemon they sold me several years ago. I love their all wheel drive train, it is the best.

We wanted to look at the new Ascent, but even at the top trim level, Touring, the front passenger seat was only 4way, so it was off the list. The new Outback Wagons are really nice and the right size or better than most other SUVs we looked at for cargo, BUT once again, they don't give a crap about passenger comfort and only 4way again at all trim levels.

So we looked at the Forester. We could only drive a base model which the interior was cheesy at best. Very peppy but not a quiet ride or as comfortable as most others, you feel every ripple in the road. It was also smaller in the cargo area and almost no under storage where the spare is.

After we drove the base, they let us sit in and play with a sold Touring model which was much more desirable interior, but same ride. What I can say tho, is out of all the SUVs we have looked at, this Harman Kardon Stereo was awesome. I had some MP3s created from FLAC files on my USB stick and played thru some Riverside and Kevin Gilbert tracks. It has an outboard amp and sub in the back.

I really wish they had that stereo in the Santa Fe.

Last thing I plan to do is look at the 2019 Acura RDX to see if we want to sacrifice a little cargo space for comfort and $15K more and also give up the Hyundai 0% financing.
 
We moved from a 2008 RAV4 (my son still has it) to a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee. It’s been a great car for us as we make some long drives from Colorado to Wisconsin several times a year. We also use it off road here in Colorado, and it’s plenty competent. Slightly larger than the RAV, fully adjustable passenger seat including lumbar, heat, and ventilation. Heated and reclining rear seats. If it’s not too big for you it may be worth a look. Of course the downside is it’s a Chrysler but based on the ML 320 when Mercedes and Chrysler were together.
Tom
 
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