2009 Hyundai Santa Fe User Reviews

Pros

Good fuel economy, snappy performance, comfortable ride and interior, and $1.49 gas for a YEAR!

Cons

None so far...

Purchased As New

Bought this car 2 weeks ago and have put 1000 miles on it. Coming out of a 17 mpg '06 F-150 pickup, the Santa Fe's 27 mpg combined city/hwy mileage is a huge plus. The base V-6 is quiet & delivers spirited acceleration in town and when passing on the highway, so I see little reason to bump up to the larger available engine.
The 6-speaker stereo sounds good, offers XM satellite radio, and has jacks for iPod and USB. I like the USB as I can put all my music on a tiny jump drive and don't have to clutter the car with CD's.
The interior is comfortable, well-appointed, and overall build quality is as good as or better than Honda, Toyota, etc. Handling & ride quality are excellent, and the stock Bridgestone Dueler tires seem to do well in rain, on dry pavement, etc. They do make a little noise on rough pavement, but so do most brands of tires on these types of vehicles.
The Santa Fe has stability control, anti-lock brakes, traction control, and 6 air bags, including side curtain bags in all seating positions in case of a side-impact collision. Another nice thing is active head restraints; in the case of a rear-end collision the headrests instantly move up and forward to cushion the head and prevent whiplash and neck injury.
I prefer the exterior looks of the Ford Escape and tried to buy one before I got the Santa Fe, but better financing, warranty, and incentives from Hyundai won me over. Hyundai's 5 year bumper to bumper and 10/100 powertrain warranties were a big plus, as was the $4000+ in rebates and $1.49/gal gas for a year. My dealer also gives me free oil changes & car washes for life, free loaner car on service days, and a lifetime engine warranty.

Overall the Santa Fe is a high-quality, economical, and comfortable vehicle with a lot of safety features- all at a very competitive price. I highly suggest it to those looking for a small SUV.