2010 Hyundai Santa Fe

You need the blindfold test to properly appreciate the updated 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe, so just take a moment with your eyes closed, and imagine the following scenario:

In the market for a new SUV, you need to haul a lot of gear. Six passengers and the driver for some weekend sports events, and the whole family plus their kit for weekend holidays. You’re looking for a model that doesn’t look out of place, and one that feels like you’re driving a machine, not a people mover.

Keep your eyes closed, and imagine a 2.2 liter turbodiesel that delivers a whopping 421Nm of torque and a spritely 145kW of power. As you nod and smile, you know that you won’t be fighting off a BMW M anytime soon, but naught to 100 km won’t be anything to complain about. Better, you’re looking at a combined fuel efficiency of 6.7L/100km with a standard and 7.5L/100km for the automatic.

That won’t do if the little ones out back aren’t taken care of, so let’s go back inside for a moment. They’re quiet, thanks to the available entertainment console with DVD/MP3/CD features and even slots for video games as needed. They’ll also have their own cupholders and enough room to set up their in-trip activities; even the third row of seating gets their own climate control.

Open your eyes again, and don’t stare too hard at the badge on the grille. It’s the 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe, and it’s a fine example of what a larger SUV should be, and what can be bought for less than $50,000 with all of the amenities and features added.

You may go back to complaints about Korean cars in the past, and if your last firsthand knowledge came when Bob Hawke was still minister, it’s understandable. But this is an altogether different beast, and one that shows through in the sales records that Hyundai has compiled as other manufacturers have fallen by the wayside.

Quality, fit and finish have continued to outpace competitors, and while there is a bit of faux pieces in the interior, they match each other well and provide a relatively upscale interior. Match that with safety features that garnered it a five star ANCAP rating and there would seem to be relatively little to quibble about.

Yes, things are going to be tight for the third row if they are above 10 years of age, but if you’re packing around seven people in the Santa Fe, you’re not planning on large trips with a gaggle of adults, anyway. Well-placed mirrors help the larger-sized SUV maneuver and the driver keep an eye going on around him or herself; a conversation mirror even helps to keep an eye on the rearmost passengers.

Seat height may also be an issue for some, and it is certainly not a model that, starting at just under $38,000, will compare favorably to a Range Rover. What it does do is pass the blindfold test: you want everything that the Santa Fe offers, and reliability these days means the SUV is a must test for anyone with more than a passenger or two on a daily basis.

Specifications:
Engine: 2.2-litre, four cylinder, turbo diesel
Power: 145kW @ 3800rpm
Torque: 436Nm @ 1800-2500rpm
Induction: Common Rail & Turbocharged
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Driven Wheels: All
Brakes: Discs with ABS & EBD
CO2 Emissions: 197g/km
Fuel Consumption: 7.5L/100km (ADR)
Fuel Tank Capacity: 70L
Fuel Type: Diesel
ANCAP Rating: Five-star
Airbags: Front, Side & Curtain
Safety: ESC with Traction Control
Spare Wheel: Full-size Alloy
Suspension: Strut (F) / Multi-link (R)
Cargo Capacity: 969/2247L
Tow Capacity: 2000kg (Braked)
Turning Circle: 10.8m
Warranty: Five-year / Unlimited kilometre
Weight: 1988kg (Tare)
Wheels: 18-inch Alloy