Hyundai Santa Fe 2006 car review

If you need confirmation that Hyundai is fast becoming a big player in the new car market in NZ then look no further than the all-new Santa Fe released for public sale this month.

Following on from the award winning Sonata range (3.3 litre V6 was the Medium / Large winner at the 2006 AA Motoring Excellence Awards) the Santa Fe will definitely draw the attention of buyers in the SUV market and also attract interest from the value for money seekers.

Great styling combined with a high quality build standard, this vehicle comes loaded with goodies both comfort and safety wise from the base model level. Standard features on all five variants include Electronic Stability Control, Roof Racks with adjustable crossbars, Anti Locking Brakes with Electronic Brake Distribution, Brake Assist, Electronic 4WD, Active Head Rests, and Six Airbags.

Upgrade to an elite model and you can add Leather Trim, Power Operated Front Seats, 18-inch alloy wheels (17-inch on the base model), Rear Spoiler, Dual Zone Air-Conditioning and an upgraded 7-speaker Sound System.

Bigger than the previous model (and better looking) in every direction including the wheel base, the Santa Fe can easily accommodate a third row of seats which when not in use fold easily into the rear floor. While legroom was impressive with the third row of seats occupied, it would not be the most comfortable seat in the house on a long journey and as always with these designs luggage space is compromised when all seven seats are in use.

Great for the family with young kids and their mates however which is one target audience Hyundai have identified for this vehicle. 3-point ISOFIX child anchors are available in the second seating row while 3-point lap and diagonal seatbelts are available in all seating positions (inclusive of the third row where applicable).

Hyundai Santa FeNot considered a serious off-roader, it still handled the various challenging off road surfaces Hyundai NZ staff had prepared for press day with ease, no doubt with the help of the 'torque on demand' 4WD system.

In non-demanding conditions the vehicle runs almost totally in 2WD mode. As road conditions or torque demands change it automatically distributes up to 50% of the available torque to the rear wheels as required. In demanding conditions a 4WD lock button will automatically 'lock' 4WD for a 50/50 torque split.

This condition will self-cancel at speeds above 40kph.

Two engines are available; the most impressive being the all-new 2.2 litre common rail direct injection variable turbo diesel. Outputting an impressive 110kW of power at 4000 rpm and 335Nm of torque between 1800 - 2500 rpm, this engine will be the most popular choice by far for those looking for performance and fuel economy.

On our recent press drive programme a figure of 9.1 litres per 100ks was achieved with a mixture of driving conditions and drivers. This very silent, for a diesel, power unit alone should entice potential buyers to embrace the Santa Fe. Assisting with performance and fuel consumption is a 5-speed electronic operated automatic transmission with sports shift.

For those preferring the petrol version a reworked 2.7 litre V6 Quad-cam from the outgoing model is available. Continuously Variable Valve Timing has been adapted to help provide 138kW at 6000 rpm and 248Nm of torque at 4000 rpm. Surprisingly, in a time when 5-speeds are becoming the norm, this engine gets only a 4-speed automatic to help it reach optimum performance. Fuel consumption on our press drive was around the 11.5 litres per 100 km.

Both petrol and diesel options enjoy a 1 year /15,000km (whichever comes first) service interval.

Rack and Pinion steering combined with MacPherson strut front suspension and multi-link rear ensure the Santa Fe handles the twists and curves on the hard seal in the same comfort levels you would expect from a mid to large size sedan even if the steering feel was a little light at motorway speeds.

Towing capabilities are rated at 2000kg braked and 750kg un-braked.

The lack of a spare wheel hanging off the rear hatch door (the full size spare is tucked away neatly under the vehicle) says a lot for this vehicle in our view. It will fit into the community with ease and be seen as a great multi-purpose vehicle that meets the everyday needs of most Kiwis at a very competitive price.

Model variants available and retail prices are: