So we got a 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe V6
The last time we drove the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe was actually the first time we drove it. It was for our industry-best crossover comparo, and it was the 2.4-litre model. That lower-spec model won our comparo, partially because of the promise that you could get this fully-loaded V6 model for less than the price of all the other contenders. So it was time to actually check out the V6 model that won its lesser-engined brother the title in that bout.
The Santa Fe remains, quite possibly, the best-looking crossover in a segment where most of its competitors also look very similar, but not as cohesively-detailed.
Inside, there are more soft-touch surfaces than in most other crossovers in this price range, although the “leather” never feels as good as the trim in some of its slightly-pricier rivals.
How Hyundai quite managed to fit a third-row seat in there is baffling, but it is pretty much useless for adults. However, if you really need to stuff a pair of kids back there, it’s a better solution than letting them roll around in the boot, as is the case with most large families in this region.
The Santa Fe is a great all-rounder in this highly-competitive field, and the bigger engine addresses at least one of the complaints we had with its smaller-engined counterpart. Now if only Hyundai bought out Lotus or even Porsche, just to use them for their suspension-tuning know-how. But more on that in the full review.
Comments
Imad
Is Hyundai bringing the bigger Santa Fe here in the UAE? Because that is a proper 7 seater and a replacement to the Veracruz.
Mashfique Hussain Chowdhury
Yes.
Paddy
Mash, Hyundai is not bringing to UAE the same 7-seater that they are selling in the US. Its a bigger car (almost 8 inches longer) and the profile and rear are designed differently. The 7-seater we get here is similar in size and design to the 5-seater. Difference is the 2.4 Vs 3.3.
Mashfique Hussain Chowdhury
The longer one is coming here soon.
v6turbo
Crap
v6turbo
Vow wrote crap intentionally to see how many Hyundai fanboys we have apart from fake Toyota, Altima, Honda & lastly Mazda fanboys (going to purchase one as soon as a review is posted, no pictures of personal car in my ride), so there are 11 till now. Lets check after 2-3 days.
v6turbo
so there are 18 till now.
Lemmy
This looks really good.
The only downside i feel will be the drive feel..which they need to work on. But lookwise this is really sleek…
v6turbo
Its already the most comfortable, offers more features, the power deficit is taken care off by this model what else you want. People write as if their camry’s and lexus’s stay planted to ground in roundabouts.
Samer
Heheh haters gonna hate and the evidence for that is mash comment was downvoted while all he said is YES …. for god sake people…. I hope that toyota’s offer in next ramadan is to offer free brains with their cars
Hussain Al-Khalaf
Wow, I was going to ask you if you can have the V6 Santafe for testing as I saw it in other review to be very good and killed all the negatives of bad acceleration of the 2.4L V4
Hamza Jamil
I4 not V4. Nobody makes V4.
Nabil Arshad
In Oman in GLS model ( full option) we don’t get push start button, No interior trim except the beige one, no Xenon HID and only 35000 km/ 2 years service free..and charged 12000 O.R.
stream
i wonder why hyundai named this car by one of hardees sandwitch name….!!!
Nabil Arshad
haha..do u know Santa Fe is the capital of the U.S. state of New Mexico? SO which is earlier? Sandwich or this county? 😀
maddy
HI Nabil,
I am also from muscat, planning to buy the new santa fe..
How is the vehicle? you got all the offers they provide in the ad (free ins, regn, etc.)??
Kamran
The new Ford Escape is better…
prado
how?
v6turbo
Oh Ford fanboy..
Prado
that is fine to be a fan boy… one needs back up a statement with some sort of empirical evidence…
v6turbo
ya sure Prado, i understand may be some evidence like as soon as a review is posted, vow what a nice car, better than all models i have ever seen, i am going to buy one now the next day.
samer
after my yesterday experience with Hyundai service, I would say that I dont know why people dont buy them, I did 5 k service for my genesis coupe and they charged me 300 dhs only, if I want to go to any gas station to have the oil and filter changed and then wash the car it will cost me the same roughly or 250 at least, I checked with the service adviser for the 10 k service and he said it costs 450 dhs only …. in my previous 2011 Avalon they were charging me 550 for 5k service and 1000 dhs for 10k service, what a rip off, and for the genesis saloon (which starts from 119k dhs only) they offer free replacement car during service and you are not included in service appointment, you just come to service center whenever you like ….. that is so good, the prices of saloon are the same for the coupe I know that I sound like a hyundai commercial but this is the truth i wanted to share with you
Mitch
Samer, how on earth they charged you 1000k dhs for avalon’s 10k km service? I paid for my prado 600 dhs for the same service, and there’s more oil going in the prado.
J. Miers
I back you up from personal experience
vivek
that preferential treatment for premium-class customers is a good marketing move by Hyundai, if they advertise it right ;-)…
and yes..My uncle who drives a Santa Fe since 2007, has never spent more than what one would typically spend at the Toyota dealership on a Corolla, for service.
Shahzad Haider
I must add here i have done 170,000 Km with my Sonata from Jan-2011. And i have a marvelous experience with this car. And Service People here in Abu Dhabi are amazingly nice. Most of the time i got my car serviced same day. Drop In 07:00 AM and Pickup at 03:00 PM. V.Kool……
MAT
Indeed. had my 10km service for my elantra last weekend. paid only AED 330. problem in dubai is the long queu, especially with Shz SC. if you will book now, the earliest available time will be 2 weeks after. Ras al khor SC is better.nonetheless, if leave ur car in the morning, its almost certain that ull get it in the afternoon.
Samer
@ mitch,,,
Believe me these are the prices for avalon service, I dont know but maybe they consider it a luxury car considering that it is just disguised lexus es, anyway I sold the car with all the service records and reciepts inside the glove box. Anyway we all know that for 2 similar cars in the same category we will have at least 40% cheaper service if it is hyundai, I drove the avalon for 55k kilometres and roughly I paid around 5 to 6k dhs for service till that destance, that is too much and nobody can deny that
Sherin
Hi Mash, when is the full review coming? Eagerly waiting for that…
Mashfique Hussain Chowdhury
Coming later this month, but this will hold you over until then:
https://www.drivearabia.com/news/2013/03/13/comparo-2013-toyota-rav4-vs-honda-cr-v-vs-hyundai-santa-fe-vs-vw-tiguan/
nihal
hyundai makes car with sloopy design and interior.altima and camry are better bcuz they are better.juz check da sales figure.2 be honest i didnt see sonata on road
Shibu Daniel
Ladies and gentlemen, we’ve got an expert here.
gv
@ nihal
Well i dunt mean to offend u..but this section is about santfe….nd camry nd altima dunt belong to this class.
Now abt the sales figure…..camrys sell coz of the age old reliability factor cwhich I honestly feel doesnt exist nymore…nd if general public wont buy it….u obviously have taxi compnys n rent a carz compensating for that….maybe 5-10 yrs ago camryz…corollas were reliable…..
How many camrys du u see on the road nowadays…?? (Crappy design nd base price of 88000..seriously?) Altimas n accords atleast look gud n fel premium for the price u pay…
10 yrs ago…toyotas used to be reasonably priced …service was reasonable nd gud..made sense to buy one…..now its more or less expensive nd mediocre .
Koreans cars have addressd the needs of middle class customers, to provide them with cars wid premium feel nd soft toch materials…im not sure of performance in the long run, but u hafta consider that things have changed for the korean car makers….so we probably need to give time for these cars to run nd figure wether theyr reliable( nd hu keeps cars more than 5 yrs nyway?? even if theyr jap or german.)
Btw…weve owned several toyotas nd a honda for about 20-25 yrs … now nt a big fan of toyota..
prado
@nihal…
hhah ahhaha the 2007-2011 Camry was made like a Kinder toy… I even managed to pluck out the plastic bit just below the radio from a brand new camry…
you should try it…
Nissan Altima suffers from unreasonably high wear and tear of consumables parts not to mention transmission issues..
you clearly need to do a lot of reading
Elias
Shortly Speaking,,, Santa Fe looks amazing! I love it!! Can’t wait to buy one!
Sherin
Hi Mash, still waiting for the full review of the Santa Fe V6…please 🙂
Warren
Does the Santa Fe 2014 under the Ramadhan offer come with any warranty? or is it just free service of 2 years they are offering?
Nadeem
Don’t buy Santa Fe either small one or LWB. I’ve purchased it 2 months back and below are the drawbacks
1) Sharp Edges on sunroof, can cut a finger
2) Too much outside noise even if you drive at 60KM, at 120KM you feel like you sitting outside the car
3) Not comfortable sitting, specially for long drive
4) Passenger Seat Makes sound if not adjusted to backward.
5) First service 165 Ok, but for 20KM its 1700
6) Quality not like US models, and features are missing.
7) 3rd Row not suitable for Adults.
8) useless luggage space if all three rows are utilized
9) Passenger no Height Adjustment
Better to go for Bigger and quality SUV like Sequoia or Expedition
I’ve decided to sell my car after driving 6000 KM in 2 months. Feels like cheated
Dipankar
hi nadeem,
good to see ur feedback here as i was considering this car for purchase. could u throw a bit more light on ur few points above i.e,
point no. 5)First service 165 Ok, but for 20KM its 1700 – did not follow what u actually said
point no. 6)Quality not like US models, and features are missing. – which model is this, if not US and what features are missing
and finally, at this price point which would be its closest competitor considering features and comfort?
Nadeem
Hi Dipankar,
for first 5000 KM, the service cost is 165 SAR and on the 20,000 it cost 1700 SAR.
For Quality, the model we are getting in GCC are manufactured in Korea and not in USA plant. The Sunroof have a sharp edges which is more dangerous if you have a Kid. I’m on the verge of selling back my santa fe and will go for some Quality. Because most of the features which are on the Hyundai websites are not available in GCC