Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel Estate 2006-

The Santa Fe is one of the best vehicles available from Hyundai with plenty of space inside to rival most large SUV's and comes as an optional seven seater. It is good to drive with sharp, precise handling and it is just as at home cruising down the motorway as it is off-road. The diesel engine is an immense piece of engineering giving stacks of power, speed and efficiency and is also a great tow vehicle being able to haul around 2,200kg.

Pros and Cons:

• High build quality and well constructed
  Spacious interiors and available with seven seats
  Eye catching styling
  Good diesel engine
  Body roll in the corners

• Poor V6 petrol engine
  High running costs

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Exterior and Interior

The Santa Fe is a good looking car. The exterior of the vehicle was drastically improved from the older model. The interior is excellent. The Santa Fe is made of good quality materials and feels well constructed. The wood paneling isn't real but it doesn't look at all bad. The centre console is clearly laid out and easy to use with all the instruments being backlit in a subtle blue. There is plenty of space inside with the backseat passengers having more than enough head and legroom. The seats are extremely comfortable and are good for long distance travelling. There is the added option of having the Santa Fe as a seven seater with two seats going in the boot. Although they don't offer loads of room adults can squeeze into them, but they are more designed for children. The boot space is cavernous with a space of 969 litres, bigger than the majority of rivals and with the added option of folding down the back seats this space can be increased drastically.

If you opt for the seven seats model then the two seats in the boot fold away into the floor so you don't lose any space. It comes with loads of kit in the entry level GSI trim level receiving 17 inch alloys, air-con, CD stereo, 6 airbags, electric windows all round and mirrors, remote central locking, front fog lamps and an alarm and immobilizer. The CDX trim adds cruise control, 18 inch alloys, electrically adjustable drivers' seat, dual zone climate control, heated front seats and auto dimming rear view mirror. The CDX+ adds extra luxuries such as an in dash CD auto-changer, sat-nav, rain sensing wipers, a cool box in the centre console, 10 speaker surround sound system and a roof mounted DVD player. Revised models in 2009 come with even more kit that includes steering wheel mounted audio control, reversing sensors, privacy glass and an auxiliary input for an iPod or MP3 player.

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Engines

There are only two engines available in the Santa Fe with one petrol and one diesel engine to choose from. The petrol is a 2.7-litre V6 producing 186bhp, but is aimed more at the American market than the British with its four speed automatic gearbox. The diesel engine comes in the form of a 2.2-litre producing 148bhp coming with a five speed manual gearbox as standard or there is an optional five speed automatic.

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Performance and Economy

The V6 petrol engine with 186bhp is the poorer of the two engines being just slower than the diesel going from 0-60mph in 11.3 seconds and the fuel efficient isn't very good either, barely managing 26mpg. Its automatic gearbox is designed more for the Americans with their love of four speed automatics and it isn't that great either. As a result the petrol engine was dropped from the line up in 2009. The 2.2-litre diesel engine is a far better engine being quicker, if only by a split second, from 0-60mph in 11.2 seconds and it is more a lot more fuel efficient managing 38mpg. It gives plenty of pulling power being able to tow up to 2,200kg and is exceptionally silky and surprisingly punchy. The five speed manual isn't as good though leaving you hunting for gears, but the automatic is good and comes with the a sequential manual change function. It falls into category 13 for insurance purposes which are where most large SUV's are found.

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What it's like to Drive

The ride in the Santa Fe is outstanding with the suspension ironing out even the worst bumps and transferring very little through to the cabin. There is lots of body roll in the corners though which is felt more keenly in the back, but it soon sorts itself out and it has plenty of grip. The steering is extremely responsive and well weighted if lacking in feel at times. It cruises along on motorways with ease and feels just as at home off-road handling gravel, snow and rough tracks with ease. Although it's a four-wheel drive it only turns the two front wheels and brings the back ones into play when it feels a loss of grip in the front wheels. There is the option of locking four wheel drive on permanently though for those moments when you tackle more demanding off-road situations. The driving position is very comfortable with a good commanding view out the front and clear views out the back as well and the wind and road noise is pretty much none existent.

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Faults and Repairs

There have been a few reported problems with the Santa Fe with electrical faults being the main issues. The air con has also posed a few problems with it needing re-gassing every year and a half. Other than that there are no major problems, but the repair and service costs are exceptionally expensive coming in around the same price bracket as their rival Mitsubishi.

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