Cars are rated one (forget it) to four ('bout as good as it gets) James Deans

 GOOD STUFF

      Inexpensive
      Excellent value-for-money
      Handsome, roomy interior
      No-brainer all-wheel-drive system
      Epic warrantee
      If you didn't see the badge, you might not know it was a Hyundai!



 BAD STUFF

      Mediocre acceleration
      Rough ride for a car-based SUV

• Style: Mini sport-utility
• Engine: 2.7 liter 24-valve V6
• Transmission: 4-speed automatic w/ manual control
• Drivetrain: all-wheel-drive
• Horsepower: 181 hp @ 6000 rpm
• Torque: 177 ft-lbs. @ 4,000 rpm
• EPA mileage: 25 city/31 highway
• Weight: 3,720 lbs.
• Base price: $20,799
• Price as tested: $22,797

It's time to forget everything you know or think you know about Hyundais.

Except, of course, for the low prices. The all-wheel-drive Santa Fe GLS (the middle trim level, between the basic GL and the top-of-the-line LX) I tested came with a V6 engine, automatic transmission, all-wheel-drive, power windows, locks and mirrors, keyless entry, tinted glass, air conditioning and a CD player. With optional four-wheel antilock disc brakes, the Santa Fe stickered for $22,797 - nearly $4,000 less than a comparably equipped Nissan Xterra SE.

And then there's the warranty. The Santa Fe gets a 5 year/60,000 mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, one of the longest you'll find for any SUV. And then there's the additional powertrain warranty, which extends to 10 years or 100,000 miles for the original owner.

But other than that, you can forget everything you know about Hyundais.

Um, actually, if you've driven one recently, you're familiar with all of the thoughtful touches they include - the sort of stuff you usually find in luxury cars. Headlights that turn themselves off. Power windows that keep working after you shut the car off, until you open the door. There's even a cover over the rear license plate light so you won't burn your fingers when you're feeling around for the tailgate release. Don't forget about that stuff.

Aside from that, you can forget everything.

Well, not the styling. Some of Hyundai's creations have been pretty far out there, and the Santa Fe is no exception. Imagine if the folks who designed the Lexus RX300 had a few beers and went back to their CAD stations while still buzzed. The Santa Fe is playful and creative, stopping short of overly bizarre. The theme continues inside, too, with a funky interior that makes many competitors look staid. Hyundai certainly didn't cheap out on materials; matter of fact, the Santa Fe feels surprisingly upscale.

So, remember the low prices, the long warranty, the thoughtful touches, and the stand-out styling, but aside from that, forget everything you know or think you know about Hyundais.

Although, before you do, I should mention that the Santa Fe's value isn't just about all the toys you get for the money. The Santa Fe is half an inch wider than a 2002 Ford Explorer. That width translates to lots of stretch-out room, an uncluttered cabin, and a solid, big-car feel. It's almost shocking to pull up next to standard-sized SUV and realize how compact the Hyundai really is.

And the Santa Fe puts that space to good use. On paper, it's got the biggest back seat of the group, and it offers 78 cubic feet of cargo room; compare that to 65 cubic feet for the Ford Escape, 68 cubic feet for the Toyota RAV4, and 88 cubic feet for the larger Ford Explorer. All this space is not just a function of dimensions. The Santa Fe's compact rear suspension minimizes the size of fender wells, which can really eat up trunk space. Under the trunk floor you'll find several hidden storage compartments big enough to conceal a laptop computer or a 35mm camera. Click here for an IPIX interior shot. You must have the IPIX plug-in installed or this will not work.

OK, where are we. low prices, long warranty, thoughtful touches, stand-out styling, outstanding space. Other than that, it's an entirely different Hyundai than anything you're used to.

Umm. except for the powertrain, that is.

The Santa Fe borrows underpinnings from the Sonata sedan, with a fully independent suspension and a choice of a four or six cylinder engine and front- or all-wheel-drive. The 2.7 liter V6 produces 181 horsepower and 171 ft-lbs of torque; acceleration is tepid, no surprise since it has 3,720 lbs of Santa Fe to haul around. But it goes about its business smoothly and quietly, and during test week it returned a respectable 21 miles per gallon.

And the Santa Fe's automatic transmission has a manual mode. I don't find these "manumatics" very sporty, but during a two-day, 750 mile trip through Death Valley, it came in quite handy on the hills. (Yes, there are hills in Death Valley. Big ones.)

Four-wheel-drive SUVs are a pet peeve - many of them are part-time systems, which means the driver has to manually engage drive to all the wheels. Otherwise, they have all the bad-weather traction of a pickup truck. I prefer a setup like the Santa Fe - the all-wheel-drive system drives all four wheels all of the time, so you're always ready for the slippery stuff. Lesser Santa Fes are front-wheel-drive, meaning they are still better equipped for bad weather than a rear-drive truck.

If I have any criticisms about the Hyundai, it's the ride. It's rough by car-based-SUV standards, though it's still smoother than the Nissan XTerra. The body leans a lot in corners, but the tires grip the road well in emergency maneuvers, and the steering is as crisp and precise as any car.

So maybe you shouldn't forget everything you know about Hyundais. Unless, of course, you still think of them as a second-rate manufacturer of bargain-basement cars. Perhaps if we pried off the Hyundai badge, the fantastic Santa Fe would get the respect it deserves.

Home, James