Hyundai Santa Fe Sport — Stylish crossover

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

For 2013 Hyundai's popular sport utility gets a complete makeover that lifts it into the top tier of the mid-sized ranks in styling, performance, interior comfort and usability. And it now comes in two sizes that might be confusing on first blush, but gives consumers a clear choice for their individual needs.


Hyundai now offers a new short wheelbase version named Santa Fe Sport and a longer wheelbase vehicle with three rows of seats (replacing the slow-selling Veracruz), now simply called Santa Fe.



The 8.5-inch longer Santa Fe offers more passenger and cargo space (71.5 cubic feet vs. 80 cubic feet), and is the only version to offer a V-6 engine getting Hyundai's 3.3-liter making 294 horsepower and 252 pound-feet of torque; meanwhile the Santa Fe Sport features two four-cylinder offerings, and they fit the bill quite nicely.

If your needs are modest such as hauling two or three passengers and a small amount of cargo and you have no towing needs, then the standard 16-valve direct injection 2.4-liter four making 190 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque is a good choice. The base engine is rated at 21/29 front-wheel and 20/27 all-wheel.

Our choice is the Santa Fe Sport 2.0-liter turbocharged four making a satisfying 264 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque. The increased performance can be enjoyed if hauling loads is your modus operandi as towing capacity is 3,500 pounds. The turbocharged four is rated at 20 mpg city and 26 highway in front-wheel drive and 19/24 in all-wheel drive. The good thing — the turbocharged engine does not require premium gas. Both engines are mated to six-speed automatic transmissions.

In driving at high altitudes and on flat land, we found the 2.0-liter turbo responsive in all driving conditions. It's especially quick off the line and handles passing and merging chores with the best in the segment.

The Santa Fe Sport has an all-new Driver Selectable Steering Mode with three settings: comfort, normal and sport. We couldn't detect much difference in steering feel, especially between normal and sport, with decent, but not exactly precise road feel either way. It handles the corners as well as most crossovers with no tippy feeling, and the ride is smooth.

What may sell the new Hyundai more than the competent powertrains and the satisfying driving dynamics are its styling, both inside and out. The new Santa Fe Sport is a luscious package of modern design done very well.

The vehicle is the latest incarnation of what Hyundai refers to as “Fluidic Sculpture,” a process that gives the illusion of constant motion. LED headlight accents, a low stance, rising beltline, roof spoiler, wraparound taillights and the familial hexagonal grille are cues that scream out, “Hey! I’m a Hyundai.”

Inside the Sport you’ll find yourself housed in elegant, classy surroundings. The instrument cluster and bright panel lighting are among the more driver-friendly displays in the industry. There’s plenty of front-seat storage space with a large center console, intuitive HVAC center stack, a choice of audio systems and an available third-generation navigation system with an eight-inch touch screen and rearview camera.

Leather seating surfaces rival those of European luxury vehicles and the seats hold their occupants firmly and comfortably.

The second-row seating is adult-passenger friendly with decent leg and head room. The seats slide fore and aft and recline for long-distance comfort. And you can gain an open, airy feeling if you opt for the panoramic sunroof. Luggage space, while not as generous as some competitors, is ample at 35.4 cubic feet.

Hyundai has loaded the Santa Fe Sport with a generous array of standard equipment including 17-inch alloy wheels, a rear spoiler, cruise control, full power accessories, air conditioning, a tilt-telescoping steering wheel, 40/20/40 rear folding seats, Bluetooth connectivity, and a six-speaker audio system with CD player and satellite radio for a starting price of $25,275. All-wheel drive adds $1,750. The 2.0 Turbo starts at $28,525.

Safety is well covered with antilock brakes, traction and stability control, a full array of airbags, front-seat active head restraints, and hill hold and hill descent control. Also standard is Blue Link, Hyundai's emergency telematics system that provides such services as remote access, emergency assistance, and theft recovery.

Our well equipped 2.0 Turbo with AWD test vehicle with several options including the panoramic sunroof, navigation, 550-watt 12-speaker Infinity Logic audio system, and heated steering wheel carried a bottom line of $35,925.

We were impressed with the new Santa Fe Sport and came away feeling it was the equal to such vaunted competitors as the Honda CR-V, Ford Escape and Toyota RAV4.

Essentials
Base price: $25,275; as driven, $35,925
Engine: 2.0-liter turbocharged four
Horsepower: 264 @ 6,000 rpm
Torque: 269 foot-pounds @ 1,750 rpm
Drive: all-wheel
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Seating: 2/3
Wheelbase: 106.3 inches
Length: 184.6 inches
Curb weight: 3,706 pounds
Turning circle: 35.8 feet
Luggage Capacity: 35.4 cubic feet
Cargo capacity: 71.5 cubic feet
Towing capacity: 3,500 pounds
Fuel capacity: 17.4 gallons (regular)
EPA rating: 24 highway, 19 city
0-60: 9.1 seconds (Motor Trend)
Also consider: Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Ford Escape

The Good
• Quiet, stylish, comfortable interior
• Responsive 4-cylinder engines
• Long warranty

The Bad
• Power liftgate not available

The Ugly
• Options can send price soaring