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The 40 mpg Cars of 2013

2007 Hyundai Santa Fe

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Curious about the newer model? Check out the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe

Overview

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2007 Hyundai Santa Fe Review

By KBB.com Editors

The Hyundai Santa Fe is a unibody SUV made for tackling the urban jungle, not braving the actual jungle. Since its introduction in 2000, more than 440,000 have been sold. The Santa Fe is right at home running the kids to soccer practice (made easier with the new optional third-row seat), hauling groceries from the super market or heading to the mountains for the weekend. Combining attributes like a higher seating position, roomy interior, rugged good looks, a long list of standard equipment, a good warranty (10 year/100,000 mile powertrain) and a reasonable price, the Hyundai Santa Fe provides good value in the mid-size SUV category.

You'll Like This Car If...

If getting the most for your money matters, the Santa Fe might be the SUV for you. The Korean manufacturers have improved quality over the years but still have to entice buyers with good value and an excellent warranty—the Santa Fe has both.

You May Not Like This Car If...

Many people remember the cheap economy cars Hyundai sold in America starting in 1986. If you are looking to buy an SUV with the cache of the Japanese brands, the Hyundai Santa Fe may not be the car for you.

What's Significant About This Car?

For 2007 the mid-size Santa Fe SUV adds an optional third-row seat. Gone is the swooshy design of the previous Santa Fe, replaced with a cleaner more masculine appearance. Hyundai also adds Electronic Stability Control and six airbags to the list of standard equipment.

Driving the Santa Fe

Driving Impressions The Santa Fe rides smoothly and inspires confidence while cornering thanks to its responsive steering and well controlled body lean. Standard Electronic Stability Control keeps the vehicle under control during...

evasive maneuvers and is especially reassuring when driving in slippery conditions. Also standard is a tilt and telescoping steering wheel which makes it easy to find the perfect driving position. With the exception of some wind noise in the front and road noise from the rear, the cabin remains fairly quiet at freeway speeds. Acceleration with the 3.3-liter V6 is decent but is unfortunately plagued by torque steer. The Shiftronic automatic transmission responds quickly to manual gear selections making driving on curvy roads an almost sporty experience.

Favorite Features

Third-Row Seating
The optional back seats in the Santa Fe boost the passenger count to seven and are usable, not just a token add on. Children sitting in the third row will be comfortable and the occasional adult should have enough room to ride without complaint.

New Styling
The styling of the previous Santa Fe seemed a bit dated for some tastes. The new model looks classier with smoother accent lines and less body cladding, resulting in a simpler more mainstream appearance. It's a sleek, handsome package with a confident stance.

2007 Hyundai Santa Fe Details

Interior

The interior conveys a feeling of quality thanks to sturdy plastics and low gloss surfaces. The instrumentation is neatly laid out, easy to operate and at night glows with pleasant blue backlighting. The optional 50/50 split third-row seat is comfortable for children but also acceptable for adults over short distances. Unfortunately, entry to the third row is only available through one side of the vehicle as the driver's side second row seat does not flip forward to allow access. Santa Fe's ordered without the third row seat get a hidden storage compartment instead. The second row seats can be reclined; however the levers are placed on top of the seats, making adjustment while sitting nearly impossible.

Exterior

Hyundai showed good taste in moving away from the overly busy appearance of the previous Santa Fe. Where the outgoing model's lines and creases seemed like design for design's sake, the new model takes a much simpler approach. The design elements are tasteful and purposeful. The body cladding is gone and the bumpers are now color keyed contributing to a cleaner, sleeker look. With its wider track, the Santa Fe now has a much stronger stance. In a nod to the previous generation Santa Fe, the asymmetrical hatch release on the tailgate is carried over to the 2007 model.

Notable Equipment

Standard Equipment

The Hyundai Santa Fe offers high value, as reflected by its standard equipment list which includes air conditioning, cruise control, a roof rack, dual exhaust, power windows, power door locks, power mirrors, and a six speaker MP3-compatible CD player. To enhance safety all Santa Fe's include four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes (ABS), electronic stability control (ESP), traction control, front and side airbags for the driver and front passenger, side-curtain airbags that protect all three rows, and active front head restraints.

Optional Equipment

Most popular options can be grouped together in packages that vary dependent on trim level. All-wheel drive is available for all Santa Fe models. Other options include third-row seating with third-row auxiliary climate control, heated front seats, steering wheel audio controls, a power outlet in the cargo area, heated front seats and power sunroof. A rear-seat entertainment system is available for SE and Limited models which include a DVD player with an eight-inch screen and wireless headsets. A 605-watt Infinity audio system is available for the Limited.

Under the Hood

Hyundai offers two V6 engines for the Santa Fe. The 2.7 liter in the GLS model comes paired with a five-speed manual transmission or a four-speed automatic. SE and Limited models get the 3.3 liter and a five-speed automatic. The extra $1,500 to move from the automatic-equipped GLS to the SE with its 3.3-liter engine is pretty reasonable considering you get 57 extra horsepower, comparable gas mileage to the 2.7-liter engine and other goodies like 18-inch wheels and fog lights.

2.7-liter V6
185 horsepower @ 6000 rpm
183 lb.-ft. of torque @ 4000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 20/25 (FWD manual), 20/25 (AWD manual), 21/26 (2WD automatic), 19/25 (AWD automatic)

3.3-liter V6
242 horsepower @ 6000 rpm
226 lb.-ft. of torque @ 4500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 19/24 (FWD), 19/24 (AWD)

To compare current market prices, check out KBB.com's car classifieds to view the new and used Hyundai Santa Fe vehicles for sale near you.

Trading in or Selling? Know where you stand with the most up-to-date Kelley Blue Book Value at your fingertips. See your car's value

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2007 Hyundai Santa Fe Consumer Reviews

Overall Rating

8.9

Out of 10

Based on 445 Ratings for the 2007 - 2012 models.

Review this car

Value

9.2/10

Quality

9.0/10
Reliability

9.3/10

Performance

9.0/10
Comfort

9.1/10

Styling

9.2/10

Bought it new. Don't like it.

By frankie (AZ) on Monday, May 06, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 66,000

10 5.0

overall rating 5 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 5/10
Value: 3/10
Reliability: 4/10
Quality: 5/10
Performance: 4/10
Styling: 6/10
Comfort: 6/10

Pros: "Good ride hight and size"

Cons: "Read my review."

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 1

"Sorry i bought it. Chews up tires even after alignments and balancing.Very loud tire noise. Horrible M.P.G. with the V6.(18-19 mpg on the highway). Going on my third set of tires, after 66,000 miles."

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great ride

By ds (OR) on Friday, April 19, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 60,000

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"reliable, great value, drives great. Very happy with purchase. Very durable and drives well off-road as well. Highly recommend"

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Great car.

By Phil (TX) on Friday, April 05, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 27,800

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 9/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "good price, economical, easy/fun to drive"

Cons: "non yet"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"When we bought this car, I was driving 65 miles a day back and forth to work. The car is very comfortable, roomy and economical. When we go to replace this car, we will definitely look for another Santa Fe. By the way, we really like the dealer,and their quality of service."

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LOVED THIS SUV!

By kbinol (IL) on Friday, March 29, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 9,440

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 9/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "excellent value, great design, excellent safety"

Cons: "could use a little more leg room for taller passen"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"I loved my santa fe. Love the way it looks, drives, loved the way the interior is designed. So many extras for a base model. Feels like luxury! Unfortunately someone broadsided me a few days ago. Never gave much thought to safety features..until I walked away with a scratch on my hand after beeing spun around up in the air and being thrown into a pole. I dont think my santa fe will survive. But I am so very blessed that there are so many safety features in it. I cant wait to be in another Santa fe."

5 people out of 6 found this review helpful

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great car. reliable. comfortable. great value.

By mr rogers (FL) on Tuesday, March 26, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 43,000

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 9/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 9/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 9/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "Great price, reliable and comfortable."

Cons: "could use more cup holders and more horsepower."

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"One of the best cars I have ever owned since 1970. Only thing I have replaced on this car was a battery, tires. What more could you ask for in a car. Just wish the gas mileage was better but it's a decent sized car so the gas mileage is to be expected."

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Looks great and drives great.

By rmack (AZ) on Tuesday, March 26, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 25,000

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "Great interior features."

Cons: "None"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"I got this car new and have been very satisfied with it. The interior has very nice features and the mileage is very good for an SUV. Best car I ever owned.US car manufactures have a lot to learn about value for the dollar."

1 person out of 1 found this review helpful

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See all 445 reviews