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The 40 mpg Cars of 2013

2009 Hyundai Santa Fe

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

Overview

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2009 Hyundai Santa Fe Review

By KBB.com Editors

The Hyundai Santa Fe is a unibody SUV made for tackling the urban jungle, not the rain-forest jungle. Since its introduction in 2000, almost half a million have been sold. The Santa Fe is right at home running the kids to soccer practice (made easier with the optional third-row seat), hauling groceries from the supermarket 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 2009 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 2009 Hyundai 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 resale values of the Japanese brands, the Hyundai Santa Fe may not be for you.

What's New for 2009

For 2009, all Santa Fe trims receive improved audio systems with USB/iPod inputs, while the SE Touring adds a power driver's seat and Homelink.

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 helps 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 some torque steer under harder acceleration. 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 possible passenger count to seven and are usable, not just for pets and briefcases. Children sitting in the third row will be comfortable and the occasional adult should have enough room to ride without complaint.

LG Navigation
Available on Limited trims with Touring Package, this navigation unit fits nicely with the Limited's upscale interior and its voice guidance feature makes map reading a thing of the past.

2009 Hyundai Santa Fe Details

Interior

The Santa Fe's 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 available only through one side of the vehicle, as the driver's side second-row seat does not flip forward to allow access. A Santa Fe without the third-row seat will have 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 very difficult.

Exterior

Hyundai showed good taste in moving away from the overly busy appearance of the first-generation Santa Fe. The newest version features a much simpler approach, with design elements that are tasteful and purposeful. Body cladding is gone, replaced by smooth sheetmetal flowing into color-keyed bumpers. With its wide track, the Santa Fe has a much stronger stance.

Notable Equipment

Standard Equipment

The 2009 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 trim levels 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 depending upon 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 and a power sunroof. A rear-seat entertainment system is available for SE and Limited models, and includes a DVD player with an eight-inch screen and wireless headsets. Unique to the Limited is the Touring Package with LG navigation, which will be available as a stand-alone option later in the model year.

Under the Hood

Hyundai offers two V6 engines for the Santa Fe. The 2.7-liter V6 in the GLS model is paired with a five-speed manual transmission or a four-speed automatic. SE and Limited models get the 3.3-liter V6 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, gas mileage comparable to that of the 2.7-liter engine and other goodies, including 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: 17/24 (2WD, manual), 17/23 (AWD, manual), 18/24 (2WD, automatic), 17/23 (AWD, automatic)

3.3-liter V6
242 horsepower @ 6000 rpm
226 lb.-ft. of torque @ 4500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 17/24

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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2009 Hyundai Santa Fe Consumer Reviews

Overall Rating

8.9

Out of 10

Based on 450 Ratings for the 2007 - 2012 models.

Review this car

Value

9.2/10

Quality

9.0/10
Reliability

9.2/10

Performance

9.0/10
Comfort

9.1/10

Styling

9.2/10

Fantastic Value

By Timbo (MI) on Saturday, June 15, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 5,000

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: Not Rated
Quality: 9/10
Performance: 9/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "Value, Price, Cargo area"

Cons: "Haven't found one yet"

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

"I just purchased a NEW 2012 Limited from a local dealer at a fantastic price! I love this car. It looks great and is a pleasure drive. Around town mileage is in the 22-24 mpg range so far. I drove several of competitors in the class (including top-ranked Equinox and Mazda CX-5). Far as I'm concerned, nothing else compared to this - GREAT VALUE! And I hear the 2013 is quite an improvement over the 2012..."

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Overall, very good. Better than previous cars.

By Suzee (WI) on Tuesday, June 11, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 17,549

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 9/10
Reliability: 9/10
Quality: 9/10
Performance: 9/10
Styling: 9/10
Comfort: 8/10

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 9

"Love the look, style; family loves it too. BAD gas mileage though it's what was est. No highway, 99% city driving. VERY EXPENSIVE regular ckups: 30,000 mi. = $560.!!! Handles great at all times. Cruise control on wheel NOT good; goes on often when thumb accidentally touches button."

1 person out of 1 found this review helpful

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Best car I've ever had!

By Sleepy (VA) on Tuesday, June 04, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 24,000

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: 9/10
Styling: 9/10
Comfort: 9/10

Pros: "Roomy, comfortable, very good on gas"

Cons: "sharp cutoff on low beam headlights"

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

"The Hyundai Santa Fe is, without a doubt, the best car I've ever had, and I WILL trade for another when the present lease is up. The dealership has been outstanding, providing excellent service in a timely manner every time. I get an average of 26 mpg, with highway mileage usually around 30 mpg. The car is comfortable, affordable to drive and exceedingly stable in all weather and road conditions. Dollar for dollar, the Hyundai Santa Fe is very probably the best value on the road today."

1 person out of 1 found this review helpful

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HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA- CUSTOMER SERVICE EXPERIENCE

By Linksliving (VA) on Saturday, June 01, 2013

I own this car

10 4.0

overall rating 4 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

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

Cons: "My poor customer service experience from HMA"

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

"I own both a 2009 and 2007 Santa Fe LImited. In the past I have received some recall notices for these vehicles. The most recent recall notice (received April 2013) pertained to the need to replace the defective stop lamp switch in the 2007-2011 Santa Fe models. Despite paying for a replacement stop lamp switch at a Hyundai dealership for my 2007 about 4 weeks before receiving HMA's recall notice for this item, HMA would not reimburse me for this repair. Prior to this repair, for a short period my daughter unknowingly drove around the city and highway with no brake lights (due to the defective stop lamp switch). Because of HMA's poor customer service with me, I wil never purchase a Hyundai again and will advise others about my poor experience with HMA."

2 people out of 3 found this review helpful

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Versatile and good looking!

By The Robyn (AL) on Wednesday, May 29, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 45,000

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

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

Pros: "Affordable, good looking, versatile, comfortable"

Cons: "Can't think of anything"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 9

"We traded a 2009 BMW 535i in on our 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe. We love the way the Santa Fe looks, drives and handles cargo. The interior is sleek, the ride is comfortable, and we love the way it fits our lifestyle. The cargo area has a compartment underneath for extra storage, and the rear seats fold down for even more room. We didn't want a bunch of silly options that nobody uses, and the Santa Fe comes with just the right amount. The instrument panel is well laid out and the blue lights are very pleasant when driving at night. The seats are comfy, the sound system is pretty good, and this SUV is fun to drive. We are extremely pleased with this vehicle!"

2 people out of 2 found this review helpful

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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."

3 people out of 4 found this review helpful

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See all 450 reviews