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2012 Hyundai Santa Fe

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

Overview

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2012 Hyundai Santa Fe Review

By KBB.com Editors

KBB Expert Rating: 6.2

The Hyundai Santa Fe started life as a low-cost but well-equipped alternative to more-popular compact SUVs. Over time, the Santa Fe has grown in size and price, but its initial mission remains the same. The 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe compact SUV isn't so compact anymore. Its previous quirky styling has been replaced with a much more cohesive and upscale look. Made for tackling urban commutes as opposed to off-road jaunts, the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe is an excellent vehicle for fetching the kids from soccer practice, hauling back antiques from weekend shopping expeditions, or escaping to a snowy mountain ski resort for a weekend's worth of fun. Although the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe SUV does not offer a third-row seat, its long list of standard and available features, good fuel economy, and outstanding 10-year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty makes it worthy of serious consideration by compact SUV shoppers.

You'll Like This Car If...

If you know how to pinch a penny, you'll appreciate all the good features Hyundai puts into the 2012 Santa Fe while keeping it one of the most affordable compact SUVs.

You May Not Like This Car If...

If you need the added utility of a third-row seat, eliminate the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe from your shopping list. Also, those looking for newer or more edgy styling should look to the Chevy Equinox or the Honda CR-V.

KBB Expert Ratings

Overall Rating

6.2
Driving Dynamics

5.6
Comfort & Convenience

6.4
Design: Interior & Exterior

6.0
Value

6.8
Safety

6.0

How It Ranks

#22

out of 42

MPG

#18

out of 42

Horsepower

View all rankings

Consumer Rating

8.9 out of 10

View all
consumer ratings

2012 Hyundai Santa Fe Low/wide front photo

What's New for 2012

For 2012, the Santa Fe receives only minor changes. These include a new grille, some new color choices and the addition of Downhill Brake Control (DBC) on all models.

Driving the Santa Fe

2012 Hyundai Santa Fe Front angle view photo

Driving Impressions For such a tall vehicle, the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe SUV delivers a smooth and confident ride, with minimal lean and roll during hard cornering. Even when pushed into emergency...

like maneuvers, the standard (and government-mandated) electronic stability control kicks in to keep things from getting ugly on wet or slippery pavement. It's easy to find a comfortable driving position in the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe SUV, although our front passenger complained about the rather flat seat bottom that, unlike on the driver's seat, cannot be angled upwards. With the exception of some wind noise in the front and road noise from the rear, the cabin remains fairly quiet at freeway speeds.

Favorite Features

3.5-liter V6 Engine
Not only does the 2012 Santa Fe SUV's 276-horsepower, 3.5-liter V6 deliver 100-plus more horsepower than the 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine, it also offers similar fuel economy.

Standard Features
One way Hyundai is muscling its way onto the shopping lists of long-time Toyota and Honda buyers is by offering a long list of standard features on its vehicles. The 2012 Santa Fe's long list of standards is enough to cause many to switch loyalties.

2012 Hyundai Santa Fe Details

2012 Hyundai Santa Fe Dashboard, center console, gear shifter view photo

Interior

The 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe is full of high-quality plastics artfully blended with faux wood and, on some models, contrasting lower dash and door panels. The Santa Fe's instruments are neatly arranged under a hooded covering. Heating and audio controls are clustered together one atop the other and are easy to see, reach and operate. At night, the entire panel glows with blue backlighting, which produces mixed results: It makes the instruments easy to read after nightfall, but harder to see at dusk. Behind its roomy rear seat is 34.2-cubic-feet of cargo space. If you need more room, the 60/40 split folding second-row seats can be folded flat, creating 78.2 cubic-feet of level storage space.

Exterior

The Santa Fe compact SUV is a very different creature than the first vehicle to wear the Santa Fe name. Quirky lines and odd-looking grilles have given way to clean flowing lines, flush-mounted headlamps and taillights, and handsome alloy wheels. You won't find any tacked on body cladding on the 2012 Santa Fe. Unlike some smaller SUVs, it makes no pretense of being an off-road vehicle. A wide track helps give the Santa Fe a more substantial look that, from a distance, might easily be mistaken for a small Lexus SUV.

Notable Equipment

Standard Equipment

One way Hyundai is muscling its way onto the shopping lists of long-time Toyota and Honda buyers is by offering a long list of standard features on its vehicles. The 2012 Santa Fe's long list of standards is enough to cause many to switch loyalties.

Optional Equipment

Most popular options can be grouped together in packages that vary depending upon trim level. All-wheel drive (AWD) is available for all Santa Fe models. Other options include heated front seats, a power outlet in the cargo area, 360-watt premium audio system, a power sunroof and a navigation system with a 6.5-inch screen and rearview camera.

Under the Hood

Hyundai offers two engines for the 2012 Santa Fe SUV: a 175-horsepower 2.4-liter 4-cylinder or a 276-horsepower 3.5-liter V6. The 4-cylinder is standard on the GLS and Limited models, while the V6 is standard on the SE and optional on the Limited. Both engines are paired to 6-speed transmissions. The 4-cylinder is more than just acceptable, but the V6 delivers substantially more power and roughly comparable fuel economy.

2.4-liter in-line 4
175 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
169 lb-ft of torque @ 3,750 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 19/26 (2WD, manual), 20/28 (2WD, automatic), 20/25 (AWD, automatic)

3.5-liter V6
276 horsepower @ 6,300 rpm
248 lb-ft of torque @ 5,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 20/26 (2WD), 20/26 (AWD)

Pricing Notes

For 2012, the base Santa Fe GLS has a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of around $24,000, while all-wheel drive (AWD) and an automatic transmission bump that closer to $26,000. The mid-range SE model starts at about $27,000, and a fully-loaded Limited tops out around $34,000. Before you buy, be sure to check the Santa Fe's Fair Purchase Price on kbb.com to see what it is typically selling for in your area. While pricing is close to that of a Toyota RAV4 or Honda CR-V, the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe's resale values fall far below its Japanese competitors. The Santa Fe does, however, hold stronger resale values than the Suzuki Grand Vitara and Mitsubishi Outlander.

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2012 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