Used 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport

With its improved styling and greater feature content, Hyundai’s 2017 Santa Fe Sport compact SUV continues to show up newer rivals such as the Honda CR-V, Ford Edge and Subaru Forester. While each of the aforementioned vehicles bests the Santa Fe Sport in the areas of fuel economy, only the Ford and Subaru can match its turbocharged engine option. The Santa Fe Sport also offers a number of features you won’t find on most other small SUVs, such as ventilated front seats and a power liftgate that automatically activates. If power and fuel economy are less important than comfort, safety and style, the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport remains a very viable option.

While most compact SUVs are more than competent, when it comes to the fun-to-drive factor, only a handful can match the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. Equipped with the base 2.4-liter engine, the Santa Fe is the equal of Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V, but it is the 240-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged engine option that brings the Santa Fe Sport to life. A stiff structure and sport-tuned suspension deliver a ride that is firm but not punishing, smooth over most surfaces and quite responsive in the turns. Models equipped with all-wheel drive have the added benefit of Hyundai’s Active Cornering Control that improves traction and stability by using torque vectoring to route power to wheels with the best grip. Standard Drive Mode Select features settings for Normal, Eco and Sport, allowing the driver to choose the amount of assist provided by the power-steering unit. The system also adjusts throttle response.

The 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport crossover SUV proves that you don’t have to sacrifice user friendliness to have a contemporary interior design. All the controls inside are easy to reach and understand, and everything is constructed with care and high-quality materials. It’s also practical, with stain-resistant Yes Essentials fabric or available leather, and a rear bench seat that folds in a 40/20/40 split and is also available with 5.2 inches of fore-and-aft travel and a recline function as part of an option package. Behind the seats is a good-sized cargo space, making the Santa Fe Sport exceptionally flexible.

Hyundai gave the compact 2017 Santa Fe Sport SUV a new grille with brush-look inserts, emphasizing the "Sport" part of the name. The sleek crossover SUV also has daytime running lights as standard, while around back changes include new taillights and a twin-paired dual exhaust. We like the sharply styled design, with impressive details merging with aerodynamic efficiency that include hidden underbody fairings. Standard equipment on the Sport are 17-inch alloy wheels with 235/65R17 tires, while the Sport 2.0T has 18-inch alloys with 235/60R18 tires as standard and 19-inch alloys with 235/55R19 tires optionally available.

2.0-LITER TURBOCHARGED ENGINE
Hyundai’s Santa Fe Sport compact SUV for 2017 offers an available 2.0-liter turbocharged engine good for 240 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. Mated to a responsive 6-speed automatic with manual-shift control, this engine provides a boost over the base engine in the areas of passing, towing and acceleration.

HANDS-FREE SMART LIFTGATE WITH AUTO OPEN
The 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport’s optional power rear liftgate doesn’t require you to balance on one foot while furiously waving the other to activate the liftgate. Simply approach the vehicle with the fob on your person and the hatch magically opens.

Hyundai’s Santa Fe Sport for 2017 includes a driver’s-side blind-spot mirror and auto up/down passenger window, air conditioning, cruise control, tilt/telescoping steering column, steering-wheel-mounted controls, Drive Mode Select, remote keyless entry, heated mirrors, a 6-speaker audio system that includes 5-inch-color LCD display with rearview monitor, USB and auxiliary inputs and Bluetooth. Turbocharged 2.0T models get a lot more equipment standard, including most of the base model’s Popular Equipment Package, adding roof rails, fog lights, a power driver’s seat, Blue Link, heated front seats, push-button start/stop and more. Safety features include stability and traction control, and plenty of airbags.

The base 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport offers the Popular Equipment Package mentioned above, plus a Premium Package that adds leather, blind-spot detection, dual-zone automatic temperature control and other features. The Tech Package includes a panoramic sunroof, rear park assist, navigation with 8-inch touch screen and Android Auto, Infinity premium audio, Multi-View Camera, heated steering wheel, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats and a power liftgate. The Santa Fe Sport 2.0T offers the Ultimate Package, which adds 19-inch wheels and tires, HID headlights, Smart Cruise Control, Automatic Emergency Braking, Lane Departure Warning, adaptive headlights, high-beam assist and an electronic parking brake.

For 2017 the Hyundai Santa Fe Sport offers a choice of two engines. Standard on the base Sport is a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder with 185 horsepower; if that’s not enough, the 240-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged engine in the Sport 2.0T should satisfy you. Both engines benefit from modern direct-fuel injection and continuously variable-valve timing for the optimum in efficiency and power. The only transmission choice is a 6-speed automatic with a Shiftronic manual shift gate, for those who wish to shift for themselves, and is available in either front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), delivering responsive and impressive performance and fuel economy.

2.4-liter inline-4
185 horsepower @ 6,300 rpm
178 lb-ft of torque @ 4,250 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 21/27 mpg (FWD), 20/26 mpg (AWD)

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4
240 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
260 lb-ft of torque @ 1,750-3,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 20/28 mpg (FWD), 20/27 mpg (FWD, Ultimate), 19/26 mpg (AWD), 19/24 mpg (AWD, Ultimate)