Used 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe

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, hauling groceries from the supermarket or heading to the mountains for the weekend. Combining attributes like a high 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 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe provides good value in the mid-size SUV category.

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. The Shiftronic automatic transmission responds quickly to manual gear selections, making driving on curvy roads an almost sporty experience.

The 2011 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. Behind the second-row seat is 34.2 cubic feet of cargo space, which should be ample room for luggage for five passengers.

Hyundai showed good taste in moving away from the overly busy appearance of the first-generation Santa Fe. The current version features a simple and clean approach to exterior design, with elements that are tasteful and purposeful. Thankfully, there is no body cladding and the sides feature smooth sheetmetal flowing into color-keyed bumpers. With its wide track, the Santa Fe has a strong visual stance on the road.

3.5-liter V6 Engine
Not only does the V6 deliver more than 100 horsepower more than the four-cylinder engine, it also has roughly similar EPA fuel economy ratings.

LG Navigation
Available on SE and Limited models, this navigation system’s voice guidance feature makes map reading a thing of the past.

The 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe offers high value, as reflected by its standard equipment list which includes air conditioning, cruise control, a roof rack, power windows, power door locks, heated power side mirrors, steering-wheel audio controls, a six-speaker MP3-compatible CD player and Bluetooth. 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 and active front head restraints.

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 heated front seats, a power outlet in the cargo area, a power sunroof and a navigation system with a 6.5-inch screen and rearview camera.

Hyundai offers two engines for the 2011 Santa Fe: a 2.4-liter four-cylinder or a 3.5-liter V6. The four-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 six-speed transmissions. The four-cylinder is more than just acceptable, but the V6 delivers substantially more power and roughly comparable fuel economy.

2.4-liter in-line four
175 horsepower @ 6000 rpm
169 lb.-ft. of torque @ 3750 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 19/26 (2WD, manual), 20/28 (2WD, automatic), 21/25 (AWD, automatic)

3.5-liter V6
276 horsepower @ 6300 rpm
248 lb.-ft. of torque @ 5000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 20/26