Kelley
Blue Book’s KBB.com car-research service has named the five-passenger Hyundai Santa Fe Sport among Best
SUVs under $25,000 – for the third year in a row – recognizing one of the best
values for consumers looking for an economical family friendly crossover.
The Santa Fe Sport was chosen,
KBB.com said, for its “Blue Link capabilities, stylish exterior design,
panoramic sunroof, heated seats and Hyundai’s renowned warranty.”
“In
2014, compact SUVs became the best-selling vehicle category in the country and
the Santa Fe family took advantage of this with sales up 21 percent,” said Mike
O’Brien, vice president of corporate and product planning at Hyundai Motor America.
“With
high consumer demand of compact SUVs continuing this year, the Santa Fe Sport stands out for
its class-leading design, outstanding quality, great utility and advanced
technologies like BlueLink – all raising the driving experience for its
owners,” he said.
Hyundai
made some tweaks to the Santa
Fe Sport for 2015, including steering enhancements and the addition of more
standard features.
The
automaker says the Sport’s new electric power steering system is designed to
“deliver a superior steering feel, and also features a retuned Sport setting
that is supported by an updated 32-bit microprocessor.”
Also
new is Hyundai’s Power
Hands-Free Liftgate with Auto Open, which is a great help when approaching the
cargo area with a load of groceries in your arms.
Two
years ago, the Santa
Fe midsize crossover entered its third generation, coming this time in two
versions: the five-passenger Sport, and a long-wheelbase version, called just
the Santa Fe, with seating for up to seven.
The
Sport models are smaller, lighter and less-expensive, ranging from $24,950 for
the base front-drive model with a naturally aspirated 2.4-liter four-cylinder
engine (190 horsepower) to $33,000 for the top-of-the-line 2.0-liter turbo
four-cylinder all-wheel drive with (264 horsepower).
The
longer Santa Fe
is offered in two versions: the base GLS model, and the uplevel Limited, which
we tested for this report. Front-wheel drive is standard and was included on
our tester, but both models are available with all-wheel drive.
For
2015, long-wheelbase Santa Fe
Prices begin at $30,150 for the GLS front-drive, and $31,900 for the GLS
all-wheel drive.
The
2015 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport comes with
room for up to five people; there also is a long-wheelbase version called
simply the Santa Fe, which can seat up to seven passengers.
The
2015 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport comes with room for up to five people; there also
is a long-wheelbase version called simply the Santa Fe, which can seat up to
seven passengers.
Limited
models start at $34,250 for the front-drive, and $36,000 for all-wheel drive.
Also available for the same prices are Limited front- and all-wheel-drive
models with a special Saddle interior color.
Long-wheelbase
models come only with a 3.3-liter V-6, which cranks out an impressive 290
horsepower and 252 foot-pounds of torque. All Santa Fe models, short and long,
have a six-speed automatic transmission.
EPA
ratings for the V-6 are 18 mpg city/25 highway/21 combined with front drive,
and 18/24/20 with all-wheel drive.
The
Santa Fe’s exterior styling was created using Hyundai’s “Fluidic Sculpture”
design theme, which has been showing up on newer models throughout the line to
give all Hyundai models a similar, distinctive appearance.
It’s
intended to invoke the feel of “irrepressible motion through a new design
concept called Storm Edge, which captures the strong and dynamic images created
by nature during the formation of a storm,” Hyundai says
To
create “the illusion of constant motion,” the designers used a three-bar
hexagonal grille, LED headlight accents, a low stance with a rising beltline, a
roof spoiler and special wraparound taillights, the automaker said.
Standard
are 18-inch alloy wheels, and the rear end is squared off more than that of the
shorter Sport version, specifically to allow for more room in the third row,
and more cargo space behind the third seat. Also included are dual chrome
exhaust outlets and a flush-mounted tow hitch.
It’s a
pleasing design, and it even carries over into the well-appointed interior,
which looks more like that of a luxury crossover.
Standard
on the GLS is seven-passenger seating, with two front bucket seats, a
three-person middle bench seat, and a two-person third-row seat. But the
Limited model also is offered with six-passenger seating, using two captain’s
chairs in the middle row rather than the bench.
There
is just 13.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third seat, but that expands
to 41 cubic feet with the third seat folded. The rear hatch lifts up in one
piece, and is power operated on the Limited.
This
vehicle isn’t intended for serious off-road driving when it has the optional
all-wheel drive. But it is capable of handling fairly tame unpaved forest and
park roads. The on-demand automatic all-wheel drive includes Active Cornering
Control, which Hyundai says “cooperatively controls engine torque and braking
in conjunction with the Vehicle Stability Management System.”
All
Santa Fe models come with Hyundai’s Hill-Start Assist Control and Downhill Brake
Control, which help negotiate steep hills.
Standard
safety features include antilock brakes, front seat-mounted side air bags,
side-curtain air bags for all three rows, driver’s knee air bag, electronic
stability control, traction control, and tire-pressure monitoring.
The
climate-control system includes an automatic defogging system, designed to
detect humidity in the cabin and keep the windshield clear. It also features
the CleanAir Ionizer, which filters the air when the heater or air conditioner
is on.
With
the V-6, the Santa Fe can tow trailers weighing a maximum of 3,500 pounds.
No comments:
Post a Comment