Comfort and function

The interior is comfortable, and it comes with a slew of features. Hyundai's use of blue backlighting on everything from the instrument panel to the cup holders makes the cabin extremely appealing.

There's also plenty of room inside, which is why so many crossovers are so popular. You can carry five people very comfortably as well as all of their stuff in the easy-to-load cargo area.

There are also all the luxury features so many people want, such as navigation, backup camera and Bluetooth connectivity. For this model year, Hyundai also added an optional 605-watt Infinity Logic 7 Surround Sound stereo system; it's excellent.

This vehicle, however, needs a good stereo because it's incredibly noisy on the road. Road and wind noise fill the cabin. One unscientific test I use on a vehicle is to count how many times I adjust the volume on my commute to work. A perfect score would be zero adjustments, simply playing the stereo from the last time I drove it. The Santa Fe scored an 8.

    See also:

    INFINITY® AUDIO SYSTEM
    Audio enthusiasts with even more demanding tastes will be impressed by the AM/FM/XM/CD/MP3 audio system with touch-screen navigation that includes a 400-watt external amplifier, dedicated Dual Voi ...

    Emission Control System
    Your Hyundai is equipped with an emission control system to meet all requirements of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or California Air Resources Board. There are three emission control sys ...

    Air conditioning system operation tips
    • If the vehicle has been parked in direct sunlight during hot weather, open the windows for a short time to let the hot air inside the vehicle escape. • To help reduce moisture inside of the windo ...