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:

    Under the Hood
    A 2.7-liter V-6 engine produces 181 horsepower and teams with a four-speed-automatic transmission in the GL V-6, GLS and LX models. The automatic transmission has manual-shifting capability. Used ...

    Owner maintenance schedule
    When you stop for fuel: • Check the engine oil level. • Check coolant level in coolant reservoir. • Check the windshield washer fluid level. • Look for low or under-inflated tires. WARNING Be ca ...

    Steering gear box, linkage & boots/lower arm ball joint
    With the vehicle stopped and engine off, check for excessive free-play in the steering wheel. Check the linkage for bends or damage. Check the dust boots and ball joints for deterioration, cracks, ...