Safety galore

Hyundai also packs the Santa Fe with lots of safety features, such as six air bags, electronic stability control, tire pressure monitoring and brake assist, which will apply maximum brake force if it detects an emergency.

All in all, the Santa Fe isn't a bad vehicle. But Hyundai has raised the bar on itself, and when you get into this vehicle, there's very little that makes you say, "Wow, I really want one of these."

Hyundai doesn't even feel like the value vehicle in this segment, which is ground the carmaker often holds over the competition. It takes $23,000 to get a base model with an automatic transmission, and the top-of-the-line model cost more than $30,000.

With so much attention being paid to compact crossovers, the expectation has become that every vehicle needs to be the very best in the bunch.

    See also:

    High-mounted rear stop light
    In addition to the lower-mounted rear stoplights on either side of the car, the high mounted rear stoplight in the center of the rear window also lights when the brakes are applied. ...

    Adjusting Seatback Angle
    To recline the seatback, lean forward to take your weight off it, then pull up on the recliner control lever at the outside edge of the seat. Now lean back until the desired seatback angle is ac ...

    Remote Trunk Lid Release
    To open the trunk lid without using the key, pull up the lid release lever. To close, lower the trunk lid, then press down on it until it locks. To be sure the trunk lid is securely fastened, ch ...