Going & Stopping
The Santa Fe is offered with a choice of two V-6 engines. The base GLS has a 2.7-liter V-6 while the midlevel SE and top-of-the-line Limited — the trim level I tested — feature a larger 3.3-liter V-6. A five-speed manual transmission is standard in the GLS, but a four-speed automatic is optional. The SE and Limited have a five-speed automatic. Front- and all-wheel-drive models are offered.
With the 3.3-liter V-6, the Santa Fe is swift enough to easily handle most drivers' power needs. It's a rather smooth engine, too. Whether it's accelerating hard when merging onto the highway or just making its way through traffic, the five-speed automatic transmission always seems to be in a sensible gear for conditions. Shifts are smooth, even those that occur under full-throttle acceleration. Both automatics include Hyundai's Shiftronic clutchless-manual mode that gives the driver control over gear changes.
The Santa Fe's all-disc brakes have no trouble stopping the SUV, and pedal feel is nice and natural.
See also:
Carry Emergency Equipment
Depending on the severity of the weather where you drive your car, you should
carry appropriate emergency equipment. Some of the items you may want to carry include
tire chains, tow straps or chai ...
90,000 miles (144,000 km) or 72 months
❑ Inspect vacuum hose
❑ Inspect air conditioning refrigerant
❑ Inspect brake hoses and lines
❑ Inspect drive shafts and boots
❑ Inspect electronic throttle contr ...
Exterior
Roughly the same size as Honda’s first-generation CR-V, the Santa Fe is 177.2
inches long overall and close to 66 inches tall. It rides on a 103.1-inch
wheelbase. Ford’s Escape has the same wheelb ...