Car review: 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe
If a seven-seater family SUV is what you need but you can’t stretch your budget for a new car, a fourth-generation Hyundai Santa Fe might fit the bill.
The pick of the bunch is the top-spec Highlander diesel, which has luxurious creature comforts and safety kit that most new cars have today.
When new, the Santa Fe was best in its class for overall value, with a competitive price and large range of features. Now, at a fraction of its new-car price, it’s even better value.
Features
A fully loaded Highlander has a 10-inch infotainment screen, head-up display, wireless charging, premium audio, memory seats, automatic tailgate, parking assist, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.
The Santa Fe seems to be ageing well, with no common faults, but make sure you buy one with a good service history.
Functionality is the Santa Fe’s forte, with its seven seats laid out practically. The second-row seats are on rails, giving you a large space for cargo when required or seating for passengers.
The Santa Fe has Hyundai’s Walk-In Control switch, so at the press of a button, the second-row seats fold and move forward for rear-seat access. If your arms are full, walk up to the rear of the locked car with the keys in your pocket, stand there for five seconds and the tailgate rises.
If you need the rear seats folded to fit longer items, a button on the inside of the cargo area will move the seats forward and down.
On the road
At the heart of the Santa Fe’s drivability is the eight‑speed automatic transmission, delivering strong mid-range pull. Hyundai’s HTRAC all-wheel drive system offers four drive modes – comfort, eco, sport and smart – and a manual 50:50 lock for light off-roading.
The Santa Fe isn’t bad on fuel; expect to get about eight litres per 100km on open roads and about 10 litres per 100km in the city. In both environments the cabin is quiet and refined.
Like many soft road SUVs, the Santa Fe isn’t designed for bush bashing, although its all-wheel-drive platform and decent 185mm clearance makes it competent on the dirt, mud or gravel.
If you’re towing, the Santa Fe is easy to back up to a trailer. When reversing, the rear camera allows pinpoint accuracy when lining up the hitch.
Final word
The 2019 Santa Fe Highlander diesel is the great Aussie family all‑rounder, and as a used car, it’s excellent value to buy and run. It’s functional and offers a touch of luxury, loads of safety, on-road drivability and some off-road capability.
| Specs | |
|---|---|
| Price (when new) | $62,185 (before on-road costs) |
| Price (used) | $29,000 to $35,450 |
| ANCAP safety rating | 5 stars when new; current Used Car Safety Rating of 5 stars |
| Fuel consumption | 10.6L/100km |