Hyundai Santa Fe 2007

By René Gervais

What a beautiful recast!
Forging ahead with the new plan, the car maker Hyundai is well on the way to reaching its goal of replacing the entire line of vehicles in record time. Now, the Santa Fe gets an entire makeover. Personally, I found the older model a little iffy in the style department but the new vintage has such cleaner lines that it hardly seems part of the same family. The same can be said for the dashboard which used to be an example of what not to do. However, I’m speaking in general terms about Korean products; the former version remains a good vehicle.

Green light

• refined styling and pure lines
• assembly quality thanks to a solidified platform
• bigger than before
• balanced handling
• more revamped motor choices
• car like driving feel
• plenty of safety features
• bluish dashboard coupled with an ACL ventilation controls screen
• choice between all-wheel drive and front-wheel drive

Red light

• disappearance of the 4 cylinder engine
• sudden dashboard cracking sound
• third row seating more theoretical than real
• long term dependability unknown