Hyundai has been a player in the segment for years with the Santa Fe and with every new generation it continues to get better. The current generation Santa Fe was introduced back in 2012 and now three years later, it remains a top choice in the segment.
Are you in the market for a midsize crossover? It’s easily one of the most competitive segments, which explains why almost every automaker plays in it. Hyundai has been a player in the segment for years with the Santa Fe and with every new generation it continues to get better. The current generation Santa Fe was introduced back in 2012 and now three years later, it remains a top choice in the segment.
With the current Santa Fe, Hyundai decided to create two versions – the five-seater Santa Fe Sport and the larger six or seven passenger Santa Fe. Hyundai gave me the keys to the Santa Fe Sport for a week to see how well it competes in the segment. Back in 2012 at the launch of the Santa Fe I was impressed with Hyundai’s latest iteration of its popular midsize SUV, but would that still stand thanks to updated competition from newer rivals, like the new Ford Edge and Nissan Murano?
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Even though it’s been on the market for the past three years without any large changes, the Santa Fe Sport still looks fresh with the most aggressive exterior to ever wear a Santa Fe badge. It’s not quite as aggressive as the new Nissan Murano, but that’s not a bad thing. Inside the Santa Fe Sport has a handsome interior with high quality materials, a spacious back seat and ample cargo space.
Under the hood the Santa Fe Sport can be equipped with either a standard 190-hp naturally-aspirated 2.4L four-cylinder or a 265-hp turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder engine. My tester was equipped with the turbocharged engine and thanks to its impressive 269 lb-ft. of torque, the 2.0L engine actually makes the Santa Fe Sport fun to drive. The Santa Fe Sport 2.0t is rated at 19/27 mpg with front-wheel-drive or 18/24 mpg with the optional all-wheel-drive system. My all-wheel-drive tester averaged 20 mpg.
The twin-scroll turbocharged engine lacks the dreaded turbo lag and since its peak torque is available at a very low 1,750 rpm, the Santa Fe Sport picks up speed fast. It also helps that its six-speed automatic transmission knows when to pick the right gear. The same goes for the suspension, which keeps its composure even when the road gets a bit twisty. The turbocharged engine and suspension manage to make the Santa Fe worthy of its “Sport” badge, but unfortunately there was one let down – the steering feel. The Santa Fe Sport offers different steering settings, but even in the “Sport” setting, I wished for a bit more steering feel.
Even though the current generation Santa Fe Sport has been on the market for a few years, it’s still a top dog in the segment. It’s stylish exterior, spacious interior and available turbocharged engine are a great mix.
