Sitting in the office on our regular car-swap day, it turned out a manufacturer hadn't received a vehicle back in time from a previous booking. For a while it looked like I'd be catching the bus home, writing off (no pun intended) a day of productivity in the meantime.
Thankfully our road test editor had a solution, sliding a Hyundai key across the desk.
Even five years ago, there'd be some readers thinking, "I'd rather take the bus". But the fact is that today's Hyundai is an efficient, comfortable, reliable and feature-packed vehicle almost without exception, making them a pleasure to drive and to live with.
The Santa Fe Highlander CRDi has already been introduced, and impressed, the combination of upgraded features and after-sales, along with localised suspension tuning, further concreting the Santa Fe in place as one of the best soft-roaders on the market. In essence, Hyundai today is about far more than value.
As with the past review, the Santa Fe piled on the kilometres over an Australian summer, accommodating a child seat that was well protected from sun glare by the ingenious built-in side window blinds. Other keys to the Santa Fe experience included the ease of access, with electrical driver's seat pivoting from a set-back position to the spot you last left it once you turned the ignition, and the smooth operation of the electric tailgate. There's abundant room, too, with the third-row seats folding flat adding another layer of spacious ease.
Occupants were also impressed by the cooling effect the front pews offered (heating can also be used), though the quality of the seat material lacked premium feel. It was soft enough, but felt almost vinyl to the touch. Likewise the plastics fitted throughout, though durable and well-fitted, lacked the extra pizazz you may expect from a top-of-the-line model. The materials used were easy enough to clean up after a week in and around the coast, though the plastics used around the lower inner door sections scuffed up quite easily, and the heating/ventilation seat holes swallowed the occasional grain of sand.
On-road the locally-developed set-up proved capable, offering reasonably flat cornering for a vehicle of this type, with responsive steering (though light on feel) in the default mode (sport adds an artificially heavy weighting).
Where the Santa Fe was less impressive was on the corrugated gravel roads that adorn sections of the Mornington Peninsula. It started with a low-speed jolt over a shopping centre speed hump which was initially dismissed; perhaps I'd approached it too quickly? Later, winding between potholes and brake-zone lumps and bumps, the Santa Fe thumped over – rather than breathed with – the road. It felt like a classic case of compromise, favouring on-road dynamics (and rightly so… how many Santa Fes would be seen traversing a river, for example?) over off-road ability. Perhaps the 19-inch alloy wheels on this Highlander specification – with 55-profile, 235-section tyres – also contribute to this sense of firmness.
Once up to speed the diesel engine was quite refined, as well as smooth and punchy, with little intrusive engine noise at highway speeds. Criticism did arise from the combined six-speed torque converter automatic and turbocharger response lag, and though the slushbox is smooth and intelligent, the engine deserves at least another ratio to maximise efficiency. Through the course of my time with the Santa Fe, it returned 9.2L/100km against the manufacturer's claim of 7.3.
The Hyundai Santa Fe Highlander endeared itself to the family during its time with us, and it maintains its position at the top of my personal "Which SUV would you buy for $50,000?" list.
What we liked: | Not so much: |
>> Value for money | >> No quite Euro quality |
>> Unbeatable aftersales support | >> Firmer off-tarmac ride |
>> Local suspension tune on-tarmac | >> Six-speed auto feels passé |
Also consider:
>> Ford Territory (from $36,990 plus ORCs)
>> Kia Sorento (from $38,990 plus ORCs)
>> Toyota Kluger (from $40,990 plus ORCs)
Related reading:
>> Hyundai Santa Fe Long-Term Test (Introduction)
>> Hyundai Santa Fe Long-Term Test (Update #1)
>> Hyundai Santa Fe Long-Term Test (Update #2)