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2013 Hyundai Santa Fe

Rating7.5

Ranked #7 in Compact Suv

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Starting MSRP 

$24,700 - $35,100

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Key Spec of 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe
fuel economy

21/25/29

fuel type

regular unleaded

horsepower

190 hp @ 6300 rpm

basic warranty

5 yr./ 60000 mi.

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2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Price, Review, Ratings and Pictures

Updated on: December 28, 2021

Nathan Dyer's image
Nathan Dyer 

Senior Editor

The 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe is one hell of a compact SUV that ticks all the boxes for an average user. It has now been completely redesigned and falls in a segment that has immense competition from automakers but Hyundai upped the ante in recent years with some of the most striking and feature-packed vehicles in the current market. 

2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Latest Updates

  • May' 9, 2022 : Eight Hyundai Vehicles Earn 2022 Top Safety Pick And Top Safety Pick+ Awards Read More »
  • Apr' 14, 2022 : Top 10 Most Fuel Efficient Midsize SUV In 2022 Read More »
  • Apr' 13, 2022 : Most Reliable And Fuel-Efficient Cars Of 2022 Read More »
See detailed review
ProsConsWhat's New

Eye-catchy styling

V-6 is a long-wheelbase exclusive 

Full design overhaul

Great fuel economy

Steering lacks feedback

Different models for 2-row & 3-row variants

Plenty of cargo space

New V6 

Commodious cabin

Over All Rating

7.5

Out of 10

Pricing and Features9.00
Pricing and Feature7.00
Features8.00
Engine and Performance7.60
Fuel Economy7.00
Interior6.20
Exterior6.50
Safety8.30
Competition6.00
Notable Rankings

#7 in Compact Suv

#11 in Suv

Pictures & Videos

Exterior [6]Interior [5]
2013 Hyundai Santa Fe exterior
2013 Hyundai Santa Fe exterior
2013 Hyundai Santa Fe exterior
2013 Hyundai Santa Fe exterior
2013 Hyundai Santa Fe exterior
2013 Hyundai Santa Fe exterior

Trims

Sport$24,700 onwards

  • 17-inch painted aluminum Wheels
  • 19-inch machined aluminum Wheels
  • ABS and driveline Traction control
  • Driver Lumbar support
  • Front Fog/driving lights
  • Front manual air conditioning
  • Front passengers heated-cushion
  • Heated mirrors
  • Premium cloth Seat trim
  • Remote keyless entry
Build Car

GLS$28,600 onwards

  • 18-inch silver aluminum Wheels
  • 50-50 split-bench Third row seats
  • Rear air conditioning
  • Seek-Scan Radio
  • Siriusxm AM/FM/Satellite
Build Car

Limited$33,350 onwards

  • 19-inch silver aluminum Wheels
  • 1St row LCD monitor
  • Dual zone automatic front air conditioning
  • Front Fog/driving lights
  • Front passengers heated-cushion
  • Heated mirrors
  • Leather Seat trim
  • Parking assist
Build Car

Colors and Styles

2013 Hyundai Santa Fe in Circuit Silver color
Circuit Silver

Expert Review, Pricing Analysis and Buying Guide

Talking of the market, the Santa Fe goes up against some of the best-selling crossovers namely, the Chevrolet Equinox, the Kia Sorento, and the Honda CR-V - all of which provide massive value for money in terms of cabin space, interior quality, comfort, and performance. 

Features
8.0/10

The 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe comes only in 2 trim levels and even that has been further simplified by Hyundai. The base model has a smaller engine and the 2.0T trim has the turbocharged engine. To customize these there are optional packages that can be had on any of the trims. The base trim comes with basic features like cloth upholstery, air conditioning, etc. The 2.0T trim also comes with the same music system and upholstery. The only advantage it has over the base trim is bigger wheels, better instrument cluster, and keyless entry & ignition. Buyers can customize both trims with the only exception being the engine of course.

Trim

Sport

2.0T Sport

MSRP (FWD)

$24,700

$28,000

MSRP (AWD)

N/A

$29,700

Key Features

17-inch wheels

In addition to Sport trim features with:
 

Cruise control

More powerful turbocharged engine
 

Rear spoiler

Upgraded gauge cluster
 

Trip computer

Upgraded information display
 

Air-conditioning

19-inch wheels
 

Hyundai's Blue Link telematics system

Keyless ignition and entry
 

Six-speaker audio system 

  

We Recommend

Even though for many people the base SUV would do just fine, it is always better to get a nicer vehicle if you wish to keep it for long. The 2.0T trim with all the optional packages would be our suggestion. Hyundai has, however, made it a bit complicated when it comes to packages as to have a package you must have another one installed already.

Engine and Performance
7.6/10

The 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe’s base 2.4L Inline-4 produces 190 hp & 181 lb-ft of torque. All the models come with FWD as standard and the AWD system can be had only in the 2.0T Sport trim. a 6-speed automatic transmission comes as standard. The ride quality is extremely plush and cabin noise is not present, at all, even at highway speeds. Overall, the base engine will do the job very well as a daily driver for your family.

However, the bigger 2.0L turbo engine will make things easier as it has more power and torque comes in early in the rev band for those zippy overtakes. This engine churns out 264 hp & 269 lb-ft of torque and is mated to the standard 6-speed automatic transmission. The 2013 Santa Fe also comes with a V-6 engine option on their 7-seater variants.

Models

2013 Hyundai Santa Fe

2013 Chevrolet Equinox

2013 Kia Sorento

2013 Honda CR-V

MSRP

$24,700

$24,300

$23,200

$22,800

Engine

2.4L, Naturally Aspirated, I-4

2.4L, Naturally Aspirated, I-4

2.4L, Naturally Aspirated, I-4

2.4L, Naturally Aspirated, I-4

Drivetrain

FWD

FWD

FWD

FWD

Transmission

6-speed automatic

6-speed Automatic

6-Speed Automatic

5-speed automatic

Power (hp @ RPM

190 hp @ 6,300 RPM

182 hp @ 6,700 RPM

175 hp @ 6,000 RPM

185 hp @ 7,000 RPM

Torque (lb-ft @ rpm)

181 lb-ft @ 4,250 RPM

172 lb-ft @ 4,900 RPM

169 lb-ft @ 3,750 RPM

163 lb-ft @ 4,400 RPM

0-60 MPH (seconds)

9.3

8.7

9.4

9.9

Quarter-Mile (seconds)

16.9

16.8

16.9

17.3

Top-Speed (MPH)

127

115

132

130

While all the SUVs are lingering around in the sub 9 seconds timings for 0-60 MPH acceleration, only the Chevy Equinox performs just a tad bit better taking 8.7 seconds. So, if by any chance all your neighborhood dads go on a drag race on the weekend, make sure there isn’t anyone with an Equinox. Each SUV shares a similar powertrain setup and while the 60mph timings differ by half a second, the quarter-mile run is even more fierce and competitive.

Fuel Economy
7.0/10

Well, with mileage figures of 21/29/24 for city/highway/combined, the South Korean brand isn’t doing better than its rivals. However, the actual fuel economy isn’t bad at all. Thankfully the tank capacity is on the higher side and allows it to drive over 400 miles on a full tank of gas. The turbocharged engine gets 19 MPG in the city & 24 MPG on the highways which is not the best for a daily driver, especially considering that the power bump over the base engine is not that significant.

Models

2013 Hyundai Santa Fe

2013 Chevrolet Equinox

2013 Kia Sorento

2013 Honda CR-V

MPG (City)

21

22

21

23

MPG (Highway)

29

32

30

31

MPG (Combined)

24

26

24

26

Fuel Capacity (Gallons)

17.4

18.8

18.0

15.3

Range (City/Highway/Combined, in Miles)

365/504/417

413/601/488

378/540/432

351/474/397

With the biggest fuel tank capacity and overall better economy than Santa Fe, the Chevy Equinox gets the best-combined driving range of 488 miles, among the rivals. Honda as always is on top of the efficiency game but it lacks the overall range all the rest of the competition has due to the small 15.3-gallon fuel tank it comes equipped with. The Kia Sorento is similar to its sibling with the exception that it can average a combined mileage of 432 miles.

Interior
6.2/10

The 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe has a much better interior than the previous year's model. The cabin feels very modern overall thanks to its completely unconventional design approach. The dashboard on this SUV has received some serious attention from the design team. The material quality on the base trim is as expected with hard plastic all over but the overall design language and layout compensates for that. The front seats are comfortable and have some bolstering as well for that lateral support. The optional packages make these seats more convenient to use with power adjustability and heating.

As there is no third row to think of, the second row has plenty of legroom and headroom for average people. The seats can be reclined for a more relaxed experience. The longer wheelbase variants have a third-row arrangement and that lets the second row have some extra space as well. However, the third row isn’t anything special, just usual business with tight spaces.

Models

2013 Hyundai Santa Fe

2013 Chevrolet Equinox

2013 Kia Sorento

2013 Honda CR-V

Seating Capacity

5

5

5

5

Front Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in)

39.6/59.4/41.3

40.9/55.8/41.2

39.2/59.3/41.3

39.9/56.4/38.3

Rear Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in)

39.1/58.3/39.4

39.2/55.3/39.9

39.2/58.7/37.6

38.6/56.4/38.3

Cargo Capacity (cubic feet)

35.4

31.5

37

37.2

The Hyundai Santa Fe can hold a lot of stuff even if the seats aren’t folded. Folding the seats will allow more than double space to store any longer items. The total cargo carrying capacity of the Hyundai remains at 71.5 cubes & 80 cubic feet for the 7-seater variants. But the standard capacity will decrease on the long-wheelbase variants due to that third row. Some of the highlighting interior features of Santa Fe are:

  • Dual-zone automatic climate control
  • Leather-wrapped steering and gear knob
  • Window sunshades 
  • 8-inch touch screen
  • Heated seats 
  • Reclining second-row seats 

How intuitive is the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe’s infotainment unit?

The basic infotainment system contains an MP3 player, CD changer, Bluetooth, and iPod connectivity. A 4.3-inch touchscreen is available as an optional extra. There are two more optional systems available with an 8.0-inch touchscreen and 12 speaker setup with a dedicated 550-watt amplifier. This system is the only one with navigation support while the 550-watt system is 2.0T trim exclusive. Some key highlights of the infotainment are:

  • 8-inch touchscreen (optional)
  • 4.3-inch touchscreen (standard)
  • 550-watt amplifier (optional)
  • iPod interface
  • Bluetooth
  • Hyundai BlueLink telematics
  • Navigation (optional)
  • Satellite radio 
Exterior
6.5/10

The 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe doesn’t deviate from the trend but the overall styling is better and slightly aggressive than last year. The front end is attractive with a sharp blade-like grille design and angular headlight setup. The lower part of the bumper is designed keeping practicality in mind as it is covered with protective black plastic.

Talking about body lines, there are a few, some on the hood and one on the beltline that traces the door handles and nicely blend in with the taillight assembly. The window sills and door handles are chrome plated and elevate the styling a little bit. The rear bumper houses an underbody guard but just for styling purposes as it's not the most robust. Overall, the Sant Fe is the best-looking SUV currently in its segment.

Models

2013 Hyundai Santa Fe

2013 Chevrolet Equinox

2013 Kia Sorento

2013 Honda CR-V

Curb Weight (lbs.)

3,459

3,777

3,605

3,305

Length (inches)

184.6

187.8

183.9

178.3

Width (inches)

74.0

72.5

74.2

71.6

Height (inches)

66.1

66.3

67.3

65.1

Ground Clearance (inches)

7.5

6.9

7.5

6.8

Wheelbase (inches)

106.3

112.5

106.3

103.1

The Chevy Equinox has the longest wheelbase in the group but the overall width is less than the Santa Fe. That’s the reason why Equinox has the best second-row space along with Santa Fe. The Equinox is also the heaviest of all the SUVs here weighing in a whopping 3777 pounds. Moreover, both Kia & Hyundai have higher ground clearances of 7.5 inches, than their rivals. That said, some of the key exterior features are:

  • Angular Halogen headlights
  • LED taillights
  • Chrome grille
  • Chrome window sills & handles
  • Roofline spoiler
  • Power ORVMs with integrated turn signals 
Safety
8.3/10

The 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe has scored a splendid 5-star rating in federal crash tests in overall safety conducted by the NHTSA. The frontal crash ratings and side crash ratings are also full 5-stars. The IIHS has awarded their “Top Safety Pick” award to Santa Fe for getting a 'Good' rating in all but the small overlap driver side. Let’s see what do we have for active safety features for further peace of mind:

  • Traction control
  • Stability control 
  • Hill-start assist
  • Downhill assists
  • Hyundai emergency telematics 
  • Anti-theft system
Final Verdict

It would have been a difficult task in the previous year to recommend this SUV but the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe is a splendid crossover, both inside and out. The kind of options that are on offer is amazing. Whether it's a 5-seater or a 7-seater configuration, anything you as a buyer would want is present in Santa Fe. In terms of safety, it's on par with the competition with the same features set available throughout the range. The major advantage it has over its competition is the striking design. Although it lacks a little on the fuel economy side of things, the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe is still a worthy option in its segment.

Features

vehicle bio
base price

$30350

body style

4dr SUV

engine type
displacement

204 cu in

horse power

290 hp @ 6400 rpm

torque

252 lb.-ft. @ 5200 rpm

transmission

6 speed automatic w/OD and auto manual

dimensions
length

193.1 in

wheelbase

110.2 in

width

74.2 in

curb weight

4098 lbs

Height

66.5 in

Ground Clearance

7 lbs

capacity
passenger volume

146.6 cu ft

cargo volume

80 cu ft

passenger capacity

5 Seats

fuel economy
city/combined/highway

18/21/24 mpg

highway range

451.2 mi

warranty
basic warranty

5 yr./ 60000 mi.

See All Features & Specs

2013 Hyundai Santa Fe User Reviews

1.7

[3 Reviews]

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1

[67.0%] [2 Reviews]

2

[33.0%] [1 Reviews]

3

[0.0%] [0 Reviews]

4

[0.0%] [0 Reviews]

5

[0.0%] [0 Reviews]

POPULAR TAGS

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M

Margaret

2013 Hyundai Santa Fe

Limited 4dr SUV (3.3L 6cyl 6A)

3

User Overall Rating

Posted On: May 19, 2022

Little trunk space.

Pros - Nothing.

Cons - Steering wheel controls issue, Cargo space, Steering.

Not so reliable. My Santa Fe has lots of issues. I have been facing an issue with the steering system lately. The steering wheel has become hard to turn due to a leak in the steering wheel pump. The steering mounted controls, on the other hand, have stopped working for some reason. Furthermore, the cargo space is not so generous. The trunk could only store one large trolley suitcase or two big ba...

3/10
Features
3/10
Interior
5/10
Design
5/10
Safety
3/10
Reliability
4/10
Deal Value
3/10
Dealer Review
Read more »
A

Andrew

2013 Hyundai Santa Fe

Limited 4dr SUV (3.3L 6cyl 6A)

1

User Overall Rating

Posted On: March 28, 2022

A disastrous purchase

Pros - Not a single thing.

Cons - Rough ride, Broken engine, High maintenance.

Not worth fixing Bought a high run Santa Fe that had already clocked 102,322 miles and that was the biggest red flag that I chose to ignore. The Santa Fe had a major engine failure with cracks on multiple components due to running the engine on low oil levels and rare maintenance by the previous owner. The whole fix was quoted at a whopping $2,688 and I'm considering to scrap the car instead of f...

2/10
Features
3/10
Interior
2/10
Design
1/10
Safety
1/10
Reliability
1/10
Deal Value
2/10
Dealer Review
Read more »
E

Ethan

2013 Hyundai Santa Fe

Sport 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)

2

User Overall Rating

Posted On: January 12, 2022

Never invest on Korean brands!

Pros - Only its space, and nothing more

Cons - Defective electrical circuit--Engine starting failures--Unreliable rides

An Unreliable Junk After purchasing it as a pre-owned car in 2017, I've replaced five batteries to date since the electrical circuit has some internal flaws. The salesmen never uttered a word while selling this car and I'm expending a lot of money on the battery marts. It never started at required times and made me struggle in the middle of heavy traffic in Buffalo, NY. I've spent around $3,500 f...

2/10
Features
4/10
Interior
3/10
Design
3/10
Safety
2/10
Reliability
2/10
Deal Value
4/10
Dealer Review
Read more »
Add A Review

Top Cars

Top User Reviews

3/10

User

Rating

Little trunk space.

Not so reliable. My Santa Fe has lots of issues. I have bee...

by Margaret

1/10

User

Rating

A disastrous purchase

Not worth fixing Bought a high run Santa Fe that had alread...

by Andrew

2/10

User

Rating

Never invest on Korean brands!

An Unreliable Junk After purchasing it as a pre-owned car i...

by Ethan

3/10

User

Rating

Need to get rid of it

Doesn't feel safe Grabbed a used Santa Fe for $14,299 and...

by Alexis Moreno

8/10

User

Rating

Got what I paid for.

Best Value SUV. Paid 15k grand for a '12 Santa Fe limited w...

by William

view more reviews

Hyundai Santa Fe 5 year Cost To Own

Cash Price(MSRP)
$28,864
5 Year Cost To Own
$44,944
Total 5 year Cost To Own -  $44,944
Year 1Year 2Year 3Year 4Year 5total
Depreciation$3,137$1,850$1,750$2,055$1,946$10,738
Insurance$1,261$1,305$1,351$1,398$1,447$6,762
Fuel$2,699$2,780$2,863$2,949$3,038$14,329
Maintenance$342$552$375$1,642$1,788$4,699
RepairsNANANANA$670$670
Financing Interest$1,552$1,249$924$578$209$4,512
Taxes and Fees$2,425$220$208$197$184$3,234
Total Cost-To-Own$11,416$7,956$7,471$8,819$9,282$44,944
Read more about Cost-To-Own »

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