2014 Hyundai Santa Fe

Moreover, it also offers one of the best in class fuel economies. Since its major overhaul last year you get a vehicle that fully justifies its price tag by offering an excellent set of features, attractive looks, and pretty good performance. Characteristics like these are the reason it offers tough competition to vehicles such as Dodge Durango, Honda Pilot, and Toyota Highlander.

Unlike other vehicles in its class, the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe is divided into two trim levels only i.e. GLS and Limited. The base ‘GLS’ trim never feels like an entry-level version of Santa Fe. as it comes with features such as adaptive cruise control, power-adjustable driver seat with lumbar adjustments, leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated front seats, and a rearview camera. As for the other tech features, you will find a trip computer, USB iPod integration, full power accessories, and a six-speed audio system.

The ‘Limited’ trim however comes with two packages. A Premium package that loads features as standards such as few safety assists, keyless entry and ignition, a power liftgate, updated gauge cluster, and better quality upholstery. A technology package is also available which updates the infotainment system including a navigation system.

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There is no denying the fact that both trims are impressive in their own ways, however, according to us the best bet to go for is by choosing the base ‘GLS’ trim. Because usually base trims are bare-bone but here you get a fully loaded crossover which completely justifies its $30,775 pricing. The long list of standard features is amazing and on top of that buyers can opt for extra features which are available in limited trim via opting for premium and technology packages. So in the case of Hyundai Santa Fe, you will not find a single exclusive feature to the top trim which one cannot get for the GLS.

Both trims of the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe are powered by a 3.3 Litre V6 engine which produces 290 horsepower and a torque of 252 lb-ft. Front-wheel drive is standard across the lineup however an all-wheel-drive system can be had by paying extra. Power is sent to the wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission. The six-cylinder engine is one of its strong characters as it manages to take the vehicle from 0-60 mph in 7.3 seconds and can finish a quarter-mile in 15.8 seconds.

It performs smoothly on the road and never bothers with loud noises resulting in an amazing driving experience. The same can be said about the automatic transmission as it is pretty smooth. The only problem we could find in it was its handling, which is a lot lighter than it should have been, which directly affects the vehicle once fully loaded.

Among the competition, the Hyundai Santa Fe’s V6 performs admirably on the road and when stacked against its rivals. It easily outperforms both Dodge Durango and Honda Pilot. But the Toyota highlander surpasses it by being quicker with a 0-60 mph time of 7.1 seconds and a quarter-mile time of 15.4 seconds, However, it loses to the Santa Fe in terms of top speed.

A powerful engine often comes with class average fuel economy, but it appears that Hyundai conjured an impressive engine that is fuel-efficient. The Santa Fe offers a mileage of 18 MPG in the city, 25 MPG on the highways, and 21 MPG when combined. These stats are pretty good especially for a vehicle in its class. But the same cannot be said for the 18.8 gallons fuel tank. The Santa Fe can easily perform great for short as well as long drives but one will have to keep an eye on the fuel gauge a lot more than usual.

As we have mentioned, Santa Fe’s V6 engine is very fuel-efficient and can easily stand against its rivals. The fuel tank capacity is lower than what you will find in the other vehicles. Afterall all this leads to a driving range of 338.4 miles in the city and 470 miles on the highway which again Santa Fe is bad at. Nevertheless, the Dodge Durango, with its 24.6-liter fuel tank can cover the longest distance of 442.8 miles in the city and 615 miles on the highway.

Step inside the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe and you will find one of the most attractive interior designs in this segment. Everything looks amazing with all those bends and seamless joints. As for the cabin quality, high-quality soft materials have been used throughout the cabin which feels pretty close to premium. The whole curvy dashboard seems like one big unit with everything nicely jammed onto it. A standard leather-wrapped tilt and a telescopic steering wheel are available which offers a pretty good range and yes the design is pretty good with numerous controls mounted on it.

As standard, the Santa Fe is a seven-seater and at the front, you are going to find heated front bucket seats which are power-adjustable. The second and third-row seats are split-folding with manual reclining options available for the former. As for the level of comfort, all three rows are adequate with good quality surfaces which can be upgraded to leather upholstery. Both front and second-row seats can easily host full-sized occupants but the third row is best for kids and teenagers as it lacks proper legroom for adults. Moreover, you can get captain chairs for the second row which lowers the seating capacity to six. However, the standard cargo capacity feels very limited.

The Santa Fe offers a cabin that comes with adequate volume for the passengers and as compared to its rivals, it easily surpasses Dodge Durango but falls behind both Pilot and Highlander. Its standard storage capacity is also lesser than the others which can be fixed by folding down the third-row seats resulting in expanded cargo volume. Few major interior features are listed below:

• Leather-wrapped tilt and telescopic steering wheel
• Heated front bucket seats
• Power-adjustable driver seat with lumbar support
• Leather/Piano Black Gear Shifter Material
• Dual Zone Front Automatic Air Conditioning

How intuitive is the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe’s infotainment unit?

Just like its other qualities, the infotainment of Santa Fe is pretty good and intuitive. A 4.3-inch touchscreen is available as standard but buyers can opt for an 8-inch display which feels a lot better and smoother. The user interface offers an easy learning curve and swiping through options never complicates things. Other features such as BlueTooth wireless phone connectivity, iPod integration, USB ports for charging, SiriusXM, and auxiliary input jack are available.

The standard six-speaker sound system with a CD player might not be the best in its class yet sounds clear. A 12 speaker Infinity surround sound system is available for Limited and controls for the display and sound systems are available on the steering wheel so one will not have to lean forward toward the center console while driving. Below are some of its key infotainment features:

• 8-inch infotainment touchscreen
• SiriusXM
• iPod integration
• Navigation system
• 12 speaker infinity surround sound system

Ever since its major redesign last year, Santa Fe has been looking spectacular than ever before as it is more curvy and compact now and we must say it is one of the best designs you can find in this segment. As you will find a hexagonal chrome grille with pointy projector-beam headlamps on the side. Below it is a body-colored front bumper with fog lamps. 

The sides of the Santa Fe are a bit curvier than the usual with black bodyside cladding, chrome-trimmed side windows, and door handles. The rear design complements the front by having similarly designed taillights and lip spoiler while a power liftgate is available for limited trim. On top, you will find roof rack rails and a panoramic sunroof.

When compared to its rivals, the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe is far lighter than all the others; perhaps this is the reason behind the vehicle’s quick performance. The 7.3 inches of ground clearance is however lower than the others which will create some problems on rougher roads. Below are some of its key exterior features:

• 19-inch silver alloy wheels
• Chrome side windows trim and door handles
• Body-colored power heated side mirrors
• Power liftgate
• Fog lamps

When it comes to the safety of the vehicle and its occupants, once again Hyundai Santa Fe comes up strong by having a better list of features than the other vehicles in its class and better structural integrity. This is why it received pretty decent crash test ratings from IIHS and NHTSA. Other than multiple airbags at key locations for maximum survivability, Standard safety features such as electronic stability and driveline traction control, low-pressure tire warning system, and restricted driving mode is available.

A rearview camera and rear parking sensors are available for easy and safe parking. Unlike others, a blind spot monitoring system is also available as standard on Limited trim but can be hand in GLS via package. Lastly, Hyundai’s bluelink emergency system is available with various services. Below are some of its key safety features:

• Blind-spot monitoring system
• Rearview camera
• Rear parking sensors
• Adaptive cruise control
• Hyundai Blue Link services

The Hyundai Santa Fe easily comes out as one of the best vehicles in its class. Unlike others, it focuses on keeping the balance by offering excellent performance, a decently sized cabin with great material quality, stunning design cues, and a long list of features. Its limited standard cargo capacity is the only flaw which we could find but even that can be fixed by folding down the third row. So yes we think one should definitely consider getting a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe if you are looking for a Crossover SUV.