2008 Hyundai Santa Fe 3.3 from North America

Summary:

Pretty good for the money, bad dealer service

Faults:

Sway bar links went at 25000 km.

Intermittent no start for the last few months.

Rubber door seals fell off at about 2000 km.

Back seat belt got jammed at about 10000 km.

General Comments:

I'm more annoyed with the dealership than with the vehicle; I understand that vehicles have problems, but they are reluctant to fix the problems immediately.

The car is comfortable for the most part; I'm 6' and I find the seat doesn't go back far enough for me to be most comfortable, so anyone taller maybe turned off by this.

Vehicle is quick and picks up fast for passing and up and down hills.

Tow capacity sounds good, but in reality it's not good at towing; a small utility trailer with a couple appliances on it felt like I was hauling a house.

Good gas mileage, about 28 mpg on pretty flat roads.

The radio and temp controls work well, and are easy to find when driving so that you're not distracted.

Very quiet cabin for the class of vehicle, very impressed with that.

When idling you can barely hear the vehicle running. Solid feeling car in all aspects, despite a minor trim issue, everything feels like it will last in the vehicle, unlike some other manufacturers.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 24th July, 2010

24th Jul 2010, 10:42

I own a Hyundai Elantra, and I agree with you on dealer service. My car has been great, I've had no serious issues, however I was extremely unhappy to find out my warranty was voided by not using Hyundai parts or using the dealer for services.

2008 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited AWD 3.3L V6 from North America

Summary:

Great value for small families

Faults:

Nothing wrong in the short time I drove it, although once when I filled up the tank from a 3/4 tank, the gas gauge didn't go up, it just stayed at 3/4 tank. Not sure if this was a gas station thing, or a gauge problem, or what.

General Comments:

Pros:

The safety ratings and warranty are unbeatable.

Overall, the Santa Fe is an exceptional value.

The vehicle handles very well and drives nicely.

Plenty of power in the 3.3L V6 in the SE and Limited models.

Altogether very attractive.

Cons:

The GLS model seems pointless to me, with the underpowered engine that gets less fuel economy than the 3.3L found in the SE and Limited models.

Some things in the Limited model that should be standard (vertical seat adjustment, power passenger seat, auto up/down windows) simply aren't there, and aren't available.

The options and trims layout of the Santa Fe need some work. For example, if you want leather, you HAVE to get the Limited trim, which means you're forced to have the upgraded stereo, power moonroof, and many other options that you may not want to have. Now all of a sudden you're spending way more than you wanted.

Overall:

The Santa Fe is a great choice for many small families or someone who just needs to carry things and needs more space than a standard sedan. As an overall value, it's excellent, and should be considered for anyone looking for a vehicle in this segment.

Read a full review of the 2008 Santa Fe Limited AWD here: http://www.automoblog.net/2008/07/03/2008-hyundai-santa-fe-review/

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 3rd July, 2008

24th Feb 2009, 16:16

My 2007 Santa Fe Limited AWD has full 10-way power seat adjustments for the driver, including the ability to move either the front or rear (or both) of the seat cushion vertically up or down. I believe the 2008 Limited models have the same controls. Perhaps there was something wrong with the particular vehicle you tested or perhaps you were not operating it correctly.

2008 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited 3.3L V6 from North America

Summary:

No buyer's remorse with this purchase

Faults:

No problems.

General Comments:

We traded our 2003 Santa Fe for this vehicle this past weekend. All I can say is: WOW! The 2003 gave us absolutely no problems and the only times it was in the shop was for routine maintenance. The 2008 is far improved in terms of build and ride quality. The 605 watt Infinity system with Logic7 and XM is among the best I have heard in any vehicle. I am totally confident this particular car will give us many years of enjoyment.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 8th April, 2008

9th Apr 2008, 21:06

It has been said that the merely wealthy want to APPEAR rich by driving frightfully expensive cars, while the truly RICH choose to be practical and not give a hoot what anyone thinks. I think this is true.

I work with extremely wealthy clients. Recently one of our richest (worth hundreds of millions, if not billions) happened to pull out his car keys at the conference table. I was proud to see a blue Ford oval (NOT Lincoln, FORD) on his key fob.

Another very well heeled client mentioned that he was so happy with his car that he was going to go buy another one. Curious, I asked what car had impressed him so much. "My Hyundai Sante Fe" he replied. "It's been the best, most reliable car I've ever owned".

Rich people get rich by being smart. It sounds like you made a smart decision too. Congratulations on an extremely well built vehicle.