2013 Hyundai Sante Fe – Versatility wrapped in a fun-to-drive package
From its shaky beginnings more than 10 years ago, the Hyundai Santa Fe has grown into a very capable and popular crossover vehicle. Starting at 26 499$, the 2013 Sante Fe has been completely redesigned this year and now has a very elegant and upscale look
Starting at 26 499$, the 2013 Sante Fe has been completely redesigned this year and now has a very elegant and upscale look to it.
The front-end is aggressively styled and provides a very dynamic look to the Sante Fe, even when it is standing still. The rear is not as flat as say the Toyota RAV4 or Ford Escape, and reminds us somewhat of the Hyundai Elantra GT.
No more V6, but does it really matter?
The 2013 Hyundai Sante Fe is offered with two engines. The base 2.4 liter is equipped with direct injection and makes 190 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. Although the engine is similar to the Santa Fe’s previous generation 2.4 liter, the implementation of the latest innovations in engine design have lowered the average fuel economy of the 4 cylinder to 8.6 liters per 100 kilometers, a 12% improvement in comparison with last year’s engine.
The 2013 Santa Fe lineup no longer includes a V6 engine, replaced by 2.0 liter turbocharged 4-cylinder that pumps out 264 horsepower while averaging 9.1 l/100 km in fuel consumption. That represents an 8% improvement over the previous 6 cylinder engine while the turbocharger significantly improves low-end torque over the 2012 V6 Santa Fe.
This not only makes the 2013 Santa Fe 2.0T a lot quicker off the line, but also helps with passing as can attest a recorded 5.7 second 80-120 km/h time. Both engines can be ordered with front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive, while a 6-speed automatic transmission comes standard on all models.
More luxury and improved roominess
The 2013 Hyundai Sante Fe offers room for 5 in sport trim while the Santa Fe XL can fit 7 passengers. Both offer a well-designed cabin that is bursting with useful storage areas, including one large section below the center stack that can hold all the wallets and cell phones you can throw at it.
The overall design of the dashboard is a cross between what we find in the Hyundai Elantra and the Veloster. There are a lot of knobs and buttons, but everything is organized and easy to use. After a few years of shoddy workmanship, Hyundai interiors are now well built and brimming with quality materials. The 2013 Hyundai Sante Fe is no exception to this rule.
The Sante Fe is equipped out of the gate with heated seats, Bluetooth, 17 inch wheels as well as a host of safety features including 7 airbags, downhill brake control, hillstart assist control, and stability control systems.
That is a lot of control systems indeed, but you can rest assured that the driver is still in command inside the 2013 Sante Fe. Handling is very car-like while the rear independent suspension provides a strong combination of comfort and sportiness.
Book a test drive today with Harmony Hyundai to learn more about the new 5 and 7 passenger 2013 Hyundai Sante Fe