2011 Hyundai Santa Fe Review

2011 Hyundai Santa Fe

If you need midsize SUV, the 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe has one of the lowest prices in the class. In short, the Santa Fe is a strong choice for SUV buyers on a budget. If you like the feel of the Santa Fe and Hyundai’s long warranty, take a look at the Hyundai Tucson. It costs about $4,000 more than the Santa Fe but its third-row are standard. While it’s more expensive than the Santa Fe, it’s one of the least expensive three-row midsize SUVs available. The 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe comes in three trims -- the GLS, SE and Limited.

After significant updates last year, the 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe carries over largely unchanged. The 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe is the big kid in its class. Like most vehicles in this class of big compact crossovers, the Hyundai Santa Fe comes standard with a four-cylinder engine that should be powerful enough and fuel-efficient enough for most buyers. The 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe is a five-passenger crossover SUV available in GLS, SE and Limited trim levels.

The Hyundai Santa Fe SE gets 18-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlights, foglights, a windshield wiper de-icier, roof rack cross rails, an eight-way power driver seat with adjustable lumbar, leather/cloth upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. The Santa Fe Limited adds a sunroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, full leather upholstery and a 10-speaker Infinity surround-sound audio system with a six-CD changer. The Hyundai Santa Fe GLS and Limited come standard with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder that produces 175 hp and 169 pound-feet of torque. Front-wheel drive is standard on all Santa Fe trims and all-wheel drive is optional. A six-speed automatic is standard. Every 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe comes standard with four-wheel antilock disc brakes, brake assist, traction and stability control, front side airbags and side curtain airbags. In Edmunds brake testing, a Santa Fe Limited came to a stop from 60 mph in 126 feet -- a perfectly average distance.

The Hyundai Santa Fe has not been rated using the government's new, more strenuous 2011 crash testing procedures. The Hyundai Santa Fe benefits from extremely simple controls, even with the available navigation system.

Landing at the small end of mid-size, the 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe is a good, value-priced vehicle for small families.

Last year, Hyundai rolled out all-new powertrain for the Hyundai Santa Fe, and we're glad they didn't wait these new engines and transmissions not only give the Hyundai Santa Fe better responsiveness and acceleration but also improved fuel economy. A new six-speed automatic transmission comes with either engine for the Hyundai Santa Fe. Front-wheel drive is standard, with an optional electronically controlled all-wheel-drive system that can send power to whichever wheels have the best traction or locked 50/50 between front and rear wheels for light off-road conditions.