The Hyundai Santa Fe may fail in the styling department but does it make a good car? In this video I will go over some of the good and not so good points about this SUV.
2006-2009, the diesel engine is D4EB, outputting 155 hp and 343 Nm matched to a 5 speed automatic. 2010-2012, the diesel is changed to D4HB outputting 194 hp and 440 Nm matched to a 6 speed automatic. The D4HB is a great engine and is still being offered in the latest Hyundai/Kia models. I know a Mk2 Santa Fe owner with D4HB engine that is still running great at 430,000 kms.
@@ConquerDriving Original timing chain. But the owner used to be a mechanic for airport cargo fleet, he knows a lot about diesel engines and often does maintenance and repairs on his own, the only major service was top overhaul which he did by himself. His tips is to pay extra attention to engine oil quality and never overextend oil change intervals. EGR valve cleaning every year although not necessary with good quality engine oil, CRDI injection cleaner every 6 months, diesel additive every month, ATF oil every 40k km, transfer case oil every 15k km, use Hyundai ATF and coolant. He uses whatever diesel fuel available as long from a good brand. Hyundai advises to only use Euro 5 diesel but in Malaysia many small towns stations only sell Euro 2 diesel, but he said he uses Euro 2M only and have no problems with the injectors (they are Bosch injectors)
I have had a 2011 since new. Not one thing has gone wrong, it doesn't rattle and squeak, the internal front light does work, the fuel economy is amazing on the highway and in the city, if driven well and it goes like a bullet with the turbo, I like the space up there shorty and you can fit heaps in the back. I have used mine off-road and it's pretty good.
had my 2011 santa fe highlander since new only 104000 km on the clock. Brakes still have at least 30000km to go before replacing. Had to replace battery after 7 years. Up till now still haven't had to replace any globes. The 2.2r diesel turbo engine is incredible never missed a beat. Inside and outside still looks brand new. After owning 15 cars in my life this has to be the best
Had my Sante fe 2010 model fir 3 years now its been a great family car no issues othe than a front shock absorber . It Tows our Caravan brilliantly and the 4wd has got us out of a wet field With the caravan on the back ..
My dads had one of these 2011 diesels for around 6 years now. The only problem in that time was the belts in the motor became loose but was easy to fix.
I think lots of people buy SUVs because they struggle to sit down so low or get up again because of increasing age mainly 😂 and because they think one day they might need to go slightly offroad. For example the only reasons my Grandma bought a crossover type thing was for the 4 wheel drive so she wouldn't get stuck anywhere and higher ride height so it would be easier to get in and out of. That's a couple of reasons why they're getting so popular. Great video thanks!
As a 2010 Santa Fe owner I would just like to say how accurate your review is. It’s almost as if you were describing my car. I purchased ours for a specific reason off towing our large caravan and have to say it’s great at that . But is a bit big and clumbersum without it. Watch out for the manual versions because if and when your clutch goes it’s a whopping £1500 to replace it 👍
I have driven our Santa FE all over Australia 190000k in seven years towing an Avan and it has never let me down and even overtook to two road trains at 140 kph, being a POM you are used to travelling at 8kph on bitumen , our car has been on dirt ,gravel and sand and water over the 12 inches up the car through floods. Without the Avan on the back we can get down to 5.8litres per 100k you must be getting your diesel from a fish and chip shop. A land Rover Discovery is the best in mud, gravel and sand but parts are expensive and it only does as you said 25 mpg but it will do that for 5000k with no trouble and its 90 litre fuel tank is also an asset and for driving in windy conditions you must be dreaming I have had ours in 95 kph winds only last year no problems but I dare you to drive a Ford Anglia 105E on a slightly windy day.
I have a 2012 mk2 Santa Fe. 2.2 crdi Manual. 7 seat premium edition. Owned for 2 years and bought at 10 years old with 63k on the clock and full service history. MOT check showed the vehicle had never failed a mot. 2 years on and all the recent mot test could find was a small chip in the windscreen. Paid 8k for it and it’s the best car I’ve ever owned. Ideal for me and the family. You’ll get a family of five plus all the trappings for holidays including fishing gear on and have loads of space for comfortable 14 hour drives. Very underrated cars
I had one from new and I liked it. True it wasn't pretty and there was a lot of plastic. The Sat Nav screen was odd, because it failed (just before Covid hit) and over the next year or so, it gradually recovered, which was just as well, because a replacement was £800 plus fitting. I found that a pothole in front of the car as I pulled out in the morning caused "wind-up" No joke! But the one thing that pissed me off was timing chain rattle. I put up with it for a while, then at 104,000 miles started trying to get someone to fix it. Three dealers failed to return calls but I walked into the St Albans dealer and they gave me a quote. I swallowed hard and booked it in, but we found that two injectors were siezed. Now I was faced with a £3,000 repair for a £2,500 car. SO - if you just bought a 104,000 mile 10 year old black Santa Fe, I reckon you will have a good car if you can sort he injectors and chain. Bon Voyage
I have a 2007 v6 santa fe .fyi it's a copy of Porsche cayenne,very smooth ride, comfortable ride, very quiet engine. about t best car I own , amongst jaguar, bmw 7, Porsche 911
@@jessicahayes7485 Hi. Are you buying the diesel? Take off the catalitic converter, drill a 30 mm hole through so it does not restrict our exhaust system, then, if the car has 150000 km, replace timing belt. Replace the oil and filter every 10000 km. And ... Enjoy. We love it. Goes like a Porche.
I bought a 2007 Santa Fe second hand and it's got a load of faults, the rear self levelling suspension has failed, and the rear ride height sits low which causes you to keep banging your head on the rear tailgate when it's open! it's very expensive (around £500) each for replacement self levelling shocks! the cruise control doesn't work, and the air bag light is continuously ON, apparently the steering wheel clock spring is faulty?? The horn doesn't work, the front 2 side light bulbs were blown (it passed an MOT!!) the passenger side central locking is intermittent and makes a right racket when you lock the car. The rear nearside passenger door sometimes doesn't unlock/lock and you can't manually unlock the door from the inside either which has got to be a safety issue? The 2.2 diesel sometimes starts first time then dies, it then starts on the second attempt, the auto box i have found is very reluctant to pull away smartly and that is an issue at a junction. The interior ceiling mounted TV screen has never worked either, maybe i've just been unlucky? I paid £4,495 from a local car dealer with 103k miles on the clock, i feel i've been ripped off.
So just bought a 2010 model for towing a boat, which it does really well. It was dirt cheap and yet it's still surprisingly good. I have had a few Land Rovers in the past and whilst they win on looks the reliability is questionable. This Hyundai isn't going to win any beauty contests but I get the feeling it's just going to plod on whatever. It seems well engineered, it rattles a lot but don't let that put you off. To me it's just an honest 4x4 which gets on with the job.
Once I've passed my test I'll be looking for something that can pull a caravan😊 towing licence hopefully will be next January .what's your view on transporters?
I like VW but I've never driven a transporter. However it will drive like a van which to be honest isn't a good thing. For towing I would prefer a nice big and heavy diesel Volvo estate.
I'd rather charge around in my Hippo than a fancy Qashqai or Range Rover Evoque. My car can carry computer desk as it is without dismantling when moving house and tons of luggage in the bag. One thing presenter ignored is there are hidden storage compartments which is big enough to store carry on luggage and full size spare tyre.
Literally not a sound to be heard in the cab in my 2011, 114k manual. For the money, 3.5k, its fantastic value. Nimble for a biggie, easy smooth drive, great seats and tons of room. No bluetooth is a bummer though
Hmmm. Thanks very much, a very different review to all the others I've read (I was starting to doubt myself) and the only one that is close to my experience! I can have a pampered 50k mile car for half what it's worth (from family) but my 2011 150k mile Kia Ceed feels better in every way, even the ride quality (which aint great on 17" wheels). It does have awful Lassa tyres on it and they will make some difference, but can't be enough to make it an actual smooth ride... How are all the other reviews describing it as 'exceptionally comfortable'?!!
Good review, I’ve had 2 Santa Fe’s , one done 140,000 miles and only cost me a yearly service and a propshaft bearing , then I updated to a 2011 model which is still going and done 96,000 so far, I use it mainly for towing building materials and gravel pit runs plus it’s great in snowy weather, Just make sure you keep up to date with servicing and your have a reliable car.
I own a Santa Fe and I find that the car is really wooly and soft. Actually I bought this car because I have back problems and the suspension is so soft and buttery. My back actually relaxes when I drive it. But true on the other points with the interior noises and scratches. I think it's an honest car, for the money.
Who would want an SUV, you ask? And why would anyone want to take it off roading? And why is it higher than a normal car? Maybe valid questions in the UK, but in rural Australia every second road is off road and even many of the bitumen roads in black soil areas have dips where my AWD Subaru liberty bottoms out, and especially when towing, and is so low it hits the many potholes, rocks and dead wildlife on the road, which in some areas can be several very km. So maybe it doesn’t make sense for where you live, but in many parts of Australia a vehicle like this would be a bare minimum for getting from A to B. And that’s before you even think about towing a caravan or loaded trailer. Just a few things to consider before assuming the above questions have rhetorical answers.
I totally understand them where they're needed. The dilemma in the UK is many people are buying heavier less efficient cars that are often two wheel drive and a gravel driveway is the most challenging off road scenario they will experience.
@@ConquerDriving people don't just buy SUVs for offroading.. They are easier to get in and out of if you're older or have a slight disability such as back problems. If you have 3 kids in the back, you either want an SUV or an MPV for extra room the rear passengers get. Even if it only snows a few times a year, not being able to get around is a massive inconvenience for most people. If you are towing... You want an SUV... SUVs don't sell well in the UK because they are beautiful to look at.. it's the practicality...
My one stripped out its transfer box out of warrantee (130,000kms), it would have been a very expensive repair if Hyundai hadn't come to the party and given free parts
No doing handbrake turns in that with foot hand brake😂. 25mpg is awful, too much launching from standstill? 😅.. Should be able to get 35-40mpg being a 2.2 diesel on a run I guess, but around town, when cold, I can imagine 25mpg lugging a heavy car around. 2.2ton is not a huge amount, sure its a lot for a normal suv but 4x4 could do better, LR Disco 2 tows 3.5ton.
25mpg is general driving around town. 30mpg is possible at a push. Yes, no foot hand brake turns, it would probably tip over if I tried anyway. It's not the most stable thing I've driven.
That's the thing I'm most concerned about: The fuel. I keep reading in so many different places about the file consumption, I don't know what to believe anymore. I'm thinking about switching my 2011 c class for a Hyundai Santa Fe for the offroad capabilities and the high ground clearance. I love everything about my c class except the 2WD and being incapable of going for away from asphalt. How would you recomand the Santa Fe? I'm referring to the 2006-2012 generation.
@@danutgabriel7024 i have owned my santa fe for 4 years, I did the oil chances myself brakes and changed the tyres...the car has been totally reliable...heated seats, automatic headlights and wipers, great in the snow.. am 6'4" and it fits me well...get a good example with plenty of service history and you will be surprised.
It certainly can be. Some cars can be jarring yet still have a lot of body roll and handle poorly and others can be supple yet handle well. Some cars are set up and designed significantly better than others. Having a high centre of gravity makes it very hard to offer a soft yet well controlled ride but there is technology that allows this, expensive though and won't work if its not set up well.
