2003 Hyundai Santa Fe

Rating from zlo3d2

(3)
Comfort:		5 out of 5
Performance:		3 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		4 out of 5
Interior Design:		5 out of 5
Value for the Money:		4 out of 5
Reliability:		3 out of 5

"I have had this car for 6 years. I bought it used in 2006. I have replaced the brake pads and rotars (front and back) 3 times in the past three years. Something is wrong with that. Because of the poorly made brakes, I have had to replace my tires more often then usual for this area. Last year, a recal came out explaining that this specific year and model rusts extremely easy in the snowy climates (I'm in West virginia) because of the salt used to clear the roads. It recommended taking it in to the local dealership to have them inspect to see if there was any show of rust in the undercarraige. The dealership said no, and that I wouldn't be eligible to take part in the recall. Today, I took my car in to a local car shop because of the strange noises it's been making lately (praying that I wouldn't have to get my brake pads and rotars replaced AGAIN) and they told me the entire undercarraige is rusted out and would have to be replaced for around $1500. No way am I dumping more money into this car. I love the comfort level within the car. It definitely has the best interior or any car I have owned, but putting thousands of dollars into a used car every year is not ok with me. My husband has a Hyundai Sonata that has had similar brake problems as well. We will not buy Hyundai anymore. Seems to be a trend. The style is great, but be prepared to pour your cash into your local maintenance shop with a Hyundai."

I would recommend this car to a friend: No

This vehicle was purchased: Used

Primary use for this car: Commuting

Rating from The Louman

(5)
Comfort:		4 out of 5
Performance:		5 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		4 out of 5
Interior Design:		5 out of 5
Value for the Money:		5 out of 5
Reliability:		5 out of 5

"I travel 45 miles to Queens NY...the suspension is great, gas mileage is a very respectable 24 miles per galon HWY. roomy for carpools, great auto! I also own a 2008 santa fe!!"

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: Used

Primary use for this car: Commuting

Rating from Mr. Mom

(5)
Comfort:		5 out of 5
Performance:		4 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		5 out of 5
Interior Design:		5 out of 5
Value for the Money:		5 out of 5
Reliability:		5 out of 5

"If you need a car with a great engine. This is the one to drive. I recommend this car for the roomy interior. When you test drive it you will love it!"

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: Used

Primary use for this car: Just getting around

Rating from Krystal

(3)
Comfort:		3 out of 5
Performance:		3 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		4 out of 5
Interior Design:		2 out of 5
Value for the Money:		2 out of 5
Reliability:		4 out of 5

"I bought this car used and got what I thought was a great deal, but soon found out that it wasn't what I thought. The dealer told me that the a/c just needed charged but when I took it in I found out that the compressor is cracked= $2000! Needless to say I was not going to shell that out for a car I paid only $9000 for! With in the 1st 2 years of owning it I put almost $1500 into it without fixing the a/c. Aside from that, it has been a great car that is fairly reliable, I live in Colorado and it handles great in the snow and I don't even have any of the fancy handling. But in the long run, not a bad suv because it drives like a car and gets great gas milage."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: Used

Primary use for this car: Commuting

Rating from Chenango landowner

(5)
Comfort:		5 out of 5
Performance:		5 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		5 out of 5
Interior Design:		5 out of 5
Value for the Money:		5 out of 5
Reliability:		5 out of 5

"Bought my 2003 Sante Fe base model- 4 cylinder and manual transmission - back in Dec. 2010 and It had 74,000 miles and cost me $5400 !!! Never will I buy a new car ever again ! This SUV is absolutly perfect inside and out and it was inspected and no problems at all. It even had the timing belt replaced at 60,000 miles which saved me $300. Nobody wants manual transmission anymore and everybody wants power, so I got this SUV way below what its really worth. I got this SUV to go up to my hunting property upstate and I'll be towing a small trailer with a small load and I'll be towing a 16 foot aluminum boat on another trailer, I don't need a super charged engine to do this kind of trailering. This SUV is very nice inside, nice speakers and cd player and all the controls are easy to reach and use.Outside its got a very nice design , looks great and it has a roof rack , nice ! Can't go wrong for $5400 , This SUV had absoultly nothing wrong with it . I was hesitant to buy from a used car dealer and for some reason he wouldn't let me have it inspected ? but it was inspected after I bought it and all is fine. Really lucked out on this one."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: Used

Primary use for this car: Outdoor sports (hiking, cycling, etc.)

Rating from Santa Fe lover

(5)
Comfort:		5 out of 5
Performance:		5 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		4 out of 5
Interior Design:		5 out of 5
Value for the Money:		5 out of 5
Reliability:		5 out of 5

"I purchased my 2003 Santa Fe brand new, February 2003 with the intention of driving it until it rotted off the frame! 8+ years later I still love it! Though I was never really a fan of the exterior appearance, it was recommended to me for all the features I was looking for. I researched it, test drove it and that was it, I fell in love...I no longer cared what it looked like. Over the years the look grew on me and I can't imagine driving anything else! It has a nice, smooth, quiet, comfortable ride, spacious back seat with lots of leg room, and I can load it up with large items...the cargo space fits much more than you can imagine! It was rated very high on safety but best of all, it has been incredibly reliable. I have never had any major problem and it has ~130,000 miles on it. I have had to change the tires once as well as the brakes one time for both front and back. The A/C compressor needed to be replaced last summer with the condenser needing to be replaced now. Again, it's 8+ years old, so I'm not complaining! I hope to have my Santa Fe for another eight years!"

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: New

Primary use for this car: Just getting around

Rating from cozycottage

(5)
Comfort:		5 out of 5
Performance:		5 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		5 out of 5
Interior Design:		5 out of 5
Value for the Money:		5 out of 5
Reliability:		5 out of 5

"I bought used in 2004 with 23000 miles. I never have to take it in. At 150,000 miles I finally had to replace the original battery... this year I also had to fix the air conditioner. I am not real crazy about the lifetime fuel injectors but I have said that I will drive this until it dies. I love it. 12-31-2010"

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: Used

Primary use for this car: Commuting

Rating from sicemdawg

(4)
Comfort:		4 out of 5
Performance:		5 out of 5
Handling:		3 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		3 out of 5
Interior Design:		4 out of 5
Features:		5 out of 5
Value for the Money:		5 out of 5
Reliability:		4 out of 5

"I bought this for my daughter's first vehicle - it's a good size and weight, and the 2003 had the full complement of airbags as well - important to me for a first time driver. It has good pickup and enough power in the V-6 to get out of its own way, but the quick throttle tip-in on launch takes a bit of getting used to. It also provides excellent visibility all around - another important virtue since my daughter is short in stature. Overall, very pleased."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: Used

Primary use for this car: Just getting around

Rating from Sales Person

(5)
Comfort:		5 out of 5
Performance:		5 out of 5
Handling:		5 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		5 out of 5
Interior Design:		5 out of 5
Features:		4 out of 5
Value for the Money:		5 out of 5
Reliability:		5 out of 5

"I purchased this used in 2005 with 45k miles, an SUV with more miles than I had planned, but this has turned out to be a great vehicle for me. In a typical week I cover 400-500 miles of territory and have been very pleased with how this vehicle has held up. I've owned this SUV now for 4+ years and 145k more miles with virtually no cost other than regular oil changes and routine maintenance up to the last six months or so, when I've had a few major repairs. Don't like the 2007 style change (bigger) so I'm looking for a 2006 with low miles to drive for another 5 years!"

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: Used

Primary use for this car: Work

Rating from Rosel

(2)
Comfort:		3 out of 5
Performance:		2 out of 5
Handling:		3 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		3 out of 5
Interior Design:		3 out of 5
Features:		3 out of 5
Value for the Money:		2 out of 5
Reliability:		2 out of 5

"I did a review a few days ago. I wasn't very happy with this car but now even more so. In all honesty this may be on the part of the service dept and not the car itself but...after paying a large repair bill on this car, about a month and a half later there was something wrong again. I dropped it off on a Sat. and after they looked into it, said it was a bolt that had to be replaced. They ordered it from their warehouse in NJ (which they said they would have by Tues. but they ended up having to get it from CA because NJ didn't have it. My husband picked it up this afternoon a day later than planned (because they were closing early) and drove it to his place of employment about 15 minutes away with no problems. We went there tonight so I could drive it home and a few minutes after I started driving, it started squealing when I gave it some gas, shuddering every time I stopped at a light or stop sign, no pick up at all. I prayed all the way home - about 30 minutes in traffic that I wouldn't break down. I am calling the service dept. in the morning to have it towed there. I wish I could trade this car in - it's all paid for - and get something other than a Hyundai but financially I'm not in a position at this time. As soon as I can, I am rid of this car and will never look to buy a Hyundai again."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: New

Primary use for this car: Just getting around