10 Biggest News Stories of the Week: Hyundai Santa Fe Squares Off on Tesla Model Y
Everyone’s eye is different, but do you ever feel like everything these days looks kinda samey-samey in this veritable sea of subcompact-to-mid-size, non-truck-based SUVs in which we’re living? Well, if the redesigned-for-2024 Hyundai Santa Fe’s only objective was to stand out in the crowd, it succeeded — but there’s so much more to it than immediately meets the eye. All of those right angles aren’t just to look edgy; there’s function to that shoeboxy form.
Related: 10 Biggest News Stories of the Month: Toyota Land Cruiser Cruises Past Hyundai Ioniq 5
In our most popular article of the past week — Cars.com reviewer Joe Bruzek’s comprehensive critique of the all-new Santa Fe — we take you inside that rare passenger compartment that manages to crack the third-row comfort code. The generously expanded interior dimensions of the new mid-size family hauler do wonders for occupant comfort, versatility, cargo and kid accommodation, and, yes, even wayback seating that won’t have full-size adults dreading having politely volunteered to take so that others could have the first two rows. The Santa Fe comes with thoughtful cabin storage spaces along with well-laid-out, high-end infotainment displays and a cool compartment that sanitizes contents using ultraviolet light. Acceleration is adequate for such a big, heavy vehicle, as is fuel economy, while its huskiness factors into both handling and ride quality — for better or worse.
For Bruzek’s full take on the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe, follow the link below to the No. 1 article on this week’s countdown of our most read stories.
Also popular this week was an article for which the inciting incident would make a great scene in a “Mr. Mom”-type comedy movie where the audience guffaws while wondering, “What could go wrong next?” Picture being in an automatic car wash in a 2021 Tesla Model Y when the power-window issue you’ve been experiencing manifests itself in spectacular fashion — rolling down the window just as the car wash unleashes the rainbow-colored soap portion of the program all over your rear passenger seat upholstery. Although we were able to solve the problem (at least temporarily), using the Model Y’s for-technicians-only Service Mode portal to successfully recalibrate the vehicle’s windows, we ultimately took it to a Tesla service center, where technicians repaired a defect that had allowed water to leak into the car and corrode a wiring harness.
For the full story of our car wash comedy of errors and ensuing repairs on the 2021 Model Y from Cars.com’s fleet of long-term test cars, follow the link below to the No. 4 news story of the week.
Beyond all that, we’ve got headlines on the Ford Ranger, Nissan GT-R, Genesis, Hyundai and Kia, and much more — so don’t stop reading till the digits double. Here are the top 10 news stories Cars.com readers couldn’t get enough of in the past week:
1. 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe Review: Don’t Knock It Till You Try It
2. Which Electric Cars Are Still Eligible for the $7,500 Federal Tax Credit?
3. Electric Cars With the Longest Range
4. Our Glitchy Tesla Model Y Window Failed in a Colorful Way
5. 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor Review: Jumping for Joy
6. T-Spec Takumi, Skyline Editions Add Dash of Special to 2024 Nissan GT-R
7. Buying a Used Car? Here’s What You Need to Know
8. Which Vehicles Have the Best Warranty Coverage?
9. Genesis, Hyundai and Kia Charging Control Unit Recall: A Primer
10. Car Loans: How to Get the Best Interest Rate
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