2010 Hyundai Santa Fe: Up Close

The changes are subtle on the 2010 Santa Fe, but we figured we’d check ’em out anyway. Considering that the exterior changes in front amount to a resculpted grille, bumper and fog lamps, it actually looks a good deal better and more contemporary than the 2009 model. The interior gets some new seating surfaces, including new leather in the two show cars present. Gone are the perforations from the previous generation, replaced with rather deeply grained stuff. Considering how impressed I was with the new Tucson, this leather’s finish didn’t wow me, but you never know what to trust in auto show interiors, thanks to overzealous detailers.

There’s also some new woodgrain (imitation wood) trim, which looks decent if you’re into that kind of thing. More interesting is the addition of standard Bluetooth connectivity, USB audio input and steering-wheel controls. Along with all the additions comes one subtraction: the optional third-row seat. When automakers do away with things like seating or drivetrain options, it’s usually because demand didn’t justify it, and that seems to be the case here. When this Santa Fe generation came out in 2007, roughly 20 percent of buyers opted for the third-row seat. By the time 2009 was winding down, it had dropped to the single digits. Hyundai decided to cut its losses and direct buyers to its Veracruz three-row crossover.

The big improvement in the Santa Fe is one you can’t see: new engines and transmissions that improve both performance and mileage.