2016 Hyundai Santa Fe

What Is the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe?

The 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe is a six- or seven-seat three-row SUV that competes with the Chevrolet Traverse, Toyota Highlander and Kia Sorento. Trim levels include the SE and Limited, both of which come standard with front-wheel drive but are available with all-wheel drive. The two-row Santa Fe Sport is covered separately.

What's New on the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe?

The base trim of the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe is now the SE; it was previously known as the GLS. 

How Does the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Compare to Other SUVs?

In terms of versatility, the Santa Fe offers a generous 80.0 cubic feet of maximum cargo space. This is nevertheless outdone by the Chevrolet Traverse, which offers up to 116.3 cubic feet.

Like the Traverse, the Santa Fe is available only with a six-cylinder engine. Even so, an all-wheel-drive Santa Fe is EPA-rated 18/24/20 mpg city/highway/combined, which matches a V-6-equipped AWD Toyota Highlander. Without AWD, the Santa Fe is rated 18/25/21 mpg. An AWD Chevrolet Traverse falls behind both with 15/22/17 mpg city/highway/combined. Those whose primary concern is efficiency may want to consider a FWD Toyota Highlander with a four-cylinder power plant, which offers up to 20/25/22 mpg city/highway/combined. The Highlander Hybrid is also an option, which offers up to 27/28/28 mpg city/highway/combined.

What Features in the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Are Most Important?

Every Santa Fe comes equipped with a 290-horsepower, 3.3-liter V-6 engine that's paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. Significant standard features include seating for seven, heated front seats, heated side mirrors, a backup camera and driver-selectable steering modes. As with all new vehicles, the Santa Fe features antilock brakes, front airbags and an electronic stability system.

Significant available features include second-row captain's chairs (which lowers seating capacity to six), high-intensity-discharge headlights, leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, heated second-row seats, a panoramic moonroof, a navigation system with 8-inch touchscreen, a blind spot warning system, a 115-volt household power outlet and keyless entry with push-button start.

Should I Buy the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe?

The Santa Fe is as clear a signal as any that Hyundai has evolved from a budget brand into a value brand. It offers a ton of amenities for the price, plus surprising versatility through the addition of subtle features such as under-floor storage. While its third row is a bit cramped and it doesn't lead its class in either interior space or mpg ratings, it does almost everything well. It's certainly worthy of your consideration.

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