2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport

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$13,114–$25,474 Inventory Prices
(4.6) 46 reviews
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2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
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Key Specs
Our Take
Overview
Photos
Reviews
Safety & Recalls
Warranty & CPO
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Key Specs

of the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. Base trim shown.

Our Take

From the Cars.com Vehicle Test Team

The Good

  • Stylish, upscale interior
  • Turbo four-cylinder performance
  • Panoramic moonroof available
  • Under-floor storage

The Bad

  • Third-row comfort (Santa Fe)
  • Over-shoulder visibility
  • Subpar mileage

Notable Features of the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport

  • Two-row Santa Fe Sport, three-row Santa Fe
  • Front- or all-wheel drive
  • Four-cylinder or V-6 engine
  • Hands-free power liftgate available
  • Blind spot warning system available
  • Ventilated front seats available

What Is the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport?

The 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport is a five-seat SUV that competes with the Ford Edge, Toyota RAV4, Subaru Outback, Nissan Murano and Honda CR-V. It's available in 2.4L and 2.0L Turbo trim levels, both of which are available with front- or all-wheel drive. The larger, three-row Santa Fe is covered separately. 

What's New on the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport?

There are no significant changes to the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport.

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

The 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport's base 190-horsepower, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine outdoes that of both the Honda CR-V (185 hp) and Subaru Outback (175 hp). Conversely, the AWD Santa Fe Sport is heavier than both those models - 23 pounds heavier than the Outback and 137 pounds heavier than a CR-V - and the end result is lower efficiency ratings than its rivals. While the AWD Santa Fe Sport offers up to an EPA-estimated 21 mpg combined with its base engine, the Outback and CR-V can manage up to 28 and 27 mpg combined, respectively.

The Santa Fe Sport's optional turbocharged 2.0-liter engine is rated at 264 hp, outdoing the V-6 engines in both the Subaru Outback (256 hp) and Nissan Murano (260 hp). But as with the base engine, the Santa Fe Sport's mpg ratings lag when compared with rivals, topping out at 22 mpg combined with front-wheel drive. A front-wheel-drive Murano can offer up to 24 mpg combined, while the AWD Outback matches the Hyundai with 22 mpg combined with a V-6 engine.

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

The 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport comes standard with a 190-hp, 2.4-liter engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. Notable standard features include driver-selectable steering modes, remote keyless entry and heated side mirrors. As is required in all new vehicles, the 2016 Santa Fe Sport comes equipped with an electronic stability system, antilock brakes and front airbags.

The 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport is available with a 264-hp, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Significant optional features include leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a panoramic moonroof, a navigation system with 8-inch touchscreen, a 115-volt household power outlet, a blind spot warning system and high-intensity-discharge headlights.

Should I Buy the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport?

The 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport distinguishes itself with a stylish interior and the excellent performance of its available turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Of course, that performance comes at a cost, with both its standard and optional engines offering notably lower mpg ratings than other SUVs in its class.

While it doesn't offer higher-end luxury features like the Nissan Murano, its interior is nonetheless comfortable and feature-rich. The Santa Fe Sport does a little bit of everything well, which is itself impressive.

Cars.com's Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com's long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don't accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com's advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.


2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport Overview

by Cars.com Editors
Vehicle Overview

The Hyundai Santa Fe Sport has two rows of seats and room for five people. It's shorter than the three-row Santa Fe an... Read More

View 10 Photos

Latest 2016 Santa Fe Sport Stories

See all 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport articles >

Consumer Reviews

4.6
46 reviews
Exterior Styling
(4.9)
Performance
(4.4)
Interior Design
(4.6)
Comfort
(4.7)
Reliability
(4.6)
Value For The Money
(4.5)

What Drivers Are Saying

(5.0)

Best car I've ever owned.

by Ernhardt 3 from Carmel, New York on August 8, 2018

I'm in LOVE with my Santa Fe Sport....It's a real head turner. Love the panoramic sunroof. Can't stop opening and closing it. You should buy one, you'll be pleased you did. Read full review

(5.0)

Amazing vehicle. Love it more and more everyday

by Driving Smooth from APACHE JUNCTION on July 29, 2018

This vehicle is so comfortable to drive and feels as if it is driving itself alot of the time even though it does not have that feature. High performance while having more than respectful gas mileage ... Read full review

Safety & Recalls

Recalls

The 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport currently has 1 recall

IIHS Crash and Rollover Test Ratings

Based on 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport 2.4L

IIHS rates vehicles good, acceptable, marginal, or poor.

Front

Chest
good
Head/Neck
good
Hip/thigh
good
Lower leg/foot
marginal
Overall evaluation
marginal
Retraints and dummy kinematics
acceptable
Structure and safety cage
poor

Head Restraints and Seats

Dynamic Rating
good
Overall Rear
good
Seat Head/Restraint Geometry
good

Moderate overlap front

Chest
good
Head/Neck
good
Left Leg/Foot
good
Overall Front
good
Restraints
good
Right Leg/Foot
good
Structure/safety cage
good

Other

Roof Strength
good

Side

Driver Head Protection
good
Driver Head and Neck
good
Driver Pelvis/Leg
good
Driver Torso
good
Overall Side
good
Rear Passenger Head Protection
good
Rear Passenger Head and Neck
good
Rear Passenger Pelvis/Leg
good
Rear Passenger Torso
good
Structure/safety cage
good

Small Overlap Front - Driver Side

Chest
good
Head/Neck
good
Hip/Thigh
good
Lower Leg/Foot
marginal
Overall Evaluation
marginal
Restraints and Dummy Kinematics
acceptable
Structure and Safety Cage
poor
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is a nonprofit research and communications organization funded by auto insurers.

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Cars.com Car Seat Check

Certified child passenger safety technicians conduct hands-on tests of a car’s Latch system and check the vehicle’s ability to accommodate different types of car seats. The Santa Fe Sport received the following grades on a scale of A-F.*
* This score may not apply to all trims, especially for vehicles with multiple body styles that affect the space and design of the seating.

Warranty FAQs

What is a Bumper-to-Bumper warranty?

Often called a basic warranty or new-vehicle warranty, a bumper-to-bumper policy covers components like air conditioning, audio systems, vehicle sensors, fuel systems and major electrical components. Most policies exclude regular maintenance like fluid top offs and oil changes, but a few brands have separate free-maintenance provisions, and those that do offer them is slowly rising. Bumper-to-bumper warranties typically expire faster than powertrain warranties.

What is a Powertrain warranty?

Don't be misled a 10-year or 100,000-mile powertrain warranty doesn't promise a decade of free repairs for your car. It typically covers just the engine and transmission, along with any other moving parts that lead to the wheels, like the driveshaft and constant velocity joints. Some automakers also bundle seat belts and airbags into their powertrain warranties. With a few exceptions, powertrain warranties don't cover regular maintenance like engine tuneups and tire rotations.

What is included in Roadside Assistance?

Some automakers include roadside assistance with their bumper-to-bumper or powertrain warranties, while others have separate policies. These programs cover anything from flat-tire changes and locksmith services to jump-starts and towing. Few reimburse incidental costs like motel rooms (if you have to wait for repairs).

What other services could be included in a warranty?

Some automakers include free scheduled maintenance for items such as oil changes, air filters and tire rotations. Some include consumables including brake pads and windshield wipers; others do not. They are typically for the first couple of years of ownership of a new car.

What does CPO mean?

A certified pre-owned or CPO car has been inspected to meet minimum quality standards and typically includes some type of warranty. While dealers and third parties certify cars, the gold standard is an automaker-certified vehicle that provides a factory-backed warranty, often extending the original coverage. Vehicles must be in excellent condition and have low miles and wear to be certified, which is why off-lease vehicles feed many CPO programs.

See also the latest CPO incentives by automaker