19 Jan 2017
Would you like to see how far Korean automakers have advanced in terms of quality and appeal? There is no need to look past the Hyundai Santa Fe. Although the second-generation model went upscale with a smoother design and plenty of equipment, it is the current car that has elevated Hyundai to a premium level. Its attractive lines are a long cry from those of the boxy original from 2001.
With its prominent chrome grille, sharp headlights, and limited window area, the design is appealing. Black plastic trim provides an air of off-road sophistication. Additionally, the premium inside has a sleek design and is fully equipped. Choose a Premium variant to enjoy extras like leather seat coverings, climate control, auto lights and wipers, a reversing camera, and satellite navigation. There is a seven-seat model as well, but we would only advise this if the additional space was really necessary because the claustrophobic last row is really only appropriate for little children. Additionally, the five-seater has a boot that is 585 liters larger than the seven-seat version, or 69 liters more.
The Santa Fe is a useful family vehicle that feels secure in slick driving situations thanks to its sophisticated 4WD technology. Hill descent control aids in maintaining order, and a 4WD lock improves its off-road capability. Additionally, the Hyundai is just as simple to drive when towing a maximum 500kg load thanks to the Trailer Stability Assist feature of the included ESP.
In This Article...
How Many Wheels Does the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe Have?
Nothing is more necessary for an effective SUV than all-wheel drive. Every model level of the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe is available with HTRACTM All-Wheel Drive, ensuring that whoever chooses it will always have the most traction possible. Find a Santa Fe with HTRACTM All-Wheel Drive if you live in a location where snow and ice are common since traction is more important. To discover more about HTRACTM All-Wheel Drive, how it functions, and where to purchase it, continue reading this entry.
Response from CarsGuide
Three model grades of the new-generation Hyundai Santa Fe have just been released in Australia, all of which come with all-wheel drive. There are no Santa Fe variants available in rear wheel drive, but front wheel drive may be a choice in other areas.
The Hyundai Santa Fe has two or four wheels.
Four different powertrains are currently offered for the Santa Fe, including plug-in hybrid and hybrid models. The 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that comes standard produces 191 horsepower, but purchasers can choose the more potent 2.5-liter turbocharged engine that produces 277 horsepower. Both come with a discrete eight-speed automatic transmission and either front-wheel drive as standard or all-wheel drive as an option. The hybrid variant employs a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and two electric motors to provide 226 horsepower and has all-wheel drive as standard. It has a six-speed automated transmission. An XRT model with the standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder performed poorly at our test track, needing 9.6 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph. We advise choosing the turbocharged Santa Fe if you want one that feels livelier. We timed an equipped Calligraphy model with a turbocharged four-cylinder in our test drive at a brisk 6.0 seconds from 0 to 60 mph. The Santa Fe has just enough agility and steering feedback to satisfy people who enjoy driving while also offering a comfortable and stable ride for daily tasks. The Chevy Blazer or Honda Passport are two excellent options for SUV buyers seeking a more engaging driving experience.
The Hyundai Santa Fe has all-wheel drive, right?
Hyundai offers four cars with all-wheel drive: the Palisade, Santa Fe, Tucson, and Kona. Naturally, both models can also be had with two-wheel drive for better fuel efficiency.
Are Hyundai cars four-wheel drives?
Hyundai AWD vehicles are designed to get you there, regardless of the state of the road. Most SUV models come with our most sophisticated system, HTRAC AWD (Hyundai TRACtion All Wheel Drive). For each wheel, HTRAC measures 50 inputs from the vehicle over 100 times per second to determine how much torque is required. This clever mechanism helps you retain traction by rerouting power between the front and back axles and applying light braking pressure to the left and right wheels if it notices slippage.
How does all-wheel drive on the Hyundai Santa Fe function?
All-wheel drive that is automatic. TorqTransfer System ITM-I by BorgWarner (interactive torque management I). The system detects front-wheel slippage in a vehicle and switches power automatically to the rear wheels using electronic sensors and microcomputer controllers. The system then decreases or shuts off power to the back wheels once the front wheels are no longer slipping.
The decreased slippage raises efficiency levels that improve traction, handling, and fuel efficiency of the vehicle. To further improve traction and stability, the ITM-I can integrate with additional systems including antilock brake systems and electronic stability programs.
You can provide better images or videos of the Hyundai Santa Fe I 3.5V6 2002-2009 if you have them. Send them to, please!
What Santa Fe models come with all-wheel drive?
The entry-level Santa Fe SE costs $27,200 and boasts a 191-horsepower engine, an eight-speed automatic transmission, and front-wheel drive as standard. This model offers all-wheel drive as a $1,700 option, as do the others.
Can a Santa Fe have its all-wheel drive turned off?
Selecting the ALL Wheel Drive (AWD) transfer mode when operating your car with all four wheels. By pressing the AWD LOCK button while on a regular road, the AWD LOCK mode can be turned off (the indicator light goes off)
What else is comparable to the Hyundai Santa Fe?
The 2019 Chevrolet Equinox is offered with a choice of two turbocharged gasoline engines or a turbocharged diesel engine, as well as front-wheel or all-wheel drive. A 7-inch color touchscreen with AM/FM, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto is included in the base infotainment system. In addition, there are two USB ports and 4G LTE Wi-Fi connectivity.
Although the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has not yet conducted crash tests on this crossover, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has given it an overall rating of 5 stars. A special Teen Driver function is one of the standard safety features that tracks a teen’s driving so that parents may support them in forming safe driving practices. There are four trim levels, ranging in price from the Equinox L at the base to the Premier at $31,000.
What does the top-tier Hyundai Santa Fe look like?
The two top trims of the 2020 Santa Fe model lineup are Limited and Limited 2.0T. The Limited has an MSRP of $35,875 for the base model and $37,725 for the Limited 2.0T.
The Hyundai Santa Fe’s lifespan
- Midsize Santa Fe SUVs from Hyundai are well-known for their dependability. Owners frequently write off between 150,000 and 200,000 miles just for routine maintenance.
- The easiest approach to increase the likelihood that a Hyundai Santa Fe will last 200,000 miles is to regularly service it. Every 3,000 to 5,000 miles, oil and filter changes are also included.
- Santa Fes from the first generation are incredibly dependable. In later years, reports of engine and gearbox failure, particularly with the 2.4L powerplant, were a problem.
- From 2013 through 2018, a new 2.0L turbocharged engine was installed in Santa Fe SUVs. Too many reports, too, describe failures prior to 100,000 miles.
- Latest Santa Fe’s starting in 2019 are the model’s most trustworthy yet. A fourth-generation Santa Fe should last a very long time based on the limited powertrain concerns.
Are Hyundai Santa Fe vehicles dependable?
With a reliability rating of 4.0 out of 5, the Hyundai Santa Fe is ranked second among 26 midsize SUVs. It has lower ownership costs than the national average due to the $515 average annual repair cost. The Santa Fe is one of the more dependable automobiles on the road since its maintenance are less severe and more seldom than those for other vehicles.
Which model, the Hyundai Tucson or Santa Fe, is superior?
While the Hyundai Tucson models have superior predicted highway fuel economy, the Hyundai Santa Fe lineup has more horsepower capacity. Although the Hyundai Tucson has more cargo space than the Hyundai Santa Fe, the Hyundai Santa Fe offers better passenger space.
When did the Santa Fe start having engine issues?
The most frequently reported problem with the Santa Fe, according to Car Problem Zoo, a website devoted to gathering owner feedback, is engine-related.
Though not to the same level, engine issues have been recorded for all model years, mainly between 2018 and 2010.
The following symptoms have been mentioned by owners:
- driving with a stalled engine
- A check engine light illuminates
- A lot of oil usage
- engine knocking noise
- complete failure of the engine
- Without any driver input, the vehicle accelerates on its own.
These issues were related to crankshaft manufacturing flaws that led to excessive engine bearing wear.
Additionally, there were issues with the engine’s connecting rod bearings, which are notorious for prematurely wearing out and making a banging noise.
Here is a description from one owner:
“As I continued down the exit ramp after my car lost power while I was still on the interstate, it stopped off and would not start again. There was absolutely no warning. There are no lights, smoke, noises, etc. 77,000 miles require the replacement of our engine. The dealership is placing the burden of the replacement expense on us. I’ve read accounts claiming that Hyundai engines frequently break down.”
Santa Fe’s size compared to Tucson’s.
If you compare the Hyundai Tucson with the Santa Fe Sport side by side, you won’t find many differences. You would notice, though, that altogether, the Hyundai Santa Fe Sport is larger than the Tucson.
The length is where the size disparity is most noticeable. The Santa Fe Sport measures 185 inches, compared to the Tucson’s 176 inches, making it a full nine inches longer. Similar in both height and width, the Santa Fe Sport is an inch larger overall. This larger dimension produces an SUV with a slightly more solid appearance and a slightly roomier interior.
What is the top-of-the-line SUV from Hyundai?
The 2022 Hyundai Palisade is the most costly SUV in the manufacturer’s portfolio, despite not being especially pricey. Starting at $48,390 for the Palisade in its most pricey configuration. The expensive SUV is also one of the best ones available, claims MotorTrend. We mean one of the best SUVs accessible, regardless of brand, not just one of the best Hyundai SUVs.
In essence, the Kia Telluride and the Palisade are nearly identical cars. Since they have so many similarities, it can occasionally be difficult to tell them apart. Because of this, both models are towards the top of practically all internet rankings lists. The Palisade will be among the best midsize SUVs, three-row SUVs, or whatever other category it falls under. For instance, MT ranked it fourth among three-row SUVs with an overall score of 8.4/10, after only the Subaru Ascent, Kia Telluride, and Honda Pilot.
What does the Hyundai AWD lock button do?
When the AWD lock button is activated, a 50/50 power bias is possible up to 20 mph/30 km/h. If you’re driving on a bad winter day with a lot of snow, for instance, you can leave it on. Running in sport mode while using an AWD also partially engages the AWD. This is not supported by any paperwork from Hyundai; rather, it is supported by documentation from another manufacturer. According to Toyota, the AWD system in my wife’s AWD Rav4 engages with 5% of its power in the back and 95% in the front when the vehicle is in sport mode. It gives the car a little “push” if you engage it at, say, 60 mph on the Rav4, and the Kona experiences the same thing. In sport mode, you are receiving some sort of full-time AWD involvement. I observe this when towing with the Kona as well. When you engage AWD, let’s say at 60 mph, you hear the load drop because both diffs are now bearing the towing weight.