Hyundai Santa Fe (2006 – 2012) Review
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Hyundai Santa Fe (2006 – 2012) At A Glance
Relaxed motorway cruising. Comfortable ride. Excellent on very rough tracks. Available with seven seats. Good value. Much improved from 2010 with new 2.2-litre diesel.
2006 - 2009 five-speed manual has big gap between 2nd and 3rd gears. Plastics on early cars felt a little scratchy.
At the risk of upsetting Ken Livingstone, between 1996 and 2005 the UK market for what he calls "4x4s" has grown by 1,310 per cent. Hyundai sells 9805 a year, which gives it a 6.9 per cent of this lucrative business. Between 2001 and 2005 Hyundai sold 17,462 of its Santa Fe model alone. This probably has less to do with the Santa Fe's off road ability than its on road ability to shrug off speed humps without damaging either itself or its occupants. The people who drive them are far from the "idiots" Ken brands them as. That description might be more appropriate to the people who ordered the installation of the road humps that inevitably led to this change in the type of vehicle so many people now drive.
Meanwhile Hyundai has not let the Santa Fe rest on its muscular haunches. Instead the company presents us with a bigger, better and altogether new Santa Fe; one that can comfortably seat the same seven people as the average 50 seater bus carries, or, alternatively, rids city streets of as many as six unnecessary single-occupant cars.
Instead of the original organic look, Hyundai has gone for clean lines and a soft, pedestrian-friendly front, retaining only the sensible, chunky rear door handle of the original and, less successfully, its 2.7 V6 engine with 4-speed automatic transmission.
Hyundai Santa Fe 2006 Road Test
Hyundai Santa Fe 2010 Road Test and Video
Reviews for Hyundai Santa Fe (2006 – 2012)'s top 3 rivals
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Hyundai Santa Fe (2006 – 2012) handling and engines
- Engines range from 2.2 CRTD to 2.7 V6
- Readers report Real MPG to be between 16–44 mpg
Rather than waste your time describing the bland and boring way the 2.7 V6 drives, I'm going to concentrate on the vastly superior 2.2 diesel.
You can buy it with a 5-speed manual box, for £1000 less than the 5-speed auto, but, unless you specifically need an ultra low 1st and 2nd gear, or need to tow more than 2,000kg I advise you not to. The lever has a long throw, the box isn't pleasant to use and though the auto isn't perfect it is much better to drive.
The strong, flat torque curve and well-matched 5-speed autobox immediately make it feel much more responsive than the lead-footed V6 auto. As soon as you take it off smoothly metalled roads you forgive the car its acceptable, but slightly ponderous road handling. Off road, or on a bumpy, badly rutted track, or a Central London street with traffic harming measures, the car is superb. With 3rd gear of the Tiptronic type back-to-front autobox selected, it simply romps along, as at home in these conditions as a decent sportscar is on a racetrack. It's also very comfortable, absorbing bumps and ruts that live axle 4x4 pick-up would transmit straight to the cabin. And, because it keeps its wheels on the ground, you can actually go a lot faster. It has a full complement of ABS with EBD, ESP and TCR to keep it safe. If the going gets muddy you can select a centre diff lock that feeds power 50/50 to each axle up to 40kph, then ‘on demand' to the axle with the most traction above that speed.
On the motorway it cruises at a fairly relaxed 30mph per 1,000rpm in 5th (27.5 in the 5 speed manual). There isn't a lot of tyre roar or wind noise (unless the wind is blowing hard and catching in the roof rails). The dash is pleasant to behold. The mirrors are big. And the seats are comfortable. Even the centre rear row of seats happily takes three across, rather than two and a child. The new Santa Fe is 4,675mm long by 1,890mm wide by 1,795mm high (including the standard roof rails and cross-bars). That makes it pretty much the same size as a VW Touareg, Mercedes ML, Lexus RX300 and Volvo XC90. It doesn't carry the same status, of course. No more status than the KIA Sorento. But at prices from £20,995 it's more than 50% cheaper than some of these and offers a 7-seat option which most of the others don't.
And on top of all that it comes with a 5 year, unlimited mileage, fully transferable manufacturer warranty (not a ‘mechanical breakdown insurance), as long as you get it serviced to manufacturer standards. (You don't even have to use Hyundai dealers, though it would make better sense to do so,)
So whenever mums are non status-seeking, you can expect to see a lot more Hyundai Santa Fes on the London school run. Until Ken bans them and compels everyone to travel on one his buses or tube trains. Elsewhere in the country you will simply see a lot more Hyundai Santa Fes.
UPDATE - 2009 FACELIFT
The 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe 2.2 diesel auto was always a good 4x4. Especially good to drive quickly on rough tracks. For 2010 it's gone through some mid-life changes. You can't get the petrol V6 any more. Power of the 2.2 diesel is up, from 154bhp to 194bhp. Yet economy is also up, and emissions are down, all well under 200g/km. The manual is in VED Band I, and the auto in Band J.
Instead of 5 gears you now get six, whether you go for the manual or the automatic, and that will bridge the gap of the old 5-speed manual between 2nd and 3rd. Yet prices are down, starting at just £21,495 for the 5-seater manual in Style trim, and rising no higher than £25,495 for the 7-seater Premium 6-speed automatic.
The 2.2 engine is now chain cam and up in capacity slightly to 2,199cc. Torque is a stonking 422Nm at 422Nm from 1,800 to 2,500rpm. And the automatic gets even more. A frankly astonishing 436Nm, and all this from just 2,199cc. Amazing. The latest Toyota Landcruiser LC develops nothing like this from an engine 800cc bigger.
I remember the original Santa Fe in this body as being less than great on the road, but absolutely stunning on rough dirt tracks where it would romp along at 70mpg as if they were race circuit smooth asphalt. This one, on its 245/60 R18 tyres was totally unruffled on the roads.
I'm a bit circumspect hustling something as tall as this round bends but discovered I had nothing to worry about at all. It just went round. I guess the boys at Autocar would push it further until they found the limits, then compare it to an X5 or something, but I was simply happy enough with what it would do. It isn't a sportscar and I wouldn't drive it like one.
But it is a very pleasant thing to drive. The 6-speed box slurs its changes and keeps the revs quite high until everything is warmed up. Then the dash shows a little green ‘ECO' light when you're behaving yourself and anyway there's little need to venture beyond 2,000rpm because that gets you 70 in 6th.
Cruise control is on the steering wheel and the buttons are shaped like Braille so you can switch between its various functions without having to look. It's actually very good cruise control, easy to operate first time out, easy to over-ride and ideal for those endless 50 limits on the M1 these days.
As before, you get 7 seats and the load deck is a doddle to rearrange. The rearmost seats simply pull out of the floor in one simple cantilever movement. The centre seats flop down 35/65 in one go, using a similar cantilever mechanism. And the nearside single seat double folds with a catch at back and side to let the nippers out of the rearmost seats. These don't have the legroom or toe-room of a Mercedes GL, LandRover Discovery or even a Chevrolet Captiva. But they are on a par with a Volvo XC70, an Audi Q7 or a Nissan Pathfinder.
The Premium version I was driving came with very sturdy feeling leather seats, heated in the front, electric folding mirrors and lots of convenient places to put things in the sensibly designed console between the front seats. There are USB/Ipod dockets, an Aux socket, power sockets front and rear (as well as a fag lighter).
For off roading you can switch off the ESP and switch on a centre diff lock. The 6-speed manual will haul a 2,500kg caravan, and even the auto is rated to tug 2,000kg. You can tell the new car from the old by its revised (unaggressive) grille, new clear headlight clusters, new front and rear bumpers, different alloy wheels, and new big fat dual exhaust tailpipes.
I suppose as someone who has virtually given up and merely drives a FIAT 500, the most telling discovery was how well I got on with this comparative monster of a car. It's light and easy to drive, very easy to get on with, and doesn't irritate in any way.
Even though the new Santa Fe is totally inappropriate for my needs, I could get on with it fine. And that's not something I could say about any other large SUV in near, mid or distant memory.
| Engine | MPG | 0-62 | CO2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.2 CRDi | 42 mpg | 9.8 s | 176 g/km |
| 2.2 CRDi Automatic | 38–39 mpg | 10.2 s | 194–197 g/km |
| 2.2 CRTD | 39 mpg | 11.6 s | 191 g/km |
Real MPG average for the Hyundai Santa Fe (2006 – 2012)
Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.
Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.
Average performance
84%
Real MPG
16–44 mpg
MPGs submitted
318
Hyundai Santa Fe (2006 – 2012) interior
- Boot space is 969–2247 litres
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 4650–4675 mm |
| Width | 1890 mm |
| Height | 1760–1795 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2700 mm |
For £600 extra you not only get two more seats with their own individual heating and ventilation, but also hydro-pneumatic self-levelling rear suspension. (So if you want to tow, buy the 7 seater.)
Those rearmost seats aren't just for kids, either. They unfold out of the load area floor in one easy movement and by offering toe space under the seat in front were not only comfortable for me at 5' 9" but could, at a pinch, also be used by my 6' 5" colleague.
Hyundai Santa Fe (2006 – 2012) models and specs
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 4650–4675 mm |
| Width | 1890 mm |
| Height | 1760–1795 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2700 mm |
| Miscellaneous | |
|---|---|
| Kerb Weight | 1873–1987 kg |
| Boot Space | 969–2247 L |
| Warranty | 5 years / Unlimited miles |
| Servicing | 10000–20000 miles |
| Costs | |
|---|---|
| List Price | £21,590–£28,460 |
| Insurance Groups | 26–30 |
| Road Tax Bands | I–J |
| Official MPG | 24.8–41.5 mpg |
| Euro NCAP Safety Ratings | |
|---|---|
| Adult | 4 |
| Child | 4 |
| Pedestrian | - |
| Overall | - |
On sale until September 2012
| 4 X 4 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| 2.2 CRDi Premium (5 seat) 5dr | £25,755 | 41.5 mpg | 9.8 s |
| 2.2 CRDi Premium (5 seat) Auto 5dr | £27,460 | 39.2 mpg | 10.2 s |
| 2.2 CRDi Premium (7 seat) 5dr | £26,755 | 41.5 mpg | 9.8 s |
| 2.2 CRDi Premium (7 seat) Auto 5dr | £28,460 | 38.2 mpg | 10.2 s |
| 2.2 CRDi Style (5 seat) 5dr | £23,755 | 41.5 mpg | 9.8 s |
| 2.2 CRDi Style (5 seat) Auto 5dr | £25,460 | 39.2 mpg | 10.2 s |
| 2.2 CRDi Style (7 seat) 5dr | £24,755 | 41.5 mpg | 9.8 s |
| 2.2 CRDi Style (7 seat) Auto 5dr | £26,460 | 38.2 mpg | 10.2 s |
On sale until June 2009
| 4 X 4 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| 2.2 CRTD CDX (5 seat) 5dr | £23,380 | 38.7 mpg | 11.6 s |
| 2.2 CRTD CDX (5 seat) 5dr Auto | £23,380 | - | - |
| 2.2 CRTD CDX (7 seat) 5dr | £24,430 | 38.7 mpg | 11.6 s |
| 2.2 CRTD CDX (7 seat) 5dr Auto | £24,430 | - | - |
| 2.2 CRTD CDX+ (5 seat) 5dr | £24,530 | 38.7 mpg | 11.6 s |
| 2.2 CRTD CDX+ (5 seat) 5dr Auto | £24,530 | - | - |
| 2.2 CRTD CDX+ (7 seat) 5dr | £25,580 | 38.7 mpg | 11.6 s |
| 2.2 CRTD CDX+ (7 seat) 5dr Auto | £25,580 | - | - |
| 2.2 CRTD GSI (5 seat) 5dr | £21,590 | 38.7 mpg | 11.6 s |
| 2.2 CRTD GSI (5 seat) 5dr Auto | £21,590 | - | - |
| 2.2 CRTD GSI (7 seat) 5dr | £22,680 | 38.7 mpg | 11.6 s |
| 2.2 CRTD GSI (7 seat) 5dr Auto | £22,680 | - | - |
On sale until December 2008
| 4 X 4 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| 2.7 V6 CDX (5 seat) 5dr Auto | £23,865 | - | - |
| 2.7 V6 CDX (7 seat) 5dr Auto | £24,940 | - | - |
| 2.7 V6 CDX+ (5 seat) 5dr Auto | £25,040 | - | - |
| 2.7 V6 CDX+ (7 seat) 5dr Auto | £26,115 | - | - |
Model History
March 2006
Hyundai launches new stretched Santa Fe with five or seven seats and bigger than the Tucson. 4675mm x 1890mm x 1725mm with maximum load capacity 2248 litres.
Upgraded 2.7 V6 petrol engine or new 150PS 2.2-litre common rail diesel with variable geometry turbo. On sale in the UK from mid April 2006. New 2.2 diesel engine with 5-speed autobox is a very good combination, excellent off road. Seven seater versions really do seat seven, rearmost seats easily fold up out of boot floor. Manual diesel tows 2200kg; others 2000kg. Makes a much better case for itself than previous Santa Fe.
C02 emissions for the 2.2 diesel are 191g/km for the manual and 218g/km for the auto, so all within the Band F VED limit. Manual diesel does 38.7mpg combined.
August 2007
Special edition launched, called Santa Fe Limited, offering £900-£1100 worth of additional equipment over the usual CDX 2.2-litrediesel model. Available as five-seater for £23,795 or a seven-seater for £24,895; automatic versions are priced at £25,195 and £26,295 respectively. Metallic and Mica paint are an additional £375.00. Spec includes integrated running boards and wheel arch trims, privacy glass, reversing sensors, sports mesh grille, limited badges and a choice of four colours – Ebony Black, Sleek Silver, Gun Metal and Black Pearl.
October 2008
Santa Fe Petrol-Electric Hybrid concept shown at Paris Motor Show, maintains the overall design of the existing Santa Fe, yet is an entirely different vehicle under the skin. Has a new hybrid drive system, which mates the current 2.4-litre petrol engine to a six-speed automatic transmission and a 30kW electric motor powered by lithium-ion batteries. The end results in CO2 emissions of just 148g/km and a fuel consumption figure of 44mpg.
September 2009
Significantly-revised Santa Fe, which benefits from a wide range of engineering and cosmetic changes to fine-tune the driving experience and make it even more competitive versus rival 4x4s. The Santa Fe too has styling revisions, but the big news is under the skin, with new powertrain, steering and suspension. Mated to the recently-launched diesel engine, codenamed ‘R’, these modifications have created a balanced and refined model, well suited to on-road and off-road driving.
November 2009
Huge improvements for 2010 include new chain cam 2,199cc R Type diesel engine with 194bhp and 422Nm torque for the manual, 436Nm torque for the auto. Sll gearboxes now 6 speed, eliminating the gap between 2nd and 3rd in the manual. Manual can now tow 2500kg. Manual 176g/km VO2 and 41.5mpg; diesel 197g/km and 39.2mpg.
2010 Prices (at 17.5% VAT)
2.2 CRDI Style 5-seat manual £21,495
2.2 CRDI Style 5-seat automatic £22,995
2.2 CRDI Style 7-seat manual £22,245
2.2 CRDI Style 7-seat automatic £23,7495
2.2 CRDI Premium 5-seat manual £23,245
2.2 CRDI Premium 5-seat automatic £24,745
2.2 CRDI Premium 7-seat manual £23,995
2.2 CRDI Premium 7-seat automatic £25,495
What to watch out for
One report of a clutch and DMF problem on a manual.
One report of failure of air conditioning system, said to be due to drive belt tensioner, that immobilised the car. Subsequent failure of a/c pump clutch causing parts to fall off and again immobilising the car.
Multiple reports of intermittent failure of the cruise control on 2010MY R-Type 2.2 diesels.
Underslung full size spare wheel is vulnerable to theft.
21-01-2013:Reports of 'high pressure fuel pumps' springing leaks on original 2006 - 2009 2.2 diesel.
09-06-2013:Mystery problem causing lack of power and dropping into limp home mode on 2010 R-Type auto after long periods spent idling or queuing in traffic in high ambient temperatures. Turned out to caused by a gummed up Exhaust Gas Recirculation valve.
02-07-2013:Report of two spare wheel thefts in 4 days. The spare continues to be suspended in a cage under the rear of the vehicle and no one seems to offer a lsecure locking system. The cost of replacing a wheel is £330, plus tyre, plus cable mechanism, plus labour.
09-09-2013:Report of injector seal failure on 80k mile September 2006 Santa Fe leading to carbon build up and engine failure. Quoted £10,000 to repair (which must have been for a new engine).
18-09-2013:DPF on 2007 2.2 CRDI failed after mostly motorway driving. No mileage given.
08-10-2013:Reader complaint that the parking brake of his 2008 Santa Fe automatic failed its first MoT at 12,000 miles because of an ineffective parking brake. He now has a 2011 Santa Fe automatic and on that, too, the parking brake only just holds the car on a minor slope. The 'Park' setting of the transmission does, of course, hold the car.
01-12-2013:Clutch master cylinder failure on 47k mile 2010/10 reg 2.2 R-Type manual that regularly tows a 500kg trailer.
25-04-2014:Report of regular screen breakages. Screens seem to be prone to stones chips at the edges setting off stress cracks across.
29-07-2014:Report of fuel system problems with 34k mile 2010 Hyundai Samta Fe R-Type 2.2 diesel. First time a blocked fuel filter. Second time, metal swarf in the fuel in the filter, thought to be from the low pressure fuel tank sender pump starting to break up. Reader's neighbour had the same problem with the same model Santa Fe.
02-03-2015:Occasional severe jolt felt from rear axle of 3-year old Santa-Fe.
01-04-2015:Numerous problems reported with 2006 Santa Fe 2.2CRDI Auto bought in May 2011. Two replacement alternators required, oned rear self-levelling unit, several balljoints. Timing belt replaced at 60k miles. Then at 94k miles oil pressure light came on, tappety noise, told by garage it needs a new engine. Could be that oil strainer became blocked. Vital that oil is drained via the sump plug rather than siphoned out of the engine because thar can leave a residue of tar in the sump. (But see 9-9-2013.)
21-04-2015:Front suspension lower arm bushes of April 2011 Santa Fe failed and began to knock at 56k miles just after 4th service. Finally diagnosed at 61k miles. Dealer and Hyundai said not a warranty repair and charged £800.
15-11-2015:Report of fuel tank of 2011/61 Hyundai Santa Fe de-laminating after filling with Tesco diesel that was found to contain a high 15.8% proportion of biodiesel. Hit with a bill of £6,000 for new fuel tank and fuel system repairs.
16-01-2016:Report of underslung spare wheel being stolen and great difficulty in finding a 2nd hand replacement.
14-04-2016:Report of fumes in the engine compartment of 2009 pre R-Type Hyundai Santa Fe belt-can 2.2 diesel. Caused by a problem with the EGR that was cured by a little known software upgrade.
18-04-2016:Timing belt engine of 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe failed at 88k miles. Probably timing belt failure.
10-05-2016:Another report of historical clutch failure on a 2011/60 reg Hyundai Santa Fe 2.2 R-Type manual. Seems to have been the clutch master cylinder (as 1-12-2013). A lot of fluid discharged over a car park. Happened in Swizerland and problems in obtaining replacement part. Eventually fixed in Switzerland after 10 days and owner able to drive it back to the UK.
17-05-2016:Report of failure of crankshaft damping pulley on 2011 Hyunda Santa Fe 2.2CRDI R-Type engine immediately after purchase from used car dealer.
31-10-2016:Loss of power reported from 2010m Hyunda Santa Fe R-Type 2.2 194PS. Suspect carbed up turbo bearing oil feed and oil return pipes.
02-12-2016:Report of 2010/60 reg Hyundai Santa Fe failing MoT due to rusted engine subframe. Initially quoted £1,700 to replace. M echanic said it should of not happened and not enough protection was applied during manufacture. Appealed to Hyundai who claimed it was the first case they had heard of.
27-02-2017:Report of engine block and head failure of 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe 2.2 R-Type in 2015 at around 94,000 miles. Then a 2nd failure in February 2017 at 125,000 miles. Hyundai dealer's explanation: "The engine was replaced due to a head gasket leak. Upon removing the cylinder head we found the cylinder head and engine block had slight pitting. As this model cannot have the cylinder head or the engine block skimmed it was authorised to replace both parts. The failed part on the 2nd occasion is the engine oil cooler which acts as a small radiator keeping the engine oil cool. It appears the internal seal has blown allowing the oil to be pumped straight into the coolant system creating complete oil loss and filling the coolant and heating systems with oil. This was an original part that was transferred from the original engine along with all other auxiliary parts, 31,000 miles ago. This caused the engine to run without sufficient lubrication causing crankshaft and camshaft damage and all bearings related. In addition the engine got very hot possibly causing damage to other components."
15-02-2018:Fault between the remote key and immobiliser/receiver in 2010 Hyunda Santa Fe R-Type diesel. Difficult to start when hot. Sometimes it will just turn over on the key without firing. If owner takes the key out, locks the fob whilst sitting in the driver’s seat, unlocks it immediately and puts the key back in, it starts straightaway. Separately, sometimes the remote will not lock the car and he is forced to use the key in the driver’s door. Most times it locks perfectly at a distance. The batteries have been changed. Hyundai dealers can find "no fault" after electronic interrogation.
22-03-2018:Report of driveshaft failure on 2011 Hyundai Santa fe manual; quoted £1,100 for replacement including labout. Didn't say which driveshaft.
25-07-2018:Report of front and rear nearside door locks of 2011 Hyundai Santa fe failing in May 2017. Owner had to pay £600 for replacements. The replacements then failed in November 2017 and were replaced free of charge under the 2 year parts warranty. The 2nd replacements then failed in July 2018 and owner was asked to pay £600 for 3rd replacements because he had not paid for the 2nd replacements.
27-05-2019:Report of timing chain jumping in 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe 2.2 CRDI at 75,000 miles. Local garage plans to do a compression check to test for valve damage.
25 dated faults reported since January 2011
