2.2 CRDi Style (7 seat) 5dr 4 X 4

Brilliant- if a little thirsty

Having been tempted by my fathers VW Tiguan, I looked into getting a 4x4. It was a toss up between this and the ix35. Although i liked the 35, we then decided to get a caravan, which swung it for the Santa Fe - although we've not towed yet !

The badge did put me off, but having spoken to owners while out and about, everyone recommended the car car. One chap rated it higher than the Merc he owned. So, we placed an order.

The car itself is superb. It is quiet, well equipped and seemingly well made. Bags of room too. I've only done 2400 miles in mainly commuting in cold weather, so I expect the economy to improve from its current 37mpg as the weather warms and the engine loosens. We saw 41mpg when on a mway trip mind.

It gets the thumbs up from anyone who has been in it too.

I had trouble finding a manual one to test drive - they are out there, and local dealers were unwilling to come up with sensible prices. I got a cracking deal from Motorfair in Birmingham - 150 miles away but worth the journey. I had visions of waiting months for the car, but ended up asking the dealer to wait - several cars in my spec were sitting at Tilbury docks, fresh off the boat !

The auto seems a lot slower, while it churns its oil over. The manual is a different car altogether, much more responsive. Plus, you get a proper, lever operated handbrake on the manual cars The engine is superb, very flexible, quiet and smooth, and it has a chain driven camshaft.

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