DRIVEN: Hyundai Builds An SUV Contender

All sorts of sport utility vehicles have come my way over the years for testing, every size and type, and across a wide range of pricing.

So we have some measure of appreciation when a good SUV comes along that doesn’t break the bank, yet which delivers style, features and drivability that are above par. 

Such is the case with the all-new 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport, which has been thoroughly updated to compete with the best of its class. 

Hyundai has been on a tear in recent years, racking up gains in sales and market share, and the third-generation Santa Fe adds another piece to the South Korean’s lineup of expressive yet reasonably priced cars and SUVs. The look of the Santa Fe has gone from dowdy to downright handsome, and the experience behind the wheel was impressive. 

Sport is the shorter version of the Santa Fe, with the seven-passenger GLS heading up Hyundai’s crossover series. Lighter, tighter and better looking, the latest Santa Fe rolls out against a horde of compact and midsize crossovers from just about every automaker in what has become the hottest segment in the market

And typical of Hyundai, the price of the well-equipped , front-wheel-drive Sport base model undercuts most of them, starting at around $25,000. The full-zoot, all-wheel-drive turbo Sport with all the trimmings that I drove had a bottom line just over $33,000, including options. Not cheap, but reasonable considering the high level of equipment and road-going virtues. 

The latest Santa Fe is not merely a usable, practical and responsive crossover, it’s a fairly classy one that never feels like a budgetary alternative. It compares well with segment leaders Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 and Ford Escape. 

The base engine is a 2.4-liter direct-injected inline-four with 190 horsepower and 181 pound-feet. Both engines are linked with a new six-speed automatic transmission that performs quite well.
The Sport looks sporty, as it should. It’s about nine inches shorter than the three-row GLS, which is a more-substantial and traditional crossover powered by a 3.3-liter V6. The Sport has also slimmed down a bit, losing 266 pounds through the use of high-strength steel, which also adds to its torsional rigidity. 

Handling is agile for this type of high-profile vehicle, with Active Corner Control providing an extra measure of balance and stability. The steering response can be adjusted three ways: Comfort, Normal and Sport.

The interior is attractive and easy to live with. All the buttons and controls are logically placed and function properly. The optional leather seats in the test Sport were very nice. The back seat adjusts fore and aft, and folds down to create a flat cargo floor. There are also hidden storage bins under the floor. 

-Courtesy of Speed TV