Hyundai Santa Fe 2007+

somedai1

i agree - there is no way all the different models of Santa Fe with all the different option configurations would get seperate mileage ratings - they just thow out some generic #'s - but scientifically - there is no way that featherweight fwd would have the same mpg as the awd version

themoonman

Out of curiosity after reading these posts, I checked my 2007 Santa Fe. I turned off the engine, removed the key and started turning the steering wheel. It took at least a half turn before the lock engaged. I'm guessing that some posters who think they don't have an operational steering wheel lock just haven't muscled the wheel far enough (not easy without the help of power steering!)

gllund

You may be right. I reported on this forum that I turned mine about 1/2 a turn and it didn't lock. Went back out just now and it sure does lock. Just have to grunt it at least 1/2 turn. My last few vehicles only require about 1/8 of a turn.
Gord

mpuzach

OK, your post really spiked my curiosity. Count me as one who has absolutely insisted that my steering wheel doesn't lock. After reading your post I went outside and tried it again (for the umpteenth time). Guess what - it locked! I had to turn the wheel more than a half turn but it locked. Thanks for your diligence; to those who I may have offended by insisting that the Santa Fe's wheel doesn't lock, I sincerely apologize.

ssykes

FYI, I got the exact same deal on the same model in the DFW area. I feel like I got a very good deal! If you go to the pricing forum there is a posting that breaks it down for you and basically you and I got pretty much the lowest we were going to get. We have had it for one whole day now and love it!

No idea about the AWD as that is not needed in Texas - good luck!

smith1

08 Santa Fe specs are up at
http://www.hyundainews.com/Media_Kits/2008_Models/Santa_Fe/Specifications.asp

Not many changes. GLS loses heated mirrors, Limited gets the Infinity stereo standard. Still no ipod jack, apparently. Nav system will be an option, on Limited only.

And something I don't like -- apparently moonroof will also be standard on the Limited. I need the headroom.

mpuzach

It's kinda dumb that they have a lot of photos but none of the significant changes (e.g. the navigation system). I'm betting that all of the photos shown are of 2007s.

smith1

Agree, the pictures are probably 2007s. I'm expecting a few paint color additions/changes too, which are nowhere mentioned.

pinoytoronto

For the first couple of days driving my SF, I did notice some burning smell in the car. I had to open the windows to get some fresh air in. But I never really gave any thought to this until I saw this thread. But now (after a month), I do not smell it anymore. I think it was gone within the first week. Never really bothered me and thought it was the cars beside me, not mine, that smells... he he he.

raigan

Thanks for the feedback! Good to know the sales guy was really telling me the truth about the smell subsiding. Even better that I decided to make them wait on purchasing it..they lowered their price an extra $400 bucks. Nice to know procrastination pays offs.

joe97

Navigation will be a major addition for 08. There are a few other (minor) changes but as expected, there won't many for a second year model. Once the press release is up, a summary of all 08MY changes will be listed there.

smith1

If sunroof and Infinity audio are now standard on the Limited, its base price will probably be $1000 higher than 07. It was nice that in 07 you could get the top trim level without a sunroof. I hate paying for stuff I don't want.

Guess I'll be getting an SE, unless the 08 driver's seat happens to go lower than the 07.

reemoe

I just purchased an '07 Santa Fe with XM. How do I start my subscription? I didn't see anything listed about it in my owner's manual, etc.

hppd432

you don't have to do anything. They will call you and set everything up. Also you can use www.xmradio.com for free with your xm number that you can get on channel 1. :-) Love the XM in the 07' Santa Fe :-) Of course in three months you have to pay for subscription but well worth the price.

lv2drv

I agree with hppd432. Though, I think I went to XM'S website and looked up how to get started. I think it started automatically once I purchased the vehicle.

I received Sirius as a Christmas present but never really got used to it. It was hard for me to use, and find stations. With XM, the built-in letters and numbers are easy to read and the unit is easy to use. I love driving with my sun roof open and XM is on "Top Tracks" :shades: . Though it's been too hot lately to use the sun roof!

gizzer777

Don't worry, they will find you!(spam) you!) The past 3 vehicles I bought had it and It was hard to get them to slop sending me their garbage. Amazing, we pay extra money for a feathre so the vendor can make more money from us! That's backwards!)

For those traveling a good distance, it is better than radio...I do not travel much so i never activate. I WOULD RATHER HAVE A SPOT TO PLUG IN MY IPOD ANYWAY. mY nUVI 350 ALSO HAS A BUILT IN MP3 PLAYER THAT WOULD PLUG INTO THE JACK TOO (listen up Hyundai! :P) . INSTEAD, I JUST MAKE LOTS of music ON My IPOD(from the cd's I have bought thru the years) AND THEN COPY THEM ONTO A CD in mp3 format... No it is not hard, especially if you own a MAC and a PC! Have a nice collection now!

I have always hated recurring revenue schemes and this is one of the worst IMHO...content is getting like a satellite dish too ( Yes, i still have an 8 footer in the yard...not a pizza pan dish! :P ) Pay about $100 per YEAR for all the STARZ inc the 2 HD channels...Most of the BASIC pizza pan dish stuff is in the clear on the bUD anyway! (big ugly dish) Friends paying $75+ per month...better than being a lawyer!!!!

rick2456

Turn/jiggle the steering wheel. If it has tension on it, it will prevent you from turning the key.

rick2456

Actually it does. It happened to me when I was test driving the SF for a day. Called the salesman and he told me to jiggle the wheel and that did it.

rick2456

I can't argue with you there. I do wish Hyundai would make it possible to program the computer for those who prefer running lights. I do keeps my lights on manually, but I am sure that will effect the life of the bulbs as running lights typically work at a lower voltage.

somedai1

having to turn it so far seems like a defect. i won't pursue it cause i never used to ever use that feature on any of my cars... doesn't bother me - but if it is a defect that they'll fix under warranty - i'll have it fixed....

somedai1

yeah - burning smell is most likely from a fogging oil or something they use to prevent oxidation (surface rust) while the engines are sitting...

but don't relax - if you don't change your own oil - the oil change guys will usually spill oil on the engine and not clean it up - so watch for it...

maseace

The small silver radiator on the passenger side is the POWER STEERING OIL cooler, as confirmed with the online service manual at HMAservice.com. If you follow the hoses, they go to the PS fluid reservoir and the PS pump.">

pinoytoronto

Thanks for the warning... It couldn't have come at a better time for I am about to bring in my SF for her first oil change within the next two weeks.
I will definitely be raising an alarm for any weird (burning) smell or noise after the oil change.

somedai1

looks like there is also a TSB for noise resulting in noise from using aftermarket oil filters - sounds like bull...

maseace

That TSB is dated 2005, so it doesn't appear to affect new models. The Fram filter element CH9999 I bought for my 07 Santa Fe looks identical to the factory one and is made in Korea - I bet they come from the same supplier.

ghd1959

I have a 07 Santa Fe GLS with the smaller engine and less than 400 miles on it. This cannot be driven on the highway for a 100 mile trip until after the break in period???

maseace

From the manual:
No formal "break-in" procedure is required
with your new Hyundai. However, you can
contribute to the economical operation
and durability of your Hyundai by observing
the following recommendations during
the first 1,200 miles (2,000 km).
o Don't drive faster than 55 MPH (88 km/
h).
o While driving, keep your engine speed
(rpm, or revolutions per minute) between
2,000 rpm and 4,000 rpm.
o Use moderate acceleration. Don't start
quickly or depress the accelerator pedal
fully.
o For the first 200 miles (300 km), try to
avoid hard stops.
o Don't lug the engine (in other words,
don't drive so slowly in too high a gear
that the engine "bucks"-shift to a lower
gear).
o Whether going fast or slow, vary your
speed from time to time.
o Don't let the engine idle longer than 3
minutes at one time.
o Don't tow a trailer during the first 1,200
miles (2,000 km) of operation.

jack15

Can any of the golfers out there tell me if the Sante Fe can carry 4 people with golf bags and luggage to and from the airport ?
Thank You.

wjaner

Yes indeed! You will confidently get to the airport and back in the company of four golfers. Furthermore none of them will suffer from whiplash due to excessive accelleration. Thank the Lord for this trait because the Santa Fe is a sensible family sport vehicle and was not intended for blazing speed. Now if we could only make the average sensible driver realize that we only need one half of the horse power that John Q public has forced Hyundai Motors to put into our vehicles, we could stop going to bed with OPEC. I still have an 2003 SantaFe with a four cylinder engine that has 138 HP. Because I have never used more than one half of the total HP I can't decide what to do with the remaining 69 HP.

rick2456

As long as they don't have more than one suitcase, and that suitcase is not huge, yes, it can. Albeit, a bit crowded.

mcq1

I am going to be purchasing a 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe. Can you'll tell me what the average gas mileage is if I drive mostly freeway like 30% city 70% highway.
I test drove a Honda CRV but I just think it as enough room. I love the way the Santa Fe looks and I like all the room it has. I will be going from a Jeep Cherokee so I know I will save money on gas. After you drive an SUV you cannot go to a car. I can't anyway. Any comments would be appreciate it.

ps. Tell me why I should buy one. Thanks.

lv2drv

You will save money on gas. The SF is quieter and smoother. I've driven the Cherokee and I thought there was a lot of road noise. And I thought it felt and rode like a truck. That didn't cut it with me. I was driving an Intrepid and was ready for some quiet. Another plus, XM radio built in (at least in the Limited; I don't know about the SE or GLS). It looks similar to a Lexus, inside and out. You know those commercials for Mercedes-Benz where they say something like "No one loves their car as much as a Mercedes-Benz owner"? Baloney. I love my car so much I don't want my husband to drive it !

mcq1

Yeah I know how you feel. The Santa Fe is that kind of car. I really like the new design. It is very sleek and sporty.
Thanks for the information. I will have a hard time keeping it away from the hubby since he drives a Ford truck.
I don't plan on getting the Navi but I do want the top stereo, leather etc. Did you get AWD? I wonder if is worth it. What do you think?

mpuzach

Three months ago I had to turn in a 2-month-old LOADED Volvo XC90 AWD; it was a company car and I had to give it back when I left the company. (Figures!) Anyway, my wife and I had gotten used to having an SUV in our fleet since we'd had three different company-provided ones over the past 4 years. (My wife's daily driver is a 2006 Mazda 3 GT; my weekend toy is a 2005 Corvette.) Long story short, upon turning in the XC90 we decided to buy ourselves an SUV to add to the fleet.

I started off thinking "small and economical" and test drove a new Hyundai Tucson Limited AWD. The Tucson was a very sweet little SUV and it was surprisingly fun to drive. I was very surprised to find that it has amenities like HomeLink, an auto-dimming mirror, heated seats, illuminated vanity mirrors, and a pretty darned nice-sounding stereo. Part of me was ready to just buy the Tucson and be finished shopping; the wiser part of me figured, "Since we're here, we might as well look at the Santa Fe."

We took a Santa Fe Limited AWD for a drive and it was very impressive, even following the already-impressive Tucson. Both in an absolute sense and as compared with the Tucson, the Santa Fe was smooth, powerful, quiet, and luxurious. The overall feel of the car was superb in every regard. It was clear to me that Hyundai had come a long way!

We left the Hyundai dealership without buying since I knew that I wanted to check out more of the competition. Over the next couple of weeks I closely checked out a lot of stuff including the Chevy Equinox (nice looking, comfortable, available with navigation, but very boring to drive), Dodge Caliber (too spartan inside, under-powered, only engine is 4-cylinder, CVT transmission), Dodge Nitro (pretty nice, actually; auto transmission is only a 4-speed, interior is pretty stark, exterior styling rather polarizing), GMC Acadia (great vehicle but very expensive once you equip it properly), Honda CR-V (made the final cut since it's available with leather + navigation but test drive was disappointing - under-powered with only engine being a 4-cylinder and absolutely no fun to drive), Mitsubishi Outlander (excellent SUV, only one in this class with available xenons AND navigation, same excellent warranty as Hyundai; interior a little bland, brand's future seems shaky in the U.S.), Toyota Highlander (WAY more expensive), and the list goes on. After checking everything out both in person and on-line, the only other SUV we came close to buying was the Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited. In truth, I liked it a lot given its standard V8, "manly" styling, very high equipment level, and available navigation. They're a lot more expensive than the top-end Santa Fe, but they're also being discounted much more heavily. After discounts and rebates I could have bought a new Grand Cherokee Limited AWD for around $33,000 (M.S.R.P. approx. $39,000). In the end, though, we went for the Santa Fe Limited AWD with Premium Package, carpeted mats, and first aid kit for $27,000. Besides costing $6000 less than the Jeep (and I still can't believe that I'm saying this), the Hyundai was more enjoyable to drive than the Jeep! The Jeep, with its macho styling, V8 engine (not the Hemi), and excellent off-road ability simply wasn't as much fun as the Hyundai. Add to that the Santa Fe's fresh styling, added rear seat room (vs. the Jeep), industry-leading warranty, stunning interior (complete with illuminated cup holders!), and 18" wheels (vs. the Jeep's 17") and the choice becomes even easier.

We've had our Santa Fe for 3 months now and we've driven it 3300 miles. (Even though it's our "third car" it is frequently our vehicle of choice; my Corvette often stays in the garage so I can drive the Hyundai!). I can't say enough good things about the Santa Fe. It's a genuine pleasure to drive; in fact, I like it every bit as much as I did the 2007 Volvo XC90 it replaced. Personally, I don't see how anyone looking for a small to mid-sized SUV could go wrong with the Santa Fe. I highly recommend it.

kdahlquist

"Can you'll tell me what the average gas mileage is if I drive mostly freeway like 30% city 70% highway."

I have a 2007 Santa Fe Limited AWD that I bought new in May. It now has 4,000 miles on it. I'm getting about 19 mpg in mostly city driving. On the highway I get 22-23.

lv2drv

I have FWD. We live in SE Iowa and if it's icy, we stay home. FWD has always worked for me in the past and with ABS and other safety features, I thought I would save the money.

I don't have Navi, either. I have a good sense of direction and I stop and ask when I have a hard time finding my desination. I do love the stereo and XM. Some say the sound isn't the greatest, but I think it's fine. I love the leather. I have the beige interior and i have to clean it a bit more often, but it's worth it when it's so stinking hot. I also have the sun roof :shades: . It is such a great vehicle!

mcq1

Wow thanks for the post. Lots of good information. helped I was already leaning heavily towards the Santa Fe but you more than convinced me about it. How is your mpg with the AWD? I want to get the limited with the top stereo but not the NAVI plus I don't want the 3rd row seating either.
I actually have a 1997 Jeep Laredo that I plan to replace with the Santa Fe. Overall it has been a good car for me but it is time for a change. We tend to keep our cars for a long time and that is the reason why I am looking at the Santa Fe. It has a superb warranty and hopefully it will hold as well as my Jeep. Thanks again for the reassurance.

maseace

I have the Limited AWD with ultimate package & XM, without the 3rd row seats. It was very hard to find this package without the 3rd row in slate blue! In town I only get 18 mpg, but on long trips I have broken 25 mpg.

bj02176

Stay away from the 2.7 awd, while it handles and brakes well, and is very stable on the highway at 80, it needs other than 87 to perform well. Mileage with mostly highway driving on weekdays and hardly any stop and go suburban driving on the weekends mileage is about 16 overall. This was at about 8000 miles, could be better now, but doesn't seem to be, not bothering to test anymore.

And what's with this awd drive system, can spin the wheels, could never do this with my 2005 Escape.

somedai1

nice thesis!! the santa fe is fun - had to weasel out of a speeding ticket today - but with the svc eng light problems i was thinking about trading into a Jeep with their new lifetime drivetrain warranty!

slateblue

Over the last two tanks of gas I have been averaging 23.9 mpg, this is mostly freeway and rural driving. Prior to that I have consistently been averaging 22+ mpg in mixed driving conditions. Partly due to a light foot on the gas pedal. The mpg has been improving somewhat with every tankful. My calculations are based on gallons used divided into miles driven. Computer calculated mpg is usually on the high side.

You made an excellent choice with the Santa Fe, I could not be more pleased with mine. Quiet, smooth ride, excellent handling and a boat load of safety features. I did a lot of research before I bought mine and I have not been disappointed.

Good luck with your purchase and let us know how you like it.

mpuzach

For 2008 the Infinity audio system is standard on Limited models. Rumor has it that navigation will be optional on Limiteds but I haven't seen any details. I believe the power moonroof will be standard on 2008 Limiteds as well. (It was a $950 option on 2007s, called the Premium Package.)

My fuel economy with AWD is 22 - 24 on the highway, 15 - 16 in stop-and-go driving. With the 3.3 that comes in the Limited, AWD doesn't affect fuel economy by more than a mile per gallon.

mcq1

Wow having all that standard should be real nice. I will probably opt out the AWD. I don't think I need it where I live. If it has all those options included I should be able to purchase a limited without adding anything else. You can't do that with other cars.
I do mostly highway driving with some rural since I live in the burbs. I should be able to get 22-24 mpg which will be a big improvement over what we get with the Jeep and our Ford truck.
Let me know if you get more information on the 2008's like pricing and stuff.
thanks.

smith1

Making the moonroof standard on the 08 Limited is NOT good news for taller drivers -- it has the effect of making the Limited not a viable option for some of us. The SF doesn't have terrific driver headroom and at 6'4" my head hit the headliner badly with the sunroof. I think it has something to do with the seats being rather high -- I cranked them down as low as possible but still found headroom to be inadequate.

This means that if I buy a SF in 08 it will have to be an SE, unless there is some way to special order a Limited with the sunroof deleted. If this isn't possible I'm considerably less likely to buy a Santa Fe at all, because I like leather and power seats.

lv2drv

This is true. We have an 07 SF Limited with sunroof. My husband test drove the SE. I test drove the Limited w/sunroof. He is 6'2" or 6'3". If he doesn't wear his ball cap, he fits perfectly. So he puts it on when he exits the car.

cnod

I drive a 2007 Santa Fe Limited. Mine did not come with the sunroof. At 6'3", I have plenty of headroom, even if the seat is not all the way down. It must be a matter of individual torso from waste up I suppose. I have been very pleased with the comfort where in other SUV's I have topped out in headspace.

gizzer777

I guess it pays to be a short guy...at 5'8, I fit into all of them...no problemo :shades:

BTW: I have an 07 SE Santa FE AWD and am really enjoying it...I gave up on sunroofs years ago with one exception...had a mini cooper where I actually used and enjoyed it!

mcq1

Hey the Santa Fe is going to be my car and I am 5'5'' but my husband is 6'2"" so maybe he will have problemas because I want the sunroof. One way to keep the car all to myself!!

lv2drv

He will fit unless he wears a ball cap. But, I understand you want to keep the car to yourself. I let my husband drive us to town last night, but I wasn't crazy about it. It really is fun to drive this car !

smith1

I too had enough headroom in SF without sunroof. The problem is the sunroof.