Buying a used Hyundai Santa Fe (2012-2018)

As the 21st century dawned, Hyundai was still being seen as a peripheral player in the market for family-friendly transport.

That perception began to change just a few months into the new millennium though, when the Korean giant introduced a viable contender to the North American SUV market – the first-generation Hyundai Santa Fe (SM series).

Santa Fe models sold in the US had economical 2.4-litre engines or a 132kW V6, but Australia saw the V6 before any others. All versions sat on a 2620mm wheelbase, which was extended for 2006 when a seven-seat option was introduced.

The second-generation CM range which appeared late in 2006 added a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine and five-speed automatic transmission to the range. Here, it captured 5.5 percent of a competitive market where Nissan and Toyota were dominant, but Hyundai had plenty more to say as the Santa Fe evolved.

The DM series of Santa Fe was launched in Australia in September 2012, bringing a stronger structure and improved interior but no massive changes to mechanical specification.

Some markets saw the DM sold with 2.0-litre engines and a few held onto the ancient 3.5-litre V6. Shorter, five-seat versions were also sold in some markets, but DM models in Australia were exclusively seven-seaters.

While our vehicles were sourced from Korea and incorporated Australian design input, Hyundai was determined to make its family SUV a global car. The Santa Fe was built in big numbers and many different countries, ranging from Alabama in the US to Egypt and Vietnam.

The current fourth-generation Santa Fe was launched in Australia in July 2018.

• Some 2.4-litre petrol engines suffered internal damage due to manufacturing problems and have been replaced by the manufacturer.
• Electrical short circuits have caused some Santa Fe SUVs and other Hyundai models to catch fire. A recall was initiated and all affected vehicles should by now have been modified.
• Check under the car for damaged driveshaft boots, scrapes and dents.

The DM-series Hyundai Santa Fe’s distinctive design went well beyond the sheetmetal to influence the very structure of the vehicle.

At launch, Hyundai was keen to highlight the totally revamped body which was 70kg lighter than before but with a 16 percent improvement to rigidity.

The new model was slightly longer and lower than its predecessor but also a little narrower. Not that anyone noticed the 10mm reduction. With an unchanged 2700mm wheelbase, space was still available for the two third-row ‘kiddie seats’ that occupied a decent chunk of cargo space when deployed.

Three versions of the DM-series Santa Fe were sold in Australia, with all-wheel drive mandatory and the choice of a petrol or diesel engine. Manual or automatic versions were available but the diesel when hooked to the auto was able to deliver an extra 15Nm of torque to help with hills.

In basic Active form, the Santa Fe 2.4 petrol manual listed at $37,990 plus on-road costs. Hardly any were sold though, and manual Santa Fes have almost ceased to exist in the used market.

Although classed as an ‘entry’ model, the Active wasn’t short on features including seats with lumbar support, rear air-conditioning ducts, a multi-input sound system and plasti-wood dash inserts.

For the sake of safety and because the new styling didn’t help at all with rear vision, a panoramic camera provided good coverage of objects directly behind and at a 15-degree angle to the rear window.

Elite in this context doesn’t mean ‘top level’ but it is a big step up from ‘Active.’ The Santa Fe Elite came as a diesel only and every car in the used market seems to be automatic – six-speed with sequential shifting.

Inside the $48,490 Elite were leather-faced seats and an uprated dash. Helping keep the crowd down the back entertained was a beefed-up sound system with separate amplifier and 10 speakers. Other details included keyless start, heated front seats, privacy blinds and rain-sensing wipers.

Supplementing that list was an array of driver aids that would have been spectacular in a car costing $70,000, let alone one less than $50,000. They included lane departure and forward collision warnings, blind spot sensors and park assistance. Hill descent assistance was there too, for those venturing onto slippery tracks.

Top of the range for those who didn’t mind a serve of haggis with their guacamole was the Santa Fe Highlander. It was also available only as a diesel with auto transmission and cost almost $5000 more than the Elite.

Obviously, plenty of Santa Fe buyers could see value in owning the Highlander though, with around 45 per cent of deliveries being the $53,290 version. Among the differences helping justify the cost were 19-inch alloy wheels in place of the Elite’s 18s, uprated interior trim and a panoramic sunroof.

Highlander drivers could program the seat to remember their preferences and were also provided with an automated steering system with graphic display to help with parking.

Series II versions of the DM were announced for 2016, accompanied by minor tweaks to styling and equipment plus modest price rises.

The dash display was enlarged and Google Now voice control included. The Elite gained seat memory and an improved sound system, however it was buyers who chose the now $55,990 Highlander that would benefit the most. Highlander additions included autonomous braking and radar-monitored cruise control.

Above it had sat the SR version with body kit, sports suspension and unique wheels. These in 2016 cost $59,990 plus on-road costs, but that seems to be where the Santa Fe SR ended its run.

Anyone looking for excitement in a daily drive car probably isn’t looking at the Hyundai Santa Fe. Yet for reasons best known to people who review cars, the Hyundai has at times been picked upon for failing to entertain.

What the diesel Santa Fe does very well is get cracking without too much stuttering from the turbo and allow the driver to hold gears when situations require.

The seats – cloth or leather bound – are decently shaped and in some you can move and heat them by touching a couple of buttons. The dash is logical and, despite the climate controls looking a bit clunky, works well. The steering wheel controls look daunting but hopefully don’t take new owners too long to learn.

Access even for the less agile is excellent and the Santa Fe with its 185mm of ground clearance doesn’t sit so high that it obliges owners to install side steps.

Off-road performance isn’t often mentioned by Santa Fe owners but the model is reputedly competent without ever threatening to become a Toyota Prado. The diff lock ensures a 50:50 torque split, and unless you get a wheel airborne and pinch all the torque allocated to that end, probably works okay.

The steering has three settings and can be weighted to suit driver preference. The brakes mate 320mm of vented front rotors with solid 302mm rears and suffer no stress even when asked to deal with tight bends on a downhill run.

Towing capacity (braked) maxes out at 2000kg – disappointing for a diesel weighing 1.8 tonnes and which comes with every kind of traction, stability and brake control that was available in 2012.

Fuel consumption from a Series I Elite with automatic transmission is claimed to reach a city/highway cycle average of 7.3L/100km, but most people who use their cars for commuting and family running won’t get close to that number; 9.5L/100km is more likely and that isn’t bad at all for a vehicle with the Santa Fe’s space and equipment.

With airbags almost everywhere and the previously mentioned electronic assistance packages, the Australian-market Santa Fe qualified easily for a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating.

Turbo-diesel versions of the DM-series Hyundai Santa Fe in Highlander trim offer terrific family transport, but strong retained values do make them expensive.

Second-row legroom and headroom are fine for all but the tallest and the seatbacks recline. Third-row seats are for younger fry only but comfy enough for short journeys. Even when in use, there’s room behind them for a row of shopping bags.

Lower all of the seats and you extend 516 litres of standard boot space into a monster 1615L and a platform that will easily sleep two adults when you need a nap on a long trip.

• 2.4-litre petrol (G4KE) engines are an issue across the Hyundai and associated Kia ranges. Failures have been linked to clogged oilways that cause connecting rod bearings to seize, and there are other issues. Pending legal action may shed further light. Pre-purchase inspection is wise but may not identify an engine that could fail shortly after.
• Engine fires due to a faulty circuit board prompted the recall of 8700 vehicles; all 2015-17 models and the problem should no longer exist. Worth packing an extinguisher though, just in case.
• Santa Fe clearance is okay on graded tracks or sand, but cars that have been bounced over rocks may have suffered damage. Underbody scrapes promote rust and failing drive-shafts will send vibrations through the vehicle.

Used vehicle grading for Hyundai Santa Fe DM Series (2012-18)
Design & Function: 15/20
Safety: 16/20
Practicality: 15/20
Value for Money: 12/20
Wow Factor: 12/20
Score: 70/100

Also consider:
Mitsubishi Outlander, Nissan Pathfinder, Toyota Kluger, Volkswagen Tiguan