Post by Angelo Raham Sison on Oct 8, 2007 2:38:13 GMT -5
The 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe debuted at the 2006 North American International Auto Show. The first production Santa Fe rolled off Hyundai's Montgomery, Alabama assembly line on April 18, 2006. It shares this assembly line with the current generation Hyundai Sonata. The new generation sheds the old style's quirky design in favor of a more contemporary look.
In the United States, the new generation is offered in GLS, SE, and Limited versions. The new Santa Fe sees the return of a manual transmission but only when mated with the 2.7-liter V6. The 3.3 liter V6 (a retuned version of the same engine found in the Sonata) is standard on the SE and Limited and comes only with a 5-speed automatic. Body lean in turns, a problem with the previous generation, has been curbed in the new Santa Fe. Both road and wind noise have been hushed, as well.
Newly standard on the latest iteration of the Santa Fe are all the safety features the previous model lacked or charged as extra. Electronic Stability Control (ESC), side curtain airbags for all seating rows, a tire pressure monitor, active front head restraints and anti-lock brakes are all standard. A heated windshield wiper grid located in the front wipers' 'park' position helps to thaw ice buildup on the blades in colder climates. Some features like the tailgate flip glass and the lower body cladding were not integrated into the new model.
The interior has been upgraded as well with blue-lit dashboard controls, (unlike the green color used in other Hyundai models), a gated shifter pattern, illuminated cupholders, and higher quality leather on Limited models. The rear seat head restraints caused visibility problems in the previous model due to their size. The new style features 'shingled' head rests that when lowered completely, sit flush with the top of the seat, helping to maximize rear visibility. The middle rear seating position now comes with its own head restraint and a three-point seatbelt built in. LATCH child seat anchors are also standard.
Pricing has remained competitive despite the upward move in size and feature content. A GLS 2WD with the manual transmission lists at US$20,945. A Limited all wheel drive model loaded with the Touring and Ultimate Packages sells for $32,695.
Safety Award
In 2007, Hyundai's midsize SUV Santa Fe earns 2007 TOP SAFETY PICK award by IIHS. [1] [2] Also, received 5 star safety rating by NHTSA. [3]
