2010 Hyundai Sante Fe

[mealsonwheels]

The Telegraphs 'Honest John' motoring column recently gave a reply to a readers question asking what he recommended as a suitable tow vehicle for his caravan and he recommended the new 2010 Santa Fe, which came out well on his road test.

Having read several road test reports on it, we decided to take a look at the 2.2 'Style' model diesel at our local showroom. They only had a 'Premium' automatic, but we were impressed enough with what we saw to test drive a manual, if we could locate one at another dealership, which we are still trying to do. Only disappointing thing is, we were told they are built to order and delivery of one may take quite a while.

 

[Mikey1]

Not many car companies stock pile cars now so if you are happy to comprimise then you may be able to get one stock if not its factory order im afraid.

Why not go for the auto with 198bhp on tap you will never have to touch gear stick even on hills so much better in traffic and on long journeys.

 

[RogerL]

Look on AutoTrader website - there are already a few demonstrators available to buy.

 

[DevonshireDave]

Not sure where you are located. I was fortunate to test drive a manual Santa Fe Premium at Spirit Hyundai Northampton. I was very impressed with it. I also got to test drive the Kia Sorento auto (basically the same vehicle!) which was every bit as good.

I was told that if I ordered one now, it would be in sometime in May. Well worth the wait I think. My only hang up is the towbar. The listed Witter bar is for the older Mk2 which isn't at the same rating as the new car which tows 300kg more and about 12 kgs more nose weight.

Still, I'm hoping to order mine on Saturday, but still can't decide on manual or auto!

Dave

 

[mealsonwheels]

Thanks for the replies.

The 6 speed manual 2.2 diesel is rated to haul a 2500kg caravan (even the auto is rated to tug 2000kg, so is a pretty impressive vehicle and we both got the impression that a lot of thought had gone into the interior design and detail.

If we end up getting one, we will be going for the 5-seat 2.2 diesel manual.

 

[xtrailman]

Hj was impressed with the chain cam engine, the spec is very impressive, if i was looking to tow a heavy caravan i would certainly be road testing this car.

Lots of power and torque, along with ved group i for the manual, i noted the auto has even more torque!

 

[Jo-AnneFairway5402010]

i have a 57 plate santafe with the 2.2 engine in mine the cdx 7 auto with the same kerb weight of 1961.

so if hyundai are saying max tow 2500 of the manual and the kerb 1961 what per cent would you be towing at?.

jo

 

[Zafiral]

Beware the 2010 Santa Fe auto has a much lower max tow and also a lower nose weight than the manual.

 

[RogerL]

Much lower?

The auto has a 2000kg towing limit and 82kg noseweight limit - lower than the manual's 2500 / 100 but since the kerbweights are 1920-1961kg for the manual and 1946-1987kg for the automatic.

Since towing limits exceed 100% there's no concern for caravanners although those of us who tow car trailers, sometimes over 100%, might be slightly restricted.

The automatic's lower noseweight limit of 82kg is of little concern to those towing around 85%.

 

[Zafiral]

Roger, I was more concerned with the reduced nose weight (especially for a seven seat 4x4). With modern caravans being quite nose heavy even when empty, by the time you have a 110 AH battery forward of the axle and 2 gas bottles in the front locker, 80kg may need counter balancing with weight behind the axle.

 

[RogerL]

The 7-seat Santa Fe has self-levelling rear suspension so isn't of itself an issue. It is strange that it's the transmission triggering the noseweight reduction.

If the battery is so far forward to adversely affect the noseweight, then that's a design problem of the caravan. Noseweight is an issue which seems to affect UK caravanners - it's often said that continental caravans have longer A-frames but comparing internal length to shipping length makes that difficult to substantiate - I think the truth is that continental caravaners are happy to accept 4-5% noseweight while we're all brainwashed by the Caravan Club to think that 7% is a minimum, despite the fact that NO caravan over 1428kg MTPLM can get UP to 7% because of Al-Ko's 100kg limit..

There's something strange about buying a big caravan, putting 30kg of full gas cylinders in the locker box and then filling it with other equipment, putting a 25kg 110Ah battery in the locker and then choosing sites with electric hook-ups !!

 

[mealsonwheels]

The noseweight for the 2010 Santa Fe is 100kg

 

[Jo-AnneFairway5402010]

the nose weight for the auto is the same as my 57 plate santafe 80kg. i have the 7 seater and have the self lev suspension but it still check my nose weight before every journey. i have 2 gas bottles one is the calor light, a broom and a few other lighter bits in the front locker. the battery is behind the twin wheels. the magnum will travel over the axel but if i take the big isabella capri lux that will travel in the car. i have a 2008 wyoming and tow around 85% my wyoming is 1678kg. i personally wouldnt want to tow 2000kg with the santa fe let alone 2500kg which is what it states it can but thats my opinion and i may get slated for saying it.

jo

 

[Jo-AnneFairway5402010]

Not sure where you are located. I was fortunate to test drive a manual Santa Fe Premium at Spirit Hyundai Northampton. I was very impressed with it. I also got to test drive the Kia Sorento auto (basically the same vehicle!) which was every bit as good.

I was told that if I ordered one now, it would be in sometime in May. Well worth the wait I think. My only hang up is the towbar. The listed Witter bar is for the older Mk2 which isn't at the same rating as the new car which tows 300kg more and about 12 kgs more nose weight.

Still, I'm hoping to order mine on Saturday, but still can't decide on manual or auto!

Dave

auto, best of both worlds then

 

[Jo-AnneFairway5402010]

the nose weight for the auto is the same as my 57 plate santafe 80kg. i have the 7 seater and have the self lev suspension but it still check my nose weight before every journey. i have 2 gas bottles one is the calor light, a broom and a few other lighter bits in the front locker. the battery is behind the twin wheels. the magnum will travel over the axel but if i take the big isabella capri lux that will travel in the car. i have a 2008 wyoming and tow around 85% my wyoming is 1678kg. i personally wouldnt want to tow 2000kg with the santa fe let alone 2500kg which is what it states it can but thats my opinion and i may get slated for saying it.

jo

i know it meant 2500 for the manual and 2000 for the auto

 

[RogerL]

The noseweight for the 2010 Santa Fe is 100kg

Only the manual - the auto is 82kg.

 

[RogerL]

Towing limits apply to all types of trailers, not just caravans.

I'd never tow a caravan at more than 100% but I don't have any problem with a car trailer at 125%.

A caravan has it's weight positioned around it's periphery which gives a high "yaw moment" - a car trailer has it's weight positioned centrally giving a low "yaw moment" - the higher the "yaw moment" the lower the speed at which instability can occur.

 

[xtrailman]

The old santa fe has a less powerful engine, and a heavier body, uses more fuel and is in a higher ved group.

The new engine (type R) was launched in sept 2009, that is according to HJ.

A nose weight limit for the auto of around 80kg is pathetic. I would only be interested in new 6 speed manuel.

I also fail to see what self levelling suspension has to do with a low nose limit?

 

[ShadySadie]

Sorry, but has anyone seen a Santa Fe that's crashed?

In recent bad weather a friends wife driving a small one series BMW got hit head on by a new Santa Fe that lost control on black ice. The lady and her young son walked away fine, lady driver and passengers in the Santa Fe were not so lucky.

I saw the Hyundai at the road side it was just a crumpled write off wreck from only a low speed impact.

Does the SF have a crash rating?

 

[RogerL]

Sorry, but has anyone seen a Santa Fe that's crashed?

In recent bad weather a friends wife driving a small one series BMW got hit head on by a new Santa Fe that lost control on black ice. The lady and her young son walked away fine, lady driver and passengers in the Santa Fe were not so lucky.

I saw the Hyundai at the road side it was just a crumpled write off wreck from only a low speed impact.

Does the SF have a crash rating?

NCAP 4

 

[Jo-AnneFairway5402010]

sadie i knew that it was a ncap 4 but i didnt really want to know the ins and outs of the accident thanks for that. ill remember it everytime i get in it now. since i was driving i have had cars that obviousley wernt ncap rating years ago and im still here.

 

[ShadySadie]

My friends wife was very badly shaken by the accident that happned only a mile from my home.

Sorry, but I saw the damaged Santa Fe as it was about to be winched on to a crash recovery vehicle and I then saw the 1 series that met it head on the next day.

Normandy Garage the local Hyundai dealer is not far from my home and there are quite a lot Hyundai cars in the area. The accident was on a busy local road at rush hour. Sorry but everyone who saw both cars and witnesses of the accident could not believe how such a large car faired so badly against a smallish saloon or that the people in the Santa Fe were all injured when the BMW driver and her son had no injuries. All were wearing seat belts. The 1 series BMW is being repaired, the SantaFe was a total right off and the cars only hit one another, nothing else.

 

[Zafiral]

The 'data' from one accident is hardly conclusive to how a car will fare in any other accident apart from the exact one in question using exactly those 2 cars, Jo, there is no need to worry.

The Santa Fe may have had a previous accident which was not repaired properly, we will never know. NCAP rating penalise heavy cars compared to smaller cars as the crash is effectively as if it was against a similar car. I would much rather be in a 4* 4x4 than a 5* supermini I can tell you.

ps I now have a mid size 4x4 7 seater with 4* NCAP, a Peugeot 4007, so I may have to think of changing my login name!!!

 

[Zafiral]

The 'data' from one accident is hardly conclusive to how a car will fare in any other accident apart from the exact one in question using exactly those 2 cars, Jo, there is no need to worry.

The Santa Fe may have had a previous accident which was not repaired properly, we will never know. NCAP rating penalise heavy cars compared to smaller cars as the crash is effectively as if it was against a similar car. I would much rather be in a 4* 4x4 than a 5* supermini I can tell you.

ps I now have a mid size 4x4 7 seater with 4* NCAP, a Peugeot 4007, so I may have to think of changing my login name!!!

Sorry I meant Jo-Anne not Jo, but you can't edit on this forum!!

 

[Jo-AnneFairway5402010]

Sorry I meant Jo-Anne not Jo, but you can't edit on this forum!!

no worries jo is my first name anne is my middle lol.