Hyundai Santa Fe As Towcar.

[Auspom]

Hi
My return to the UK from Australia in May is getting closer and closer and as yet have still not found a towcar to pull my 2003 Coachman Amara 5005 which has an unladen weight of approx 1150kgs and laden weight of approx 1450kgs.
I am now leaning towards either the Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel or the Kia Sorrento Diesel both around 2004/5 in the years.
Can any members who tow with any of these vehicles possibly reply regarding their towing abilities, good/bad or indifferent i would be interested in hearing them all.
I have done a compatability test on What Towcar and the Santa Fe comes up trumps all the time with the Kia not too far behind.
The likes of the Skoda Octavia and the Citroen C5 estates seem underpowered with the VW Passat only just about being capable would this be correct.

Tony

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Auspom,
I won't offer any particular insight to any of the vehicles you mention, but with regards the towing abilities of any vehicle, if the manufacture states a maximum towed load that is equal or greater than your caravan, then the vehicle will be capable of towing it. If it can't then the car fails to meet its specification. That is quantative view,
However you will get several people offering a personal qualatative view, which may suggest some cars are better than others, but that will depend on their personal agendas which may not be the same as your own.

 

[xtrailman]

Tony
Not really you have to consider power to weight, and gearing.
The two cars you mention can be in the region of 2000 kg kerb weight, with mediocre economy and higher emissions, so more VED to pay.
While the cars in your last paragraph will be cheaper to run, and return a kerb weight of around 1600kg.

 

[Lutz]

I'd just like to add that you only mention particular models and not specific engine variants thereof. Assuming the maximum towload is with the manufacturer's spec, and therefore also with legal requirements, you normally have a selection of different engines if you feel that any one or the other is underpowered. It would be wrong to condemn a whole model range outright just because one variant doesn't suit you or has a poor reputation regarding reliability.

 

[otherclive]

I agree with Lutz. The Octavia might be a bit light on kerbweight but the C5 should be okay, and it came witha range of engine sizes. I had a Sorento and whilst not as cultured as the Santa Fe on road, it leaves it standing off road if you should want to venture away from the tarmac.

 

[Mikey_74]

Hi Tony, I have a 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel towing our 1600kgs twin axle, it's an excellent tug, but I have to say for me I had to fit a much debated tuning module as in standard form I felt with the van on the back it was a little under powered, since fitting the tuning box my economy has improved greatly and torque for towing is fantastic, solo on a run (I do a 62mile daily commute) I get around 39mpg to around 42mpg with the cruise set at just over 60mph, When the van is on the back it's as solid as any outfit I've towed with, and I get around 26/30mpg towing, but I do tend to tow at 60 maybe I'd get better if I was to slow to around 50/55mph.
The car is very comfortable on long journeys with plenty of room for everyone, even though our van is a 26ft unit we never seem to get upset by cross winds or anything else come to think of it, the only thing I do struggle with is nose weight, Hyundai for some reason slapped an 80kg nose weight limit for the diesel 4 wheel drive Fe's, I feel this is low for a 4x4 and I don't know if it's the layout of our van or if I'm doing something wrong but I do struggle with noseweight, the 2.7 petrol and 2 wheel drive diesel (I don't think you can get in the uk) have a 92kg noseweight limit.
If there is anything else you want to know about these cars then feel free to drop me a line and I'll do my best to anwer your questions.
Mike

 

[Shirker]

I'd just like to add that you only mention particular models and not specific engine variants thereof. Assuming the maximum towload is with the manufacturer's spec, and therefore also with legal requirements, you normally have a selection of different engines if you feel that any one or the other is underpowered. It would be wrong to condemn a whole model range outright just because one variant doesn't suit you or has a poor reputation regarding reliability.

The Santa Fe only has one engine size so there's no choice there - you get what you're given so it's just a choice of auto or manual.
I tow a 1400kg-ish caravan occasionally and twin-axle trailers of between 1400 and 1750kg daily with a 5 seat Premium auto and it does well. With the heavier ones it can bounce a little, but so do our pickup trucks. My days can be long - Tewkesbury to Motherwell to Spalding in a day last week and it is comfortable to do long journeys in.
The auto can be a bit thirsty when towing but it's tolerable, while a colleague has a manual and that's a bit more frugal.
We had an older Santa Fe which towed daily and that nudged 100,000 miles before the clutch went, while each of our three pickups had the clutch give up before 40,000 miles, which says a lot about the Santa Fe's build.
It can be a bit plasticky and creaky inside, but it's good value for money. I usually kill a car in three years and will probably get another without hesitation, or the ix45 or whatever it's called that the Santa Fe is shortly to morph into.

 

[Auspom]

Hi Guys
Many thanks for all the replies so far.
The Santa Fe seems to be still the way to go however i like the interior finish of the Sorrento a lot better especially i think its called the SX or SE model which has the woodgrain trim plus the motor is 2.4 or something similar.
What is anyone views, is the Sorrento a better vehicle than the Santa Fe with regards to towing capabilities ?
Tony

 

[otherclive]

Mine was an 04 XS Sorento with 5 speed auto and like Hyundias the build quality and reliability are top notch. In 7 years of ownership nothing went wrong not even bulb. For towing on road there is not much to choose between th Sorento and Santa Fe and you should test drive both. Sorento facelift models had higher power output compared to pre facelift 138 bhp Sorento but towing or solo I never really felt it was under powered but it could be with a large TA in tow. Sorento has much higher tow weight 3500kg for auto and it's tow bar noseweight is higher than the normal limit of 100kg for the van draw bar. Sorento has 2wd on rear for most times and depending on spec you can manually select 4wd high or you can drop into the low ratio box which gives awesome tow capability and really can help pitching up on sloping rough sites or just coming off snow or mud. Higher spec models automatically select 4wd high when required. I had AT tyres on my Sorento and it's off road ability was very good. Difficult choice but you won't go wrong with either good luck.

 

[birdman101]

I have the Sorento Auto and it is excellant,i think it is just a choice of which appeals to you as they both come from the same stable.If you look at the mechanical parts you will find they have Hyudai Kia on them as they are common to both vehicles.

 

[Mikey_74]

As stated both cars are excellent, if I didn't do 20k miles a year I'd love a Sorento, I may still have one, it depends on the average economy for solo driving, with the ever increasing cost of Diesel I think I'll be sticking with the Santa Fe for a while sadly, the facelift Soreanto's are gorgeous, and everyone I speak to onsite say that they're beasts, I don't think you'll go wrong with either, when you get back on british soil have a drive of both, then follow your heart.

 

[Auspom]

Many thanks to everyone who has took the time to reply with your most imformative views it has been a great help.
I will take your advice in road testing both the Santa Fe and the Sorrento when i land back in the uk and get a feel for both then go with the one that shouts out trumps so to speak.
One again thanks to all, your imformation has been most welcomed.
Tony

 

[mickk]

Hi
we have a 2010 santa fe premium & tow a Coachman Pastiche 560, great tow car towing 1630 kgs & forget van is on the back
would recommend Santa fe,
Mick k.

 

[JonP]

Hi Mick k & Mike... do either of you have self levelling suspension on your Santa Fe and does it make a massive difference ?
Any advice on this would be much appreciated.. Jon

 

[X5Neil]

Hi
I am new to this hobby. But knowing we were going to buy a TA we looked at most of the 4x4 and thought the Santa fe or sorrento would be the choice but sadly for us I found the head room a little short being 6"4 and kids of that are tall they found them a little crampt in the back. Just our thought if it helps at all.
Neil.

 

[Auspom]

Hi Neil
All info comes in handy although i am only 5,7" and the mrs is only 5,1" so the height in either shouldnt concern us too much but good info mate for anyone who is taller and contemplating one of these makes.
Big thanks to all other respondents also.
Tony