THE CROSSOVER, REALIZED.

Before the SUV came the wagon. Its basic purpose: to carry more cargo than a sedan while using similar amounts of space and natural resources. The SUV gained popularity in the ’90s because it satisfied a desire for increased room and ruggedness, and offered the all-weather security of four-wheel drive. But as the novelty wore off, drivers missed the maneuverability and efficiency of their cars, and the Crossover Utility Vehicle was born. The idea: combine all-wheel drive and the increased utility of an SUV with the efficiency and maneuverability of a car. 

When setting out to design the Santa Fe, we felt that many crossovers had missed the target. Either they felt too cramped and insubstantial or were car-like in the way they were constructed but not in how they handled. So we decided early on that the Hyundai Santa Fe would need to be designed to deliver on the balance of strengths the CUV was meant to deliver.

Not that we can take credit for the idea; the Santa Fe is the result of thousands of conversations with consumers. In fact, it was the first Hyundai vehicle designed in the U.S. specifically for U.S. market. The response the Santa Fe has received from the press and, more important, its owners is proof that the extra effort we made did not go unnoticed.

DESIGNED TO DE-STRESS YOU

We presented our interior designers with a formidable challenge: to complement the Santa Fe’s upscale exterior styling with an equally impressive interior. They started by making every effort to ensure the generous technological content was easy to use, then chose materials, colors, and textures you’d expect in a luxury brand. Their overarching goal: that every Santa Fe owner experience a refined and well-equipped vehicle

MAKING PRACTICAL GRACEFUL  

There are plenty of midsize SUVs and CUVs on the market. Unfortunately, many of them are shaped like a toolshed and have similar curb appeal. If you’re looking for something that looks good and can meet your needs when running errands, your options are few and far between. 

Our designers wanted the Santa Fe to convey a feeling of “assertive grace” and, to inspire their work, Hyundai even commissioned a speed skating gold medalist to demonstrate the essence of speed, motion, power, and refinement. The result is a body design that is aerodynamic but not anonymous, and space efficient but not slab-sided.

AS GOOD AT AVOIDING ACCIDENTS AS IT IS AT SURVIVING THEM

It’s true that when it comes to crashes, weight is an advantage. But you can’t rely on weight alone for protection, and oftentimes that added heft increases stopping distances and makes for clumsy handling—the last thing you need when trying to avoid an accident. 

The Hyundai Santa Fe’s no featherweight, and features like its six standard airbags and active front head restraints give it the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s vaunted Top Safety Pick It also earned five-star crash-test ratings in front- and side-impact tests. But its standard Electronic Stability Control, tidy handling, and intelligent braking systems help prevent you from having to rely on its brute strength alone.

THINK OF IT AS A TRIATHLETE

Some might say that performance isn’t important in a family vehicle. Those people likely haven’t driven a vehicle loaded with passengers and cargo at high altitudes or into the passing lane on a two-lane road. It’s at moments like these that performance becomes an essential rather than a luxury.

The Santa Fe is built on the same assembly line as our fun-to-drive Sonata, but includes beefed up chassis hardware that can manage the higher loads and forces the Santa Fe might face when venturing off-pavement or towing a trailer. And besides, when you’re alone in your crossover, what’s wrong with having a little fun?