Hyundai Santa Fe   Women's view

June Neary takes to the lanes in Hyundais Santa Fe 4x4

Wouldnt it be nice if value for money didnt have to be a priority when choosing a car? Well, for most of us its right up there at the top of the list, so its just as well that manufacturers like Hyundai bear that in mind. At prices that shave a few grand off those of the competition, the Hyundai Santa Fe compact 4x4 has to be worth some serious consideration. For me, mud plugging doesnt really hold any great appeal, so would the Santa Fe tempt me to join the ranks of the on-road off-roader drivers? Well, possibly. After all, it has everything youd want from a good-sized family car and, if I did change my mind and decide to drive across a field (I cant think why Id do that, but you never know), Id be tooled up for the job.

This chunky five-door comes equipped with a whole host of goodies. Choice was definitely on the agenda when Hyundai designed this car. The top-spec 2.2-litre CRDi diesel model I tested had a sunroof, reversing sensors and air-con, along with all the usual gadgetry, including a decent CD sound system and leather seats not my own personal favourite on the upholstery front, but each to his or her own.

One area where the old Santa Fe was noticeably slipping behind the pack was in terms of interior build quality. Although everything seemed durable and customer satisfaction surveys have shown that little goes wrong, the perception of quality was an aspect that needed addressing. So it is that the latest Santa Fe now offers higher quality wood and metal detailing, mesh type upholstery fabrics and piped leathers.

Step inside the cabin and everything falls easily to hand. All the controls are logically placed and its quite roomy no chance of elbowing my husband in the chest by accident. Come to think of it, itd be pretty difficult to do it on purpose shame Hes 6 4" and has occasionally had to open the sunroof on test cars in order to avoid his cheek becoming grafted onto his shoulder on long journeys. Thankfully, this wasnt the case in the Santa Fe. Nice touches include standard height adjustment for the drivers seat and dual power sockets so that the kids Nintendo games neednt clash with the needs of your mobile phone. Power steering comes as standard on all models and the ride is pretty impressive.

We took the car out into the Sussex countryside for a pothole test and it came out with flying colours. It was smooth on the motorway too, so no complaints there.

At prices starting at £21,877, the Santa Fe offers the 2.2-litre diesel I tried or a 2.7-litre V6 petrol unit. This comes only with a Porsche-developed four-speed automatic gearbox called H-Matic, featuring one of those Tiptronic-style manual-style shifts.

Not that youll be using it too much, thanks to a kickdown swift enough to reach sixty in 11.7s on the way to 111mph. The penalty at the pumps is an average of 25mpg: if that bothers you, then youll want to order the diesel. Features such as dual zone air-conditioning, ESP stability control, heated front seats and a multi-adjustable steering wheel are features buyers in this sector now demand rather than aspire to. One of the biggest material changes to the current Santa Fe is that theres now an option of seven full sized seats, although adults may question that description if subjected to a lengthy spell in the back. The 175mm in extra length over the old model has been put to good use though and theres 84 litres more cargo space - the total rising to 774 litres.



The Santa Fe and I have been only out a few times now, so its probably a bit early for us to be living together. However, if we got to know each other a little better, who knows? Seriously though, the car has opened my eyes to the virtues of on-road 4x4 driving. The feeling of security and the excellent all-round visibility of 4x4s attract female buyers and I must admit that being able to see a long way up the road is a major plus. It also makes spotting parking spaces a whole lot easier! I love a bargain and always seek out quality merchandise.

In this respect this car is most definitely a winner. Its spacious enough to suit my lifestyle and its ride and handling make for effortless driving my favourite. With all this in mind, Id have to say yes I could live with a Santa Fe.