2006 HYUNDAI Santa Fe 3.3i V6 5AT FWD (234 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Hyundai introduced the second generation of the Santa Fe SUV in 2005 for the Korean market but unveiled it for the rest of the world after the 2006 North American International Auto Show.

Hyundai was an already known player in the SUV market thanks to the Tucson and Santa Fe’s first-generation. These were built for those who didn’t like the MPVs but needed more room than a regular station wagon could offer.

With the 2006 model, Hyundai fixed the design issue and came with completely different styling. It followed the bio-design trend, even though it was already dead for most of the world. But its swept-back headlights, its curved surfaces, and ascending beltline conquered plenty of customers. It looked friendly rather than rugged.

Inside, Hyundai offered an option for seven seats, and that added more value to the car. Most buyers didn’t need that, but they still bought it “just in case.” The interior offered a car-like design, with soft lines, a center stack with tall vents on its sides, and a center console tall enough to separate the front passengers. The Santa Fe offered enough room for three adults in the middle row thanks to its almost flat floor. Two adults might have been squeezed in the last row, but for short (very short!) distances.

Under the hood, Hyundai installed a choice of three engines, depending on the market. While the American market received the 3.3-liter V-6 engine, Europe had to rely on the 2.2-liter turbo-diesel, which was noisy and slow but fuel-efficient. The 2.7-liter, on the other hand, was on any market. Most importantly, the Korean carmaker offered the Santa Fe with a front- or permanent all-wheel-drive.