2000 HYUNDAI Santa Fe 2.7i 4AT AWD (179 HP)

Vehicle Overview

It was the dawn of a new era for the Korean carmaker: it entered the SUV segment with a bold statement shown in the form of the Santa Fe.

The world was ready to take the next step and trade the MPV for the SUV vehicles, which proved to be more trustworthy in snowy conditions. It was a new trend, and slowly, many carmakers that didn’t have any experience in that domain took the light off-road vehicles path. Hyundai was one of them, and it built the Santa Fe on the same platform as the Sonata.

While its design was not a masterpiece, it was the car that waited for many customers. Its look was a mix between an off-road vehicle and a sedan. Its curved lines seemed out of place on a 4×4 vehicle, and its height was unfitted for a station wagon. Hyundai listened to its customers and made several modifications almost on a yearly basis. Its wrapped-around, black, plastic bumpers received body-color treatment.

Inside, the car was roomier than a Sonata, which wasn’t a small car anyway. It offered plenty of headroom and a big trunk, which could have been extended by folding down the rear bench’s seatback. Even on the base version, the car featured air-conditioning and a CD-stereo. A sunroof became available starting in 2002. The carmaker continued to improve the car until 2005 when it changed the generation.

Technically, the Santa Fe was constantly improved as well. It started with a fuel-efficient 2.4-liter engine for the U.S. market and a 2.0-liter turbo-diesel for the European market. It wasn’t everyone’s vanilla, but at least it had a flavor that could fit more tastes—something like coffee.