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2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Debut

The 2013 Hyundai Sante Fe ups the Sport models seating up to seven.

2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Front Three Quarters

2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Research Click to hide

By Matthew Askari | November 27, 2012

What's New

Despite all of Hyundai's success the past few years, the automaker wasn't capitalizing on a key demographic: families. The automaker revamped its SUV lineup to include two fresh options for the coveted demographic. The Hyundai Santa Fe Sport was introduced a few months ago, and offers polished styling and seating for five. The 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe stretches the Sport model out to include a third row and greater overall interior room. Despite its larger size, the Santa Fe was able to retain the Sport model's good looks and modern, airy interior. Powered by a 3.3-liter V-6, the 290-hp Santa Fe has ample power to shuttle everyone around, too. A panoramic sunroof creates an airy feel, and the standard Blue Link connectivity and eight-inch media screen keep the Santa Fe current. The 2013 Santa Fe replaces the heavier, older Veracruz model in Hyundai's lineup.

Who It's For

Hyundai has built a well-earned reputation for value, offering features and content usually reserved for pricier models. Despite being synonymous with value, the family demographic is one segment the Korean automaker believes it can grow in. The Santa Fe Sport offers seating for five, but for larger families and those with need for more room, Hyundai has its seven-passenger GLS Santa Fe, and its six-passenger Limited trim. The Limited version replaces a bench with Captain's chairs in the second row. Key competitors for the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe include the Toyota Highlander, Nissan Pathfinder, and Honda Pilot.

Key Features

The 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe builds upon the Sport model with more room and a third row for added versatility. In addition:

Longer and roomier than the Santa Fe Sport, offers third-row seating
3.3-liter V-6 offers more horsepower than the Toyota Highlander, Nissan Pathfinder, and Honda Pilot
An eight-inch screen, backup camera, chrome accents on the grille and door handles create a premium feeling SUV
Less weight to push: 239 pounds lighter than the Nissan Pathfinder and 320 pounds lighter than the Veracruz it replaces

What We Think

The Hyundai Santa Fe arrives with modern styling, a lower curb weight than key competitors, and most importantly seating for up to seven. Despite the size increase, the Santa Fe retains much of the bold Fluidic Scupture styling that makes the Sport model a success. The airy panoramic sunroof and ample 3.3-liter V-6 engine are well suited to the Santa Fe. Competitively priced and well equipped, the Santa Fe nameplate is one we'll be seeing for a long time.

Back to Auto Show Coverage: Los Angeles 2012

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