New Hyundai Santa Fe 2.2 CRDi AT 4WD Review: A Rung Above

More on Interior, Cabin Comfort and Features

In terms of storage spaces, the Santa Fe scores highly with a practical mix of a variety of cubbyholes. The front doors have large map pockets with space for a big one-liter water bottle, more space for a smaller bottle and then some for flatter objects. The armrests on doors also have a small cranny where a small cellphone could rest happily. The front central armrest comes with a flip-open lid, and offers really generous space beneath. To give you an idea about its volume, it swallowed two digital SLRs comfortably. Between the top lid and the big hollow under the armrest, you have a shallow plastic tray which can handle stuff like your wallet or cell-phone.

Right before the armrest you have a small crevice, which, again is good to accommodate a wallet or a cellphone. Further ahead, you have two big cupholders. Further ahead, you have another recess big enough to handle a wallet and a cell-phone together. And if you’re one of those perennial whiners, then you have another compartment with a push to op lid on top of the dashboard. For those who’d still not be satisfied, there is a roof mounted glares compartment.

For the second row occupants, the door panels aren’t quite as big as the front units, but would still be able to accommodate a couple of half-liter water bottles – slimmer one liters bottles would require a shove to go in. Armrests on rear doors also have a small crevice like the front units. Central rear armrest features twin cup-holders. Front seats also have pockets mounted on the back to accommodate newspapers, magazines, or bottles.

And the story doesn’t end yet. Even the third row occupants get one cup-holder each, and these are integrated with a big cubbyhole which can hold anything from a water bottle to a wallet of a bunch of keys.

The big, wide front driver’s seat is 12-way electrically adjustable. In conjunction with the tilt-telescopic adjustable steering, the seats allow you to tune your driving position to the finest level possible. The seats have nice, firm padding, and they are wide and well bolstered to offer good comfort even over longer drives. Second row seats are also very comfortable with great thigh support. The second row seats ride on rails to allow fore and aft adjustment, along with customizable recline angle. Apart from offering more comfort to the central row passenger, this function also allows to create space to let third row passengers get in, and can help maximize the legspace for the third row passengers.

The third row of seats on the Santa Fe isn’t particularly comfortable. It features a low seating layout – letting the knees point skywards. As mentioned earlier, the middle row can be pushed forward to create more knee-room, but even with this row cannot be utilized for long journeys. All three rows of seats get their individual A/C vents with flow control.

The boot space available on the Santa Fe, with all three rows of seats up is good for two small suitcases, and probably a couple of haversacks – as demonstrated in the image here. With 5 occupants, however, the rear seats can be tumbled down 50:50 to convert into a flat bed and uncovering acres of luggage space. The middle row too, can be folded down in a 40:20:40 ratio.

The Santa Fe also offers a sweet sounding six speaker audio system with CD/USB/Aux-in/Radio and Bluetooth. Power outlets also come aplenty with two sources for the front row, one of the second and one more for the third row of seats.

All in all, the Santa Fe offers a comfortable, spacious and very well equipped cabin. We love it for its flexibility and the quality and finish is top notch too. We did, however, feel that a big sunroof and auto dimming RVMs should have been a part of this big SUVs otherwise fantastic package to make it even more appealing and functional.

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