WASHINGTON — The five-seat premium crossover class is pretty swanky. It’s currently dominated by the Ford Edge and Nissan Murano, both of which offer technology and standout looks. Hyundai is looking to compete, and the Santa Fe Sport offers much of what the others do at a lower price.
Style really sets these crossovers apart. This Santa Fe Sport isn’t a standout like the Ford or Nissan, but it’s still a handsome crossover, especially with its Canyon Copper paint. The Sport has large 19-inch wheels and cool LED lights on the front end. The rear windows taper up and help hide the vehicle’s large size.
I drove a Santa Fe Sport with the $4,350 Ultimate package. Grand total for that Sport: $38,350. It’s not a bad price for what you get, especially compared with the competition.
The Ultimate package includes a large panoramic sunroof, NAV with an 8-inch touch screen and a nice 12-speaker Infinity surround audio system. Also included is a heated steering wheel and heated front and rear seats. The front seats are cooled as well, and the leather has a nice quality. The rest of the cabin is filled with soft-touch materials and interesting shapes, giving a nice look and plenty of room for five people.
This interior has a decent amount of space behind the rear seats, which fold down to load larger items through the rear power liftgate. The best part? It will open if you stand at the rear gate for a few seconds with the key in your pocket.
The Hyundai Santa Fe Sport 2.0T offers a decent amount of power for a 2-liter turbo engine. The 264 hp helps move the crossover swiftly when needed, but there’s a hint of turbo lag at times. This is a quiet cruiser most of the time; even when using all the power, it’s never unpleasantly loud. I had no problem keeping up with traffic and noticed I went a little faster than I should. The six-speed automatic does a good job of trying to move to higher gear, but the fuel economy wasn’t the best. I managed 19.5 mpg in 200 miles of mixed driving. The sticker says 18 mpg city and 24 mpg highway.
The Hyundai Santa Fe Sport 2.0T is the cost-effective alternative in the premium-crossover class. It might not be as flashy as some of its competitors, but it offers a satisfying crossover with all the toys for less cost. With a five-star safety rating and a 10-year warranty, Hyundai makes a move in this growing, stylish class.
