Hyundai Santa Fe 3.3 SE FWD 2008

There we were, my girlfriend and I, deciding on what vehicle we would be taking up for our winter snowboarding vacation in Whistler (BC, Canada, for those not up on North America's number one rated ski resort). Our West Coast office generously opened its (garage) doors, offering us a choice of a Lexus GS 350 AWD, a Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland CRD or a Hyundai Santa Fe SE 3.3. The Lexus would have been a great drive, quiet and loaded to the gills with toys, but it was just too small to accommodate the giant-sized lug-along hard case for our boards. That left us with the Jeep and the Hyundai. The Jeep seemed perfect; it too was loaded to the gills with all the toys we could want and the fabulous Mercedes-Benz developed diesel engine. Because this is a Hyundai Santa Fe review and not a Grand Cherokee review, you can probably guess which one we opted for.

Although I personally like to drive in the lap of luxury, the opportunity to be pampered doesn't always dictate what I'll drive. The first and ultimate priority was ensuring that all of our luggage got in the car. Although the Grand Cherokee is 2.5 inches longer than the Santa Fe, it doesn't translate to the interior very well. With the rear seats folded, the front passenger's seat had to be moved quite a bit forward to accommodate the board carrier. And then came fitting the rest of the luggage – one large suitcase, one small suitcase and a medium-sized duffel bag – into the bay of the Grand Cherokee, a tight squeeze. The Santa Fe swallowed our luggage without the slightest of problems. Although in actual numbers, the Grand Cherokee holds more volume than the Santa Fe by a small margin, it was less useable for our needs.

Not to disrespect the Jeep, but the Santa Fe is a better driving vehicle on pavement. Comparing a body on frame SUV with real 4x4 capabilities to a car-like crossover with extremely limited off-roading capabilities isn't exactly fair, but between the two the Santa Fe is more agile, which is handy when traversing the oftentimes treacherous Sea-to-Sky highway, and its fully-independent front and rear suspension setup damps better too, delivering a nicer ride. These are very useful traits when traveling the winding highway between Vancouver's North Shore and Whistler in the dark of night during times of heavy construction. The Santa Fe is an easy vehicle to drive; its steering is light and quick acting but slightly vague, quite similar to one of my favorite compact SUVs, the Land Rover LR2. Surprisingly there's not that much body roll with the Santa Fe either, despite it having 8.0 inches of ground clearance - only a half inch less than the Grand Cherokee. It delivers the sort of balance of comfort and finesse you'd expect from a much more expensive crossover.

The Santa Fe also does a pretty good job of looking expensive. The old Santa Fe's styling was not particularly attractive to my tastes, but I certainly can't say that about the new model. It is a bit me-too, and somewhat derivative, but it's easy on the eyes. The only thing I'd change about it are its wheels; on 16-inch alloys, the Santa Fe looks like it's on casters... casters that just barely clear the brake calipers. Not to worry, though, as 18-inch alloys come standard in SE and Limited models, whereas the 16-inch wheels you see here are standard in base GLS models. The interior, on the other hand, is actually quite nice, and this isn't just in comparison to the old model. Hyundai has upped the quality of the materials significantly, so that the leather trim on the seats (Limited models only) and the steering wheel has a soft, fine grain, and the plastics, while a bit on the hard side, are low-sheen with a pleasing texture. Fit and finish is at the top of its class, and while you won't be comparing it to a Range Rover or a Touareg, it can more than hold its owning the compact-to-midsize segment.

My main qualm regarding the interior is the blue illumination. Yes, the fact that it is different from the standard alarm-clock green or red is cool, but guys, did you have to make it so bright? Although the instrument cluster can be dimmed, the illumination from the switchgear is ultra bright, particularly the markings for the automatic transmission, to the point of distraction when driving at night. The powerful LEDs make it easy to read during the day, but indeed they are so powerful that you can see right through the plastic high-gloss and less than palatable cherry-effect wood trim.

After three wonderful days of snowboarding in some of the best powder I've ever ridden on, it was unfortunately time to head home. It's funny how, like the drive back, vacations are always too short. But on leaving the picturesque town of Whistler, some of the Santa Fe's faults were revealed. The day we left was the day of a fairly sizable snowstorm, and the Santa Fe we had selected was not equipped with all wheel drive. Comparing FWD and AWD, FWD usually has a distinct advantage so far as fuel economy is concerned, however, with this second generation model the difference is actually down to nothing. Hyundai switched over to an on-demand all wheel drive system versus the previous model's permanent all wheel drive. According to EPA ratings, both utility vehicles have identical fuel economies of 19 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. It's only when you step down to the base GLS model, with its 2.7L V6 and standard 5-speed manual transmission, that you'll see differences in fuel economy ratings between transmission and FWD/AWD choices. Over heavy slush and snowy streets, the Bridgestone Dueler tires battled for traction and the stability and traction control interfered constantly. It can be frustrating given that almost all the attributes of an SUV, like the ground clearance, high ride height and commanding driving position are here, but for traction. If you live in the Snow Belt I'd definitely recommend getting the all wheel drive or at least a set of snow tires, because without them the front wheel drive Santa Fe is little more than a station wagon with a view.

Coming down the mountains and back to the city is like watching the seasons change right before your eyes. The beautiful snow-covered forests and terrain turn green and brown, and rain sets in. With the storm behind us, the Santa Fe regains its previous confidence. It's here, cruising on the highway that it is happiest, its 242 horsepower-strong 3.3-liter V6 quiet, and with ample power to pass. The miles and minutes pass by without bother from wind or road noise, and its seats left us refreshed for a bit of last minute Christmas shopping when we got back to Vancouver center. There, on the streets of one of the trendiest towns north of the boarder, the Santa Fe was easy to manage and easy to handle even during what was typically one the busiest shopping days of the season. One thing that would've made life a little easier is a navigation system, which quizzically isn't yet available on any Hyundai.

If there's a parting shot to be had with the Santa Fe, it has to be the price. Hyundai, as a brand, may have changed in terms of quality and the generally upscale nature of its products, but the value prospect has not changed one iota. List price on a 3.3 SE FWD just like this one is $23,845. That's it. Adding the all wheel drive system drives the price up to $25,845 (well worth it). Although it didn't have the four wheel drive or the expensive diesel engine, or the navigation system, consider the fact that the Jeep is almost twice the price and that some of its details, such as interior plastics, aren't quite as nice. That means that if you're considering putting one of these under the tree versus the Jeep (or any of its rivals), there will be a lot of cash in the bank for other holiday treats ... such as a lovely ski or snowboarding vacation!