2012 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe is available in three trim options that include – GLS, SE, and Limited. The GLS happens to be the base trim of the vehicle and is the cheapest in the line-up. The starting price of the SUV is $23,225 while the range-topping Limited trim level is priced at $27,274. More details are mentioned below in the table:

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The SE trim option is one of the most VFM trim levels of the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe and comes with a long list of features and other necessary equipment. To start with, the car not only gets good-looking alloy wheels but also gets other important features like heated mirrors, electrochromic rearview mirror, etc.

The 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe gets a 2.4L inline four-cylinder petrol engine. This engine churns out 175 hp of peak power output while the maximum torque output stands at 169 lb-ft. A six-speed automatic gearbox comes mated to this engine that channels the power to the front wheels. The gearbox is reliable in the long run but is slow with the shifts and the overall operation is a little too jerky.

The power delivery from this motor is linear, hence making the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe a great vehicle for urban usage. The high-speed performance too is impressive and the car does handle expressway speeds with ease. The suspension setup too is sorted and the car stays planted at triple-digit speeds. The steering however offers a poor feel and feedback.

The overall performance offered by the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe is at par with the class standards however the rivals over a better and a bigger V6 engine option on the higher trims which help them have an edge over the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe in terms of outright performance. The Santa Fe with a base 2.4L inline-four engine is very closely matched with its rivals in terms of outright acceleration.

The 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe boasts impressive fuel economy and gets a claimed fuel economy of 20 mpg in the city. The highway and the combined fuel economy on the other hand stand at 28 mpg and 23 mpg respectively. The car gets a fuel tank of 18 gallons and on a full tank, it can travel up to 20 mpg, 28 mpg and 23 mpg, in the city, on the highway and in mixed driving conditions. 

While the fuel economy offered by the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe is great, rivals like the Honda CR-V, on the other hand, offer significantly better fuel economy figures. But it is equipped with a smaller fuel tank and offers less range than the Santa Fe. The Subaru Forester offers the same efficiency but owing to a smaller fuel tank, it loses out on some range.

Just like most other Hyundai cars, the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe gets a premium and a comfortable cabin that helps it deliver an extremely upmarket in-cabin experience to the occupants. The visibility from the driver’s seat is impressive which makes it a great car for urban usage. The seats at the front are comfortable and offer supreme under-thigh support and lumbar support. In addition to this, moving in and out of the vehicle too is not very difficult, all thanks to the high ground clearance. The rear seat too is spacious and comfortable.

On the features front, the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe gets heated mirrors, auto-dimming IRVMs, steering mounted controls, etc. In addition to this, the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe also comes with other features like dual-zone auto climate control, sunroof, keyless entry, tilt and telescopic adjustment for the steering wheel, etc. The fit and finish levels are impressive and the interiors will definitely last for a long time. The door pads get big bottle holders while there is no dearth of storage spaces inside the cabin. The leather upholstery too feels premium and plush. 

The overall space available inside the cabin of the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe is decent and at par with the class standards. The boot of the car too is big and practical. However, the Kia Sorento and CR-V offer much better cargo capacity than the competition. The Subaru Forester comes close to the Santa Fe with 33.5 cu-ft of cargo capacity.

Some of the standout interior features are as follows:

• Steering Wheel Controls
• Ambient interior lighting
• Heated Front Seats
• Dual-zone auto climate control
• Optional Heated steering wheel
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Adjustable steering wheel column

How intuitive is the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe’s infotainment unit?

The 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe gets a double din infotainment system that is easy to use and operate. The system gets bluetooth connectivity, MP3 player, CD Player, AM/FM Stereo, etc. In addition to this, features like satellite radio, rearview camera, AUX audio input are also available with the vehicle. 

The audio system on the other hand gets a 6-speaker setup while the higher trims are available with a 10-speaker Infinity stereo system. The audio quality is great and the car also gets steering mounted controls.

Some of the highlights of the infotainment system are as follows:

• AM/FM Stereo
• Auxiliary Audio Input
• CD/MP3 Player
• 6 - Speaker Stereo
• Satellite Radio
• 10 speaker Infinity Stereo system (Higher trim)
• Rearview camera

As mentioned earlier, the design of the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe remains unchanged and the car continues to feature an elegant and subtle design language. To begin with, the small headlamps and the grille up front looks elegant while the bumper too complements the overall design. The side profile however gives a strong look and the large alloy wheels attract a lot of attention on the road. The rear of the vehicle however looks a little too busy and does spice up the overall looks of the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe.

In all, the design of the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe now looks dated and the rivals do offer better looks and road presence. The build quality however is great and so are the fit and finish levels. The panel gaps are uniform and the paint quality too is great. On the features front, the car gets keyless entry, power-adjustable and folding ORVMs, rear wiper, roof rails, etc.

The 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe happens to be one of the longest and the largest vehicles in its class. The car also boasts a class-leading wheelbase. It comes with a ground clearance of 8.1-inches, which is more than sufficient for most usage scenarios. The Forester is off-road ready with AWD system and 8.9-inches of ground clearance. The Kia Sorento and Honda CR-V come with lesser ground clearance. 

Some of the standout exterior features are as follows:

• Aluminum wheels
• Fog Lamps (optional)
• Auto-off headlights
• Reverse camera
• Sunroof/moonroof

The 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe is a well-built vehicle and boasts a strong cabin with a long list of safety features and equipment. In addition to this, the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe also received the ‘Top Safety Pick’ award from IIHS. The NHTSA ratings on the other hand stood at three out of five. The 2012 model of the Santa Fe also receives the hill descent control and some other safety features.

Some of the standout safety features include the following:

• Brake Assist
• Electronic Stability Control
• Traction Control
• All-Wheel ABS
• All-Wheel Disc Brakes
• Fully equipped airbags
• Hill descent control

The 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe is a well-built vehicle and is offered as an extremely practical and affordable car in its class. It is a great choice for anyone who is looking for a no-nonsense, reliable, comfortable, and feature-rich vehicle for everyday usage. The car boasts high built quality, premium interiors, and a comfortable cabin. The powertrain on the other hand too offers decent performance and is extremely reliable in the longer run. The rivals on the other hand however do offer a better driving experience.