I made sure to put my right foot into the throttle to test acceleration, and was immediately rewarded. The engine responds to input quickly, revving freely and ramping up speed more readily than most drivers will be willing to attempt. I especially like Hyundai's Shiftronic manual mode transmission, improved to five forward speeds in GLS trim from the standard automatic's four. Whether in drive or do-it-yourself mode, shifts are smooth yet immediate, giving the midsize SUV impressive refinement.
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| The added power from the new engine improves towing capabilities too, with trailers weighing up to 1,043 kg (2,299 lbs) now possible. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
The added power improves towing capabilities too, with trailers weighing up to 1,043 kg (2,299 lbs) now possible compared to 998 kg (2,200 lbs) in standard 2.7-L V6 GLS guise. That's good enough for small camping trailers and lightweight boats, both stuffed with a weekend's worth of gear.
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| The rear seats fold 60/40 to accommodate another passenger, or two small ones, while still leaving room for camping gear. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
Of course, there's no shortage of storage inside the SUV itself, still sporting an ample 864 L (30.5 cu ft) with all seats upright and a total of 2,209 L (78.0 cu ft) if only driver and front passenger are along for the ride. The rear seats fold 60/40 to accommodate another passenger, or two small ones, while still leaving room for skis, scuba gear or other miscellaneous luggage.
The rear seating positions, three in total, offer good leg and headroom with more than adequate hip and shoulder space provided the three passengers are on the smaller side. Larger folks won't have a problem if the center position is taken up by a toddler, but other than that the Santa Fe isn't the widest SUV on the market.
