It's "not take it or leave it" for a change; the Hyundai Santa Fe is the only crossover SUV that comes more than just one way.
You can get it in a five- or seven-passenger configuration with any of the three different engines. It's also stronger and quicker, and it can pull more than most of its rivals.
The Santa Fe is a little larger than compact but slightly smaller than some other fully midsized crossover SUVs. This splitting the difference combined with multiple seating and engine options makes it a unique offering in its class.
The base Sport trim with a 2.4-liter engine, front-wheel drive, two rows of seats and room for five has a starting sticker of $25,350.
The Ultimate trim with the optional turbo 2.0-liter engine and all-wheel drive stickers for $38,250.
Or you can buy the Santa Fe with the longer wheelbase and three rows of seats. It has room for seven and comes standard with a V-6 engine. Prices for this version start at $30,800 with FWD.
The Limited Ultimate trim tops out at $41,150 with AWD.
What's New
The 2017 Santa Fe got a number of tech updates, including two new flat-screen monitors (5 inches standard in the Sport; 8 inches in the long-wheelbase model) with new apps, including Android Auto.
The front and rear clips get a facelift, too.
What's Good
Pick your size — and your engines.
It's peppy or practical, or both at the same time.
V-6 versions can tow up to 5,000 pounds — much more than the 4-cylinder-only competition.
What's Not So Good
Some of the safety systems, like the new lane-departure warning system, are peremptorily nanny-ish.
There's no manual transmission option.
Under the Hood
Standard in the regular wheelbase five-passenger Sport is a 2.4-liter 185-horspower four-cylinder engine.
Next up in Sport trims is a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that bumps horsepower up to 240.
The long wheelbase seven-passenger Santa Fe comes standard with a 290-horspower 3.3-liter V-6.
All Santa Fe engines are paired with six-speed automatics, but you can get FWD or AWD with any of them.
Mileage with the 2.4-liter four-cylinder with FWD is 21 mpg city and 27 mpg highway; AWD gets 20 city and 26 highway.
The optional 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder does nearly as well; the FWD gets 20 mpg city and 28 mpg highway, and the AWD gets 19 city and 26 highway. And it's quick: Zero to 60 mph takes about 7.4 seconds, a good time for its class.
The bigger Santa Fe comes standard with a 3.3-liter V-6. It's quick, too, going zero to 60 mph in about 7.6 seconds. And it can pull as much as 5,000 pounds, despite being in a class of vehicle where 1,500 to 3,000 pounds is typical.
On the Road
The optional 2.0-liter engine has a lot of power a lot of torque at a very low engine speed. All 260 foot-pounds are available at just 1,750 rpm. It accelerates without hesitation or having to wait for the revs to build.
The V-6 in the larger Santa Fe delivers the goods, too, with the additional benefit of a very high maximum tow rating for the class.
With either of these engines, the Santa Fe is among the sportiest-accelerating crossovers in this class. And the standard 2.4-liter engine matches the performance of rivals' standard engines.
At the Curb
The seven-passenger SF isn't quite as big as three-row seven-passenger competitors like the Chevy Traverse, Ford Flex and Mazda CX-9. It is 193.1 inches long and rides on a 110.2-inch wheelbase. Others measure over 200 inches long and also have several inches more wheelbase (118.9 for the Traverse, 117.9 for the Flex, 115.3 for the recently redesigned CX-9).
However — and here's a surprise — it turns out that the Santa Fe that's physically smaller on the outside actually has more second-row legroom (41.3 inches) than the Traverse that's much larger overall (36.8 inches) and the Mazda CX-9 (39.4 inches). Additionally, its cargo capacity (80 cubic feet) is only slightly less than that of the Ford Flex (83 cubic feet).
The Flex has really generous second-row legroom (44.3 inches), and the Traverse has much more cargo room (116.3 cubes), but the SF splits the difference pretty nicely and may be just roomy enough for your needs and wants.
For those who don't need that third row, there's the SF with the regular wheelbase.
The Rest
Interesting details inside include air conditioning vents built into the B pillars and a panorama glass roof that's almost full-length.
In the Limited, can replace the second-row bench with a set of captain chairs.
A heated steering wheel is available on all trims, including the base Sport.
The 360-degree park-assist camera is very helpful when maneuvering in close quarters.
The bottom line: Hyundai is still the only player in this segment that offers you a choice of both wheelbases and engines for a vehicle.
Eric's new book, "Don't Get Taken for a Ride!" will be available soon. To find out more about Eric and read his past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.
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