LIFE & CULTURE

Is the Hyundai Santa Fe the right car for your family?

Smoo-ooth. Hyundai has really nailed the way the car feels when it drives.

It sounds festive, doesn’t it? The Santa Fe. I have visions of driving along the Californian coastline with Mexican hats and pinatas in the back, downing a few Coronas when we get to our palm-tree lined, tropical destination. 

Unfortunately in reality, this week I was going on a family camping trip. There were Coronas involved, but no delicious Mexican feast. We had a red dirt road, a river, and a car load full of camping gear though. And the Santa Fe? The camping didn’t phase her one bit.

It’s a really smooth, positively silky drive, and not heavy in the slightest, like a few of the other cars in this class can be. The Santa Fe cruises along exactly how I thought it would when I first heard the name. Granted, being in the top of the range Highlander, the lush, creamy leather seats may have had something to do with the serene feeling because this car does make you feel great. It’s high off the road so you immediately feel safer and it’s big, but not enormous. If it were a celebrity (what? You don’t give your cars celebrity doppelgangers?), it would be Pink, because it’s gutsy but a really sweet drive.

It won me over with its luxurious feel, the calm, comfortable drive and the value for money.

Loading the player...

Watch the video to see how it coped with my children’s rather large road trip demands, and my, ahem, natural camping aversion.

Read the full review or see a more detailed review on CarsGuide here

Related stories