Used 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe for sale 

Hyundai offers the Santa Fe in just two trims, the SE and Limited, with an option for either an FWD or AWD. The base GLS trim has been renamed as SE and continues to offer almost all of the necessary features expected from at this price point in this segment. The top-spec Limited trim adds premium-ness by offering leather upholstery, rear air conditioning, hands-free entry amongst few other features.

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The SE trim with the AWD drivetrain should be the way to go as Hyundai offers most of the features needed on a regular basis as standard, and the AWD adds a bit of functionality and provides a sense of safety during adverse weather conditions. If you want the very best the SUV can offer, go with the top-end Limited trim.

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The 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe continues to be powered with the powerful 3.3-liter naturally aspirated V6 which produces 290 horsepower and 252 lb-ft of torque. The engine is mated to 6-speed automatic transmission and powers the front wheels as standard, with an option for the all-wheel-drive also available.

The maximum towing is rated at 5,000 lbs, which is also one of the best in this segment. The gearing on the Santa Fe is smooth and quick with the shifts. The transmission does not feel lagging and is well proportioned as well.

The Nissan Pathfinder is the most affordable offering but it also has the least amount of power and torque. The Hyundai Santa Fe has the highest engine output, which is matched by the Kia Sorento in all aspects, except for the towing capacity. Ironically, the towing prowess of the Santa Fe is only matched by the underpowered Nissan Pathfinder. The Honda Pilot is the most expensive of the lot but its performance is well-balanced.

Acceleration and Braking

The 3.3L V6 on the Santa Fe propels it ahead in just 6.6 seconds, whereas the quarter-mile takes 15.1 seconds. The Santa Fe tops at 133 mph. The Nissan Pathfinder is the slowest in the acceleration tests, with a 0-60 mph time of 8.6 seconds, and a quarter-mile time of 16.7 seconds. The Kia Sorento is the fastest of the lot, beating the Santa Fe in the 0-60 mph acceleration by 0.1 seconds only at 6.5 seconds. The Honda Pilot is slower than the Santa Fe by again 0.1 second, at 6.7 seconds. The Honda takes a quarter-mile time of 15.2 seconds.

All the four cars share the same front brake size at 12.6 inches. However, the rear brake on the Santa Fe is the smallest, at 11.9 inches whereas the Pilot gets the largest rear brake at 13 inches. The Pathfinder is the quickest to stop, taking only 124 feet. The Santa Fe comes in next with a distance of 125 feet, followed by the Sorento at 126 feet. The Pilot comes in last at 130 feet.

Handling and Steering

The ride quality on the Santa Fe is excellent, very silent and the refinement offers a smooth ride as well. The steering is precise and offers you complete control over the car. Also, the Santa Fe gets three settings for the steering: comfort, normal and sport. The steering is most responsive and dynamic in the sport mode. The steering makes the car predictable, and that's a good thing.

The handling is not much different, and the car is super steady around turns and even while doing highway runs. The suspension has been improved from last year, and now works well to offer an optimum balance between comfort and performance.

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Large SUVs are not known for great fuel efficiency figures, and the Santa Fe is no different in this regard. The EPA has rated the Santa Fe for 18 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway, with the combined fuel economy rated at 21 mpg. The 18.8-gallon gas tank provides a decent driving range of over 450 miles which is not bad for the segment.

The Nissan Pathfinder is the most efficient of the lot with a combined efficiency of 23 mpg and also features a larger fuel tank which results in a longer driving range. The Honda Pilot is placed second in this regard, thanks to its combined mileage of 22 mpg which results in a range of 429 miles combined. The Kia Sorento has fuel efficiency figures and fuel tank capacity almost identical to the Hyundai Santa Fe, at 21 mpg combined and with a similar range as well.

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In spite of the current generation Santa Fe being available on the market for a while now, the interiors still feel pretty upmarket against its direct competitors. The cabin is ergonomically designed, and most of the materials used are of better quality and finish. The layout of the Santa Fe's interior is very practical, and the controls and buttons are arranged in a way that makes it easily accessible. The switchgear feels premium as well.

Both the front and second-row seats offer great adjustability and comfort, while the third row of seats is acceptable for kids but adults can squeeze in when needed. The ingress and egress are easy for all seats, and there is sufficient space for all occupants.

The support and adjustability on the Santa Fe's seats is excellent and makes any journey more enjoyable. The 2016 Kia Sorento has the most amount of space at the front but compromises a bit in the luggage department. The Honda Pilot is the most cramped crossover in this comparison, whereas the Pathfinder offers marginally more space in the front two rows. The rivals offer a slightly better third row of seats, especially the Pilot. Major interior features include-

• Powered front seats and adjustable driver's lumbar support
• Bucket Folding Captain Rear Seat
• Fixed 50-50 Split-Bench 3rd Row Seat Front with Manual Fold Into Floor
• Leather Seating Surfaces
• Leather Steering Wheel
• Dual Zone Front Automatic Air Conditioning with Rear HVAC
• HomeLink Garage Door Transmitter

How is the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe SUV’s infotainment system?

The 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system is available on the 2016 Santa Fe offers crisp graphics and well laid out UI, similar to the thoughtful placement of buttons and switchgear controls, which are well organized and legible in most circumstances.

It offers all the technology that you would expect from a crossover at this price point and hence is one of the strong points of the interior of Santa Fe. Few standout features include-

• 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• 6-speaker audio system
• SiriusXM radio w/3-month trial subscription
• Blue Link telematics
• Blue Link Selective Service Internet Access
• Bluetooth Wireless Phone Connectivity and Streaming Audio
• Turn-By-Turn Navigation Directions
• Voice command

Cargo Capacity

The Santa Fe does not offer a great cargo capacity. It's actually subpar in this class. The standard capacity stands at 13.5 cubic feet whereas the maximum space is at 80 cubic feet.

 The Kia offers the least cargo sapce among the four. At 11.3 cubic feet, some compact cars offer more space. The maximum capacity stands at 73 cubic feet. The most standard cargo capacity is offered by the Honda Pilot at 16.5 cubic feet. The Pathfinder offers the most cargo space when the third row is folded down at 47.8 cubic feet. The maximum cargo space is offered by the Pilot at 83.8 cubic feet.

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Despite being a few years old, the current generation Santa Fe still looks fresh and appealing from all angles. The front fascia is typically Hyundai with the headlamp and grille design while the side profile gives a quintessential crossover look but the slim roof rails add a sense of sportiness to it. The rear of the Santa Fe is well-sculpted as well, with a curvy and sharp design treatment that looks appealing and little sporty as well. 

There have been changes made to the exterior of the 2016 model year, and the 7.3 ground clearance on offer is more than enough for most buyers' intended usage. The Santa Fe's proportions don't expactly stand out from the crowd, but it has a powerful road presence. The car is slightly bigger than the Sorento but smaller than the other two. 

The Nissan Pathfinder is the longest, widest, and tallest crossover amongst the cars present here and hence is also the heaviest. The Hyundai Santa Fe and the Kia Sorento being the corporate cousins are almost identical in terms of their dimensions, whereas the Honda Pilot is a tad bit larger than them both. Major exterior highlights include-

• Fully Automatic Projector Beam Halogen Daytime Running Headlamps w/Delay-Off
• Front Fog Lamps
• Roof Rack Rails
• Lip Spoiler
• Variable Intermittent Wipers w/Heated Wiper Park
• Power Heated Side Mirrors w/Convex Spotter
• Chrome Door Handles and Side Windows Trim
• 18-inch Aluminum Alloy Wheels

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The NHTSA has not crash-tested the Santa Fe for the 2016 model year, but in the IIHS tests, the Santa Fe fared well and it received a ‘Good’ rating in most parts of the tests. It does lack a certain safety technology that the rivals offer, but nonetheless, the fitment is not poor in any way and has plenty to boast about. Few key safety features include-

• Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and Driveline Traction Control
• Blue Link Emergency SOS
• Blind Spot
• Restricted Driving Mode
• Tire Specific Low Tire Pressure Warning
• 7 Dual Stage airbags

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2016 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2016 Kia Sorento

The 2016 Kia Sorento is a far cousin of the Santa Fe, and both the cars are similar in quite a few ways. The Sorento's design is more appealing than the Santa Fe's in ways, and the car is does appear bigger than what it is. The Sorento's fuel economy is better than that of the Santa Fe's and seating is available with either two/three rows of seats.

The Kia also gets more driver assistance features as well. Both the cars are similar in terms of base engine performances, but the optional engines on the Sorento offer much more power. The Sorento also has a 5-star safety rating. However, the Santa Fe is more reliable.

2016 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2016 Honda Pilot

The 2016 Honda Pilot is a better performing car. It is famous for its Jack of all trades performance and it does so with accuracy. The Pilot is a very refined and smooth car, just like the Santa Fe. It produces lower power figures but higher torque figures compared to the Santa Fe. The Santa Fe is faster than the Pilot. The Santa Fe also has the better towing capacity.

The Pilot is a more fuel efficient car, which means less stops at the gas station. In terms of interior, the Pilot is more spacious, the third row is much more reasonable and the cargo space is more as well. The Pilot's reliability is undoubtable, and its safety scores are at least there. The Honda is expensive as well, comparatively.

2016 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2016 Nissan Pathfinder

The 2016 Nissan Pathfinder is a normal crossover. It hints at a large interior, with quiet and composed ride (just like the Santa Fe) and a larger body as well. The Pathfinder lacks any punch to the engine, and the Santa Fe is preferred in this context. However, the car is more fuel efficient. Otherwise, it lacks some basic equipment, and most of the other things are similar.

The Pathfinder is priced is a little higher, and both these cars share a similar body structure, number of occupants and the cargo volume. The Pathfinder has a spacious interior but its interior is not appealing at all. The Santa Fe is more reliable as well.

The Hyundai Santa Fe, even in its latter stages of the current generation, doesn’t fail to amuse buyers with the level of practicality, comfort, and value that it has to offer. Though it has its own shortcomings, it has no drawbacks as such. So, should you consider buying the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe, it would provide a pleasant experience for all your members of the family. The 2016 Santa Fe is a balanced offering in this segment.

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