The Santa Fe Sport is Hyundai's entrant in the mid-size crossover race, and it's a name that has become well-known in these circles through its three generations. With this vehicle, the South Korean company competes against the likes of the Ford Edge, Subaru Outback and Chevrolet Equinox.
Changes that came as part of a significant update last year are carried over to the 2018 model.
That refresh brought sought-after items like a multi-view camera system, radar cruise control with stop/start function, lane departure warning, electric parking brake, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, automatic high-beams and steerable headlights.
What still doesn't need much updating was the Santa Fe Sport's impressive drive characteristics and overall quality, which have impressed since this crossover was last redesigned as a 2013 model. The Santa Fe Sport is strictly a five-seater; if you want three rows of seating in a Hyundai, there's the Santa Fe XL (simply called Santa Fe in the U.S.), which is covered in a separate buyer's guide entry.
The Santa Fe Sport's drivetrain choices include a 2.4L four-cylinder that makes 185 hp and 178 lb-ft of torque, while a 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder boosts those figures to 240 hp and 260 lb-ft. The 2.4L can be had with front- or all-wheel drive, but all 2.0L models get standard AWD. A six-speed automatic transmission is standard across the line.
Though the Santa Fe Sport is now in its sixth year on the market, it still looks and feels remarkably fresh next to more recently redesigned competitors, notably the Outback and Equinox we name-checked higher up. Call that a testament to Hyundai's desire to stay ahead of the curve in a crowded segment in which thousands of Canadian families are looking for a vehicle that combines practicality, performance and value in one package.
Standard kit includes a six-speaker stereo, backup camera, Bluetooth, air conditioning, heated front seats, tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel, 17-inch aluminum wheels, heated and power-adjustable side mirrors, automatic headlights and cloth upholstery.
2.4 Premium trim adds blind spot detection with lane change assist, rear cross traffic alert, rear park assist sensors, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather-trimmed steering wheel and shifter, 12-way power driver's seat, heated steering wheel and heated rear seats.
2.4 SE gets manual rear-window sun shades, panoramic sunroof and leather seating.
The 2.4 Luxury model adds a four-way power front passenger seat, intelligent keyless entry with push-button ignition, auto-dimming rearview mirror, hands-free power liftgate and sliding second-row seats.
2.0T SE trim blends features from the 2.4 SE and Luxury models, like intelligent keyless entry with push-button ignition and sunroof but adds an upgraded gauge cluster and19-inch wheels.
2.0T Limited models get navigation, HID headlights and LED taillights.
Finally, 2.0T Ultimate trim gets lane departure warning, multi-view camera system, autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, electric parking brake, automatic high beams and adaptive headlights.
Fuel consumption estimates are 11.1/8.6 L/100 km (city/highway) for a 2.4L model with FWD, and 12.0/9.1 with AWD. 2.0L AWD models are rated at 12.5/9.6.
This vehicle has not yet been reviewed