Review of Santa Fe 2nd generation sores. Tips for Hyundai Santa Fe Buyers

One of the striking examples of “people's love” is the Hyundai brand, in particular one of its best “off-road profile” models with the name “Santa Fe”, the third generation of which was presented two years ago in New York. The premiere was memorable because the manufacturers presented two versions of the model in different body styles: five- and seven-seater.

The updated car appealed to motorists, just like previous generations of the model produced since 2000. Interesting fact: since the beginning of its existence, the total circulation of the model has been more than 2.5 million copies, of which more than 350 thousand have taken root in European countries.

For Russian consumers, the updated Santa 2012/13 model year is offered with several types of engines:

  • a gasoline 2.4-liter 175-horsepower power unit, complemented by manual or automatic transmissions with 6 ranges;
  • diesel 2.2-liter 197-horsepower CRDi version, paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission.

The modification in the body with 7 seats, called “Family”, is available in a single variation, including a gasoline engine and an automatic transmission.

In the two years that have passed since the presentation of the third generation of the model, motorists in our country have formed their own ideas about what is good and what is bad about this car.

Body part: advantages and comments

And the first positive reviews were earned by the design decision of the car, which many chose precisely because of its appearance. The new generation Santa Fe, indeed, looks quite impressive and solid due to the use of faceted, clearly defined headlights, as well as an original false radiator grille equipped with spectacular cross bars, and a massive bumper that houses large fog lights in its front part.

The rear view is also quite nice and attractive. Here you can see a huge tailgate, smoothly turning into a “muscular” bumper, complemented by trapezoidal tips of the exhaust system and a large amount of unpainted plastic in the lower part, thanks to which the car has an even more expressive, charismatic appearance.

However, all this is rather lyrical, and if you go directly to evaluating the car from the point of view of its body part, then, in addition to exclamations of admiration and delight, you can also hear some critical remarks made towards it, for example:

  • deterioration of visibility due to the very wide front pillars of the car;
  • the abundance of attachments, emphasizing the “off-road character” of the model, makes it a little noisy when driving over obstacles and uneven surfaces;
  • The efficiency of high beam headlights is clearly not enough, which creates certain inconvenience when traveling in the evening;
  • no separate headlight washers, only together with the glass;
  • insufficient clearance.

Although, of course, these “shortcomings” can hardly be called significant, so the appearance of the restyled version of Santa Fe for the 2012/13 model year deserves a completely objective and “correct” “five”.

The basis of internal comfort and identified “problems”

By the way, its interior also does not cause any serious quibbles or complaints. And, the first thing that the owners of this car note is its spaciousness, which allows it to be successfully used as a “convenient vehicle for family use.” The design of the driver and passenger seats is quite comfortable. For this reason, even on long trips you don’t experience much stress or discomfort from being behind the wheel.

Most of its owners also spoke positively about the noise-proofing characteristics of the model, which adds “another plus” in favor of the 3rd generation Santa.

The pleasant texture of the leather used for interior trim and the quality of its stitching are also pleasing. Everything looks very neat, without noticeable blemishes or irregularities. A clear advantage of the car can also be called the presence of a roomy and spacious trunk, capable of accommodating fairly large and large cargo.

Of course, certain shortcomings were also found in the interior of the car, for example:

  • inconvenient location of the ignition switch, which you need to bend over to get into;
  • slow seat heating;
  • imbalance of light and sound electrical settings, which sometimes begin to “glitch” for no apparent reason;
  • not very good quality of the hands-free function;
  • inability to adjust the music volume when engaging reverse gear;
  • old maps in the navigator;
  • insufficient number of equalizer settings in musical equipment;
  • incorrect translation into Russian of some words (for example, CENTER is written here as CETER).

Features of technical equipment and car handling

The technical characteristics of the Hyundai Santa Fe are quite consistent with the level and class of the car. As mentioned earlier, in our country you can purchase modifications with two powertrain options: a 2.2-liter diesel engine and a 2.4-liter gasoline engine.

At the same time, the diesel version earned the highest ratings from its owners, who described this engine as “reliable” and “economical.” According to some of them, the average fuel consumption of this car is about 8.0 liters per 100 km. As for its gasoline “brother,” it is distinguished by a certain slowness, which is manifested by the appearance of a kind of “stopper” when you press the gas pedal. But, if you drive calmly and carefully enough, there is no need to talk about this problem.

By the way, one of the undoubted advantages of the model is its “omnivorousness” and undemanding quality of the fuel used. The only problem that may arise is a decrease in its dynamics and “agility”.

Among the “controversial issues” associated with driving a car, some motorists note its insufficient dynamics, due to which it is necessary to plan maneuvers in advance, especially in the suburban cycle and when the car is fully loaded. So, for fans of active and dynamic driving, it makes sense to choose a diesel option with an automatic transmission. True, the “automatic” has a peculiar feature. Picking up a speed of about 50 km/h, it seems to “think about it”, after which it suddenly begins to accelerate, which is why it is better to prefer manual gear shifting when overtaking.

There were also no special complaints about the manual transmission. Santa Fe owners noted the clarity and consistency of its operation, noting the tight engagement of first gear.

The quality of the suspension was considered “average” by the majority of car enthusiasts due to the insufficient strength and balance of its struts. On a road surface that is not of very good quality, there is a loss of connection between the steering and the clutch. And, if the car passes small bumps with “five” marks, then on more serious obstacles a noticeable shaking appears, which does not add to the pleasant sensations of driving the car.

In general, it is better not to forget that, even with all its eccentric off-road appearance, the Hyundai Santa Fe does not feel confident enough off-road. Moreover, in winter, on a slippery road, it is quite adequate and predictable, but moving over an obstacle in the form of a pile of rubble on the road may not end up being very fun for it.

Let’s add that the car’s brakes are quite good, and, as a rule, there are no special problems with them. And, in general, there are no special complaints about the controllability and reliability of the model.

General impression of the model

Let us immediately note that, despite minor flaws and the presence of “weak points” (although who doesn’t have them), this car is a completely worthy example of a vehicle for the whole family, which, attracting attention, will create the “right image” for its owner " The only “but” in the process of purchasing it may be its not very low cost. However, if you want to buy something of truly high quality, you shouldn’t waste your money on “cheapness”, right?..

The Santa Fe crossover became the first in the Hyundai brand lineup. The appearance of the first generation turned out to be very controversial, for which it often received criticism from automobile critics. Nevertheless, the car managed to gain recognition and popularity among buyers. This was especially true for the North American market. Subsequent generations only consolidated the success of the crossover. Moreover, the designers did not sit idly by. And if the second generation can be called simply ordinary, then the third looked very decent.

One of the main qualities that owners highlight is the reasonable combination of price and quality of the car. And all this despite its by no means modest dimensions and spacious interior. An important factor is the successful use of power units that were equipped with different generations of the crossover. In this article, Hyundai Santa Fe engines are subject to a detailed review.

Hyundai Santa Fe powertrain range

Hyundai Santa Fe, officially supplied to the domestic market, did not offer an unlimited variety of power plants. In-line naturally aspirated fours, V-shaped sixes and a couple of diesel engines – this is the choice for a potential buyer. Below are the configuration options for Santa Fe in different generations.

I generation (2000-2006)

  • 2.4 MPI (145 hp) G4JS;
  • 2.7 V6 (179 hp) G6BA.

II generation (2006-2012)

  • 2.2 CRDi (150 hp) D4EB-V;
  • 2.2 CRDi (197 hp) D4HB;
  • 2.4 MPI (174 hp) G4KE;
  • 2.7 V6 (189 hp) G6EA.

III generation (2012-2018)

  • 2.2 CRDi (197/200 hp) D4HB;
  • 2.4 MPI (175 hp) G4KE.

2.4 l. G4JS. Heir to Japanese traditions

Structurally, this unit is a copy of the Mitsubishi engine. In those days, the Hyundai Corporation was gaining its own experience, so it preferred to use proven solutions from other manufacturers, mainly Japanese. The engine turned out to be quite reliable and repairable. But not without characteristic shortcomings.

One of these are balancer shafts. Designed to be an effective vibration damper, they do the job well. But at the same time, they can lead to serious problems with the engine. Balancers have the unpleasant property of regularly breaking down, and their broken parts ending up on the timing belt. All this can lead to belt breakage and, as a consequence, damage to the valves. In some cases, the entire cylinder head and piston group may be seriously damaged. To avoid such disastrous consequences, it is recommended to carefully monitor the condition of the balancers and use only high-quality oil. Some owners solve the problem radically - by completely dismantling the structure.

The intake manifold, due to its design features, can burn out already in the region of 70-80 thousand of its mileage. It doesn't even help that it's cast.

Strong vibrations most likely indicate worn engine mounts. The left pillow most often suffers from this.

Floating idle speed can indicate several problems. This could be a malfunction of the idle speed or temperature sensors. In addition, possible causes may be contamination of the injectors or throttle assembly.

Don't delay changing the oil. An increase in the service mileage can ultimately lead to failure of the plunger pair of hydraulic compensators. Like balancers, they really do not like low-quality lubricants. It is also recommended not to use coolant for too long. The peculiarities of engine operation lead to the fact that it quickly loses the necessary properties.

Despite the presence of rather unpleasant features, the 2.4 liter engine. G4JS is considered very resourceful. Its average mileage to the “capital” is an impressive 300 thousand km. At the same time, they note the relative ease of performing major repairs on such engines.

2.7 l. V6 G6BA/G6EA

The flagship engine of the first generation Santa Fe on the domestic market was a V-shaped “aspirated” six-cylinder engine designated G6BA. The engine belongs to the Delta family, but it has not undergone any fundamental changes compared to the engines of the previous Sigma family. The main differences are a lightweight aluminum cylinder head and a plastic intake manifold.

In 2006, it was replaced by the Delta Mu series motor. The engine was simply a more powerful version of its predecessor. The power increase was achieved through the use of a CVVT phase control system.

These engines did not turn out to be absolutely problem-free, but their potential mileage could well be 300-400 thousand km.

The common design basis led to the presence of common characteristic problems and malfunctions. One of the main and dangerous features of such engines is the design of the intake manifold. It is made of plastic and contains swirl flaps. The impact of the vibration of a running engine on weak, ill-conceived fastenings in the form of small bolts can cause the dampers to unscrew and fall into the combustion chambers. Such a nuisance can happen already around 70 thousand. At one time, this story became so widely known that the manufacturer had to conduct a recall campaign.

If this has already happened, then you will probably have to do a major overhaul of the engine. The edges of the pistons are destroyed by impacts that enter the valve chamber. This leads to piston knock. In addition, it is even possible for scoring to occur on the cylinders.

Oil loss or a sharp drop in oil level may occur. Sometimes it even comes to turning the connecting rod bearings. The reason for such troubles is the wear and tear of the piston rings.

Problems with timing belt tension can ultimately lead to its breakage. Damage to the valves follows, so it is worth periodically checking the actuator tension. Hydraulic compensators can be annoying with noise from their operation. Most likely this is evidence of their imminent failure.

2.4 l. G4KE. "World" motor

This unit is the fruit of another cooperation between Hyundai and Mitsubishi. It was developed jointly by Korean and Japanese engineers. The cooperation took place within the framework of the World Engine program. Thanks to this, it became widespread, which was limited not only to Hyundai models. An interesting feature is that this unit is identical to the Mitsubishi 4B12 engine, so spare parts for the engine can, if necessary, be searched through Mitsubishi catalogs.

The cylinder block and cylinder head were made lightweight. The aluminum content in them reaches 80%. A metal chain is used as a timing drive. This decision can be considered successful, since the node turned out to be quite reliable.

If we take the total engine resource, then with average statistical operation it is at least 250-300 thousand km. However, there are also problems that may prevent the achievement of such figures.

For example, some owners complained about engine knocking. Their source can be main and connecting rod bearings, and the cause is oil deficiency. Lack of lubrication can lead to rotation of the liners and subsequent jamming of the crankshaft. It is also necessary to carefully monitor the oil pressure. Cases of oil pump failure have been recorded. The consequences of working with such a malfunction can be very critical. Seizure on the cylinders is only a small part of the iceberg of problems that can follow.

They also note the failure of the phase regulators, as well as the low life of the air conditioner bearing. With mileages of more than 50 thousand, the noisy operation of the injectors can be annoying. Or more precisely, “chirping.” This disease is treated by adjusting the injection system.

2.2 l. D4EB-V. Almost a classic

The D4EB series engines were the first new type of diesel engines installed by Hyundai in its cars. Later they served as the base platform for the creation of other diesel units.

The D4EB-V engine is a modernized version with a volume of 2.2 liters. Despite the use of modern solutions at that time, this engine does not have any fundamental differences from a classic diesel engine. The design is well thought out and well executed. It cannot be called ultra-reliable, but it is a strong middle peasant - easily.

When using high-quality oil and following a reasonable schedule for changing it, the engine can run up to 200-250 thousand km. Otherwise there may be problems. The oil system becomes contaminated and oil starvation occurs. The result is accelerated wear of surfaces exposed to friction.

Over long runs, fuel consumption may increase significantly. Initially, you should pay attention to the quality of the diesel fuel consumed. If the assumption of low quality is confirmed, preventive actions should be taken. They involve flushing the fuel system. It would also be a good idea to use an additive that can remove residual resins and other deposits. This will lead to better combustion of diesel fuel and will also make starting significantly easier.

2.2 l. D4HB. Technology is not a death sentence

This unit turned out to be a very technological product. Its high technical characteristics did not prevent it from being an economical and environmentally friendly engine. At the same time, reliability indicators are at a very decent level. This is evidenced by its popularity in the contract motor market. As with any modern product, the key to long, trouble-free operation is competent maintenance. Its declared service life is 250 thousand km, but with timely, high-quality maintenance, such engines travel on average about 300 thousand.

Among the shortcomings that annoy owners is oil consumption. It is especially noticeable during aggressive driving. But even during quiet movement, it is not a bad idea to regularly monitor its level. The manufacturer calls this a design feature, that is, a normal phenomenon for such a motor. As mileage increases, consumption volumes may also actively increase, which will no longer be within normal limits.

It is not uncommon for this engine to have a knocking sound in the area of ​​the timing chains, of which there are two. The cause of unpleasant sounds is a clogged tensioner channel. In this case, cleaning is carried out. According to the repair regulations, the timing drive itself has an unlimited service life, but in practice its actual service life rarely exceeds 130 thousand km.

The new type of injectors turned out to be very capricious. This is due to the fact that they use the piezoelectric effect. This leads to the fact that the engine begins to “triple”, stall and have difficulty starting. It is possible to adequately eliminate such a malfunction only in a specialized service.

It is recommended to periodically change the fuel pre-filter, which is located in the tank. Over time, it becomes clogged, which leads to failures in traction and strong vibrations. Practice shows that on average it needs to be replaced every 60 thousand km.

The third-generation used Hyundai Santa Fe has almost no problems, but those that do exist can greatly upset the owner. The secret to trouble-free operation is timely maintenance

In 2002 On the way to the Moscow Motor Show, I got into a conversation with a man who had specially come from Ufa to pick up a Hyundai Santa Fe. Frankly, I was surprised by his choice. Buy a crossover for the Urals when the market is full of real SUVs, when the LR Defender still costs 29,000 USD, and the Niva costs 4,000? Who might need a Hyundai Santa Fe for the price of a Mitsubishi Pajero? The answer was stunningly simple: it is reliable, needed for every day, and our off-road conditions are still such that not every ZIL and Ural manage to return home before dark... This visual triumph of common sense slightly shook my unconditional faith in the frame, axles and atmospheric diesel, forcing us to look at the growing rows of crossovers from a different angle. Since then, there have been three generations of Santa Fe (the current one has been in production since 2012). The next change will take place this year, and sales of Santa Fe New will begin in the spring of 2018. Has its former quality been preserved? This is exactly what we will talk about, taking as an example the latest, third, generation of the crossover.

FEED WELL

In the Russian market, Hyundai Santa Fe was sold with two engines: a 2.4-liter gasoline and a 2.2-liter diesel engine. Both engines are very reliable, and their popularity is approximately the same, but greatly depends on the region. In both capitals and the western part of the country, they prefer an economical and high-torque diesel engine, but the further you go north and east, the more popular the comfortable and “warm” gasoline engine. The diesel power is 197 hp, its index is D4HP, it is chain-driven, sixteen-valve, equipped with a turbine and a direct fuel injection system.


Santa Fe 3 is a new generation Hyundai: comfortable, elegant and expensive

Diesel has two main problems, both related to the fuel delivery system. Around 150–200 thousand mileage, the parts of the high-pressure multi-piston pump begin to wear out. Its peculiarity is that the rotating parts are made of a harder alloy than the body, and over time the stationary parts begin to wear out intensively. It is difficult to say unequivocally what this depends on... Whether it is the increased ash content of low-quality fuel, or the wrong additives, but the fact remains: approximately every fifth car that comes to the service with the “check engine” light ends up having to replace the fuel injection pump. This pleasure is expensive - along with the work, a malfunction will cost at least 50,000 rubles, and the injectors also suffer, since chips clog them too. Moreover, it makes no sense to change the plunger pair; it’s not just that. Injectors are the next most expensive problem, but not the most common one. They are piezoelectric, very fast and accurate, but do not tolerate dirty fuel. Even if everything is in order with the fuel injection pump, you can end up having to replace the injectors by using the services of unscrupulous fuel pumps. Each costs about 30,000 for OEM and approximately 15,000 for “packagers”. Such injectors cannot be repaired. The timing drive is very reliable and in most diesel cars sold on the secondary market it is just approaching the point of replacement. And increased noise indicates elementary mechanical wear of the dampers and rollers. The set is inexpensive, you can find it for 12,000 rubles. It's rare, but it happens that the head gasket breaks. The cost of repairs is extremely individual, but you should not count on less than 30,000 rubles. If you have to change the head, then they will ask 130,000 rubles for the original assembly. The turbine regularly maintains its service life of 250,000 km only for those owners who were in no hurry to turn off the engine after high speeds and did not press the pedal to the floor on a cold engine. If you save on oil, you should prepare at least 25,000 rubles for a rebuilt turbocharger. More often the rod turning the turbine stator blades sours. A sign is a pipe that flies off during over-gassing. They say that in eight cases out of ten, an ordinary Vedashka helps...

There are five- and seven-seat versions of the crossover. Third row for teenagers

The gasoline engine causes almost no problems to the owner, calmly taking care of 300-350 thousand without serious interventions, and with regular maintenance and good oil, nothing prevents it from continuing to work. It pulls well from the very bottom, despite the sixteen-valve technology. This engine was installed on many Hyundai and KIA cars, including the main donor of the platform - the Sonata sedan. Ignition coil failures can cause some headaches. It is clear that this happens at the most inopportune moment and more often with parts purchased anywhere. The original ones last a long time, but they don’t like getting water, so you have to drive through puddles carefully. Fortunately, they are relatively inexpensive - 800–1000 rubles apiece. The rest of the troubles are standard for any modern engine: injectors are afraid of dirt and water in the fuel, the throttle assembly is afraid of slag from the ventilation system, attachments are afraid of stretched belts, and the fuel tank is afraid of the failure of the transfer pump. In short, a good, reliable motor.


WATCH THE ROAD

The condition of the chassis and suspension of any crossover depends three-quarters on driving style and a quarter on the quality of service and design features. A common problem with all modern cars on our roads is rapid wear of bushings and stabilizer struts - this is also typical for Santa Fe. The cost of parts and their replacement is low. The front suspension is MacPherson strut; it may experience knocking noises from support bearings costing 3,000 rubles and ball joints, which can be pressed out at specialized services and replaced separately from the levers for about six thousand. The rubber-metal blocks of the lever are very massive (especially the front one), and they last a long time. The characteristic problem of the second generation Santa Fe - a knocking steering rack and frequent failure of the right tip - was corrected in the third generation, and if the problem appeared, it means the boot is torn or there is a power steering pump fluid leak. Both can be easily avoided if you don’t skip scheduled maintenance. The most costly problem of the front suspension is premature wear of the wheel bearing, which is replaced with the hub assembly, by the way, just like the rear one, but this happens extremely rarely there. The hub is expensive, you need to replace two at once, and to replace it you will have to disassemble the entire suspension. As a result, your budget will lose twenty thousand. And the reason may be careless driving on bad roads, too deep puddles and neglect of washing after mud routes.

In the rear suspension, too, the first ones to “die” are the stabilizers, costing 600 rubles each, then the shock absorbers, costing 3,500 rubles each, and, most importantly, the bolts that adjust the camber and which secure the lower arms become tightly soured. On cars with an automatic transmission, and these are the majority, the parking brake, which operates separately from the main braking system, corrodes and loses its mobility. It should definitely be used, not limited to the “Parking” mode. Both suspensions are mounted on a subframe, which increases the strength of these units and reduces noise and vibration transmitted to the body from the road surface.

25.12.2017

Hyundai Santa Fe 2 is a popular mid-size crossover with good equipment and good off-road capabilities for relatively little money. This generation of the model is significantly superior to its predecessor in all components: the car has become noticeably larger, more elegant, more solid and has richer equipment. Thanks to this, Santa Fe 2 was in unprecedented demand, and, according to many European automotive analytical publications, this car was one of the ten best cars in this segment. But now let’s try to figure out how things stand with the reliability of this car and what surprises it can present.

Specifications

Car class - J (crossover);

Body dimensions (L x W x H), mm – 4675 x 1890 x 1725;

Wheelbase, mm – 2700;

Tire size – 237/65 R17;

Fuel tank volume, l – 65;

Curb weight, kg – 1648;

Total weight, kg – 2240;

Trunk capacity, l – 469 (1473).

Options before 2010– GLS 01E (02E, 03E, 04E, 05E, 06E), GLS 06Ef, GL CM01e, GLS H-Matic Supreme, GLS H-Matic CM11ec, GLS H-Matic CM12ec; after– Base, Elegance+Navi, Comfort, Style, Style+Navi.

The most common faults of Hyundai Santa Fe 2

Problem areas of the body:

Paintwork– water-based acrylic paint was used to paint the body, because of this, scratches and chips appear on the body even from minor mechanical impact. The most problematic place is the roof - the paint swells, the same problem occurs around the windshield.

Body corrosion resistance– the body of the Hyundai Santa Fe 2 is not prone to corrosion; problems can only arise if the car has not been restored after an accident in makeshift conditions.

Door seals– are quite rigid, so on many examples the doors close with little effort.

Heated wipers– in severe frosts, it is better to refuse to use heated wipers, since a sudden temperature change can cause the windshield to burst.

Optics– after washing, rain, and also during temperature changes, condensation collects in the optics.

Weaknesses of power units

Gasoline engines are reliable and have a good service life - 350-400 thousand km, but are demanding on the quality and replacement interval of fuels and lubricants. It is recommended to change oil and filters every 10-12 thousand km. Common malfunctions include unreliable starter, leaking front crankshaft oil seal and oil pan seal.

The engine has a volume of 2.7 liter ignition coils are considered the weak point; their service life rarely reaches 100,000 km. For cars with a mileage of more than 150,000 km, the cooling system requires special attention - leaks appear in the cooling radiator. It would seem that the breakdown is not significant, if not for one thing. The expansion tank has one feature - it always contains a small amount of coolant, even when there is practically no coolant left in the system, because of this there is a high probability of engine overheating with all the ensuing consequences. To minimize risks, try to always keep the fluid level above average. At 200-250 thousand kilometers the catalyst will have to be replaced. After 300,000 km, oil consumption increases on many copies.

Motor 2.4 began to be installed after restyling in 2010. A more modern power unit is demanding on fuel quality, and saving on it will quickly lead to replacing the catalyst. Otherwise, the engine ensures the most trouble-free operation of the car, but subject to careful handling, use of high-quality oil, gasoline and regular maintenance. The starter is considered the most problematic place here - in winter the bendix often jams (does not disengage from the flywheel). 2-3 forced engine stops will help solve the problem temporarily. The power unit uses a variable valve timing system on both shafts and there are no hydraulic compensators; therefore, during engine operation, extraneous sounds are observed - noises and knocks.

Diesel internal combustion engines

Diesel engines are less reliable and can present many surprises. The most problematic area here is the fuel equipment - it is poorly adapted to our realities and painfully tolerates the use of low-quality fuel. Possible problems: premature failure of injectors, injection pump of the EGR valve, particulate filter. If you use high-quality diesel fuel, the first problems with fuel equipment begin after 150,000 km. With the arrival of cold weather, the fuel pressure regulator begins to mope, the main signs of its malfunction are a strong chirping sound coming from under the hood at idle.

Crankshaft pulley and damper clutch– often fails at a fairly short mileage – 80-100 thousand km.

Vacuum turbine blade position regulator rod– after 120,000 km it may begin to jam. If there is a problem, the boost pipe at the inlet to the intercooler constantly flies off.

Glow plugs– on average they last 80-90 thousand km, but replacing them can result in expensive repairs. The fact is that when replacing spark plugs, in 50% of cases they break off, and in order to remove the spark plug fragments you have to remove the cylinder head, so it is better to entrust this operation to professionals. Closer to 150,000 km, the glow plug relay needs to be replaced.

Cylinder head gasket– on cars whose mileage has exceeded 180-200 thousand km, as a rule, it needs to be replaced. Symptoms: oil leaks appear on the engine.

Injection pump coupling– may require repairs at 150-200 thousand km. Symptoms: a knocking sound appears from under the hood. The same symptoms may appear if the drive belt tensioner is faulty.

Transmission problem areas

In general, the transmission is reliable and rarely bothers its owners with breakdowns, but a couple of weak points were nevertheless identified. The main problem with all types of transmissions is the weak bearing of the right axle shaft; its service life is less than 150,000 km. The problem is aggravated by the fact that when the bearing fails, the wear of the spline joint of the inner and outer axle shaft accelerates.

Mechanics– the main problem with this type of transmission is leakage of axle shaft seals. On diesel versions of cars, the dual-mass flywheel is often a concern; its average service life is only 120-130 thousand km, despite the fact that replacement is expensive. The clutch lasts 120-150 thousand km; if you drive aggressively, the clutch may need to be replaced after 90,000 km.

Automatic transmission– has an unpleasant operational feature – jerks (jokes) when changing gears. Changing the oil helps to temporarily improve the performance of the transmission, so many people change it every 30-50 thousand km. Among the common ailments, a weak lever position switch can be noted; on many copies it was changed at a mileage of 70-90 thousand km.

Four-wheel drive

implemented using a multi-disc friction clutch. This unit is reliable, but is afraid of heavy loads (frequent slipping). Unlike other models, the Hyundai Santa Fe 2 clutch is repairable, and in case of any troubles, you will not have to shell out unrealistic sums for the purchase of a new unit (on average they ask for 200-300 USD to restore the clutch). To diagnose the condition of the clutch, it is necessary to drive the car with the wheels fully turned; if at this time jerks (shocks), impacts, etc. are felt, most likely the clutch requires repair.

Common faults:

  • Rear gearbox cover and rear gearbox oil seal leaking– appears at a mileage of 80-100 thousand km.
  • Cardan shaft outboard bearing– fails after 100,000 km.
  • Elastic cardan shaft couplings– travel up to 150,000 km.

Suspension life of Hyundai Santa Fe 2

If you like comfortable travel in a car, then the Hyundai Santa Fe 2 will disappoint you a little, since the suspension here is quite stiff, and when driving on a bad road the car shakes slightly. Good handling can compensate for this trouble.

Resource of suspension consumables:

  • Support bearings last up to 80,000 km, but can creak even after 40,000 km.
  • Shock absorbers - on pre-restyling versions their resource was limited - 50-70 thousand km, in 2010 the part was modernized, as a result of which their resource increased to 100,000 km.
  • Wheel bearings travel relatively little - 60-70 thousand km. Over time, the hub nut may begin to unscrew (clicks appear when you start to move). Only replacing the nut will solve the problem.
  • Stabilizer struts - 40-60 thousand km - front, 70-80 thousand km - rear.
  • Stabilizer bushings last quite a long time, up to 100,000 km, but to replace them you will have to lower the subframe.
  • Shock absorbers with variable stiffness - installed on 7-seater versions, this part costs several times more than usual, and their service life is only 70-90 thousand km, so many owners replace them with standard shock absorbers paired with stiffer springs .
  • Ball joints - run up to 120,000 km.
  • Silent blocks of levers - 130-150 thousand km.
  • Multi-link – often does not require intervention up to 150,000 km.

Steering and Brakes:

Steering rack– on many copies it does not cause problems up to 100,000 km; after repair, it can start knocking after 20,000 km. The main malfunctions are that the right bushing and oil seals wear out.

Brakes reliable, but requires periodic maintenance - the guide calipers need to be lubricated; if this is not done, over time they develop wear and tear and begin to rattle (most often the rear ones). There may also be problems with the brake light switch on/off.

Interior and electrical

The interior is made of good materials, but there are still a couple of nuances here. The most problematic place in the interior is the steering wheel braid - it will peel off over time. You can also note the creaking and poor wear resistance of plastic elements - they quickly become covered with scratches. The electronics are reliable, but some equipment may malfunction from time to time. Most of all, owners complain about “glitches” in the operation of multimedia - it reboots, and the display can also turn off spontaneously. On vehicles with a mileage of more than 150,000 km, the climate system damper motor and the heater fan may fail.

What's the result:

A truly worthy off-road vehicle that will more than justify the money spent on it. Despite the advanced age of the car and the considerable mileage of most copies, in general this model can be characterized as a very reliable, fairly economical and versatile car.

If you have experience operating this car model, please tell us what problems and difficulties you encountered. Perhaps your review will help the readers of our site when choosing a car.

During the time I owned this car, the car was serviced more than it was driven...

3 transfer cases were replaced under warranty (mileage 15,000km-29,000km-38,000km), the rear clutch 2 times at 32,000km and now again at 40,500km, the automatic transmission was repaired for the first time at 30,000 - the second time to replace the automatic transmission completely at 38,000km, so as it was not subject to repair, the right front ball, differential, steering wheel upholstery, etc... which they did not do and are not yet recognized by Hyundai service workers - the steering rack, the left ball (they did not recognize the right one until the wheel practically began to fall off)

I personally have terrible oil consumption... 3-4 liters per 15,000 km. service interval... I talked with other owners of the regular SANTA FE, the oil is also added at least 2-3 liters... and all the breakdowns with all-wheel drive also went away... do all 100% SANTA FE and Kia Sorento have these all-wheel drive problems? as well as the younger brothers IX35, etc. many drivers drive and do not suspect that all-wheel drive has been gone for a long time...

It’s a pity for those who buy these used cars and then end up with huge sums of money!!! I was very surprised that almost all owners sell their GRAND Santa Fe after 2-3 years of ownership, realizing that owning it after warranty is just a waste of money.

The car did not live up to expectations! originally cost 1,970,000 rubles but the quality and reliability are poor. The car has a beautiful interior. The design is also beautiful, but these are all little things, more on everything later.

ADVANTAGES:

  • Beautiful design.
  • Nice interior and good audio system
  • Large trunk and a lot of nice little things!!
  • Consumption on the highway is 10l and in the city 19l, the dynamics are normal!!! But there are still more minuses than pluses!

FLAWS:

  • After a run of 25,500 km, the weld points on the body began to come off, after 10,578 km the roof began to rattle and vibrate, the high cost of spare parts and by the run of 30,000 km the automatic began to work worse (more violent jerks of steel), the air conditioner noticeably sits down the car. In the 2nd generation Santa Fe, such nuances were not observed, although there were also plenty of disadvantages, especially in the chassis.

When I bought a car for almost 2 million I was hoping for better quality and reliability!!!

I bought a car in February 2013 at the East Market Motors St. Petersburg showroom for 1,420,000. For my money, the car has almost no analogues, the choice was conscious, before that I changed 8 cars from the brand to the new Rav4.

In my review I won’t talk about little things, I’ll write about a really scary situation that will make you think twice about choosing this car.

On June 16, returning from the dacha, I felt a growing smell of diesel fuel in the cabin. I stopped and opened the hood... blah... everything was doused with fuel. The car's mileage at this time was 6,000 km. I called a tow truck and they dragged me to the station. The next day the master calls and says in a joyful voice - come and pick it up. Arriving at IST Market Motors, I saw my car with a clean engine. When asked what happened and what they did, the foreman said: yes, the return line of the fuel line came apart, we fastened it back together (who knows, this line has a joint that actually came apart). There was an awkward pause. I asked “and... I should continue to ride on the same thing.” The master lowered his eyes to the floor and said... well, I can’t do anything, you... this... look under the hood more often. I was shocked. When I picked up the car, the manager Alexey, who sold me the car, drew attention to me. Having learned about what had happened, Lesha said - it’s nonsense, they say the diesel doesn’t burn...

I won’t bore your attention with the little things, but it’s worth thinking about choosing a car with a leaking fuel line, and about the interior that lets its client out in a killer car.

I took a photo. There you can clearly see the disconnected fuel return hose. The whole nightmare is that the car drove without any problems, because the line is reverse, that is, through it the excess fuel is returned to the tank... I don’t know what would have happened if it weren’t for the smell, or if there was gasoline... .

Now I have written a letter to the salon and Hyundai. We'll wait for a reaction.

Advantages:

  • Powerful engine
  • Spacious salon
  • Reasonable price (got it on sale)

Flaws:

  • Quality and service
  • After 6,000 km, a disgusting bald spot formed on the steering wheel.
  • I have already visited the service for additional equipment 3 times
  • The turbo timer that was installed in the cabin turned out to be defective. The car stood for 10 hours in the city center with the engine running

If it were a domestic car, I would watch it carefully, but here I couldn’t believe that Hyundai could produce a car with a leaking fuel line...

Hyundai Grand Santa Fe crossover car - Grand Santa Fe does not fully correspond to the stated price

Advantages:

  • Large salon
  • comfort

Flaws:

  • Discrepancy between price and quality.
  • After a couple of years of use, it is advisable to “get rid” of the car in order to avoid unnecessary expenses.

I bought a Grand Santa Fe (diesel) in April 2014. Now the mileage is 175,000. Last month I had to have the engine repaired (replacing the cylinder head). By the way, a friend bought a used regular Santa Fe, also a diesel. The mileage was 92,000. I drove five thousand kilometers and the same problem arose with the engine. But his repairs were carried out under warranty. Coincidence or not, two engines with the same problem seems suspicious to me...

After more than three years of using the “crickets”, a whole family lives in the cabin.

Yesterday I began to feel some strange jolts on the rear wheels when turning. I’ll go to the service center to be “pleased” with a new surprise.

Before that I had a wad 406. In 10 years I drove more than 600,000. As they say, “I didn’t know grief.” But, he began to slowly “crumble”. I had to change my car. Unfortunately, the choice of Gran Santa Fe was not the best. I will sell and buy a new car. But it will definitely not be a Hyundai!

I purchased a car on November 9, 2012 at a car dealership on Dmitrovskoye Highway in Moscow (Avtomir AMKapital LLC). Overall I really liked the car!!! On March 4, 2014 at 15:36 a car parked in the yard caught fire. And within 12 minutes it burned completely. The Ministry of Emergency Situations conducted a fire-technical examination and found out that it was a spontaneous combustion of a Hyundai SantaFe car. More precisely

Russian Emergency Situations Ministry

Federal State "Forensic Expert Center of the Federal Fire Service for the city of Moscow) Federal State Budgetary Institution SEC FPS for the city of Moscow)

Expert conclusion:

  • The fire is located in the engine compartment of a Hyundai Santa FE. It is not possible to more accurately determine the source of the fire (the place of initial combustion) based on the submitted inspection materials.
  • The cause of the fire, in this case, could have been the ignition of flammable materials located in the area of ​​the identified fire source, from the thermal effect of an emergency fire hazardous operating mode in the vehicle's electrical system.

AMKapital LLC has currently taken the car to conduct its examination!!

But here it is already clear that we will have to sue!!!

So, before buying this car, read - it is written in more detail here

A creaking sound appeared in the torpedo. From the very beginning to this day, the leather seat and steering wheel have peeled off. I didn’t go to the dealer, it’s a small thing for me. After a year of operation, when pressing the brake, a click appeared in the area of ​​the gearbox. And another click when you release the pedal. The dealer froze, because this does not affect the driving performance. Sometimes the rear view camera glitches (noise, like on the Elektron TV). I told them to take a look, but the law of meanness - everything works!

The multimedia system of the Hyundai Santa Fe 2.4 also does not always work smoothly. You turn it on and there’s a corporate logo on the screen and that’s it, you have to reboot it several times. It’s very annoying when you want to leave the parking lot in the morning using a camera, but it’s not available. The rear doors protrude in relation to the rear fenders. It looks like the car was after an accident. At the MOT they said that this is such a design. There were also these “Santas” in the cabin, but the neighbor in the parking lot did not have this “defect.” This does not affect the tightness, the cabin is quiet, but touches the soul.

A couple of months ago it started having trouble starting; the starter didn’t want to turn on the first time. This happens a couple of times a week. And the worst thing is that signs of corrosion have appeared in the form of swelling on the front fender and above the front fender. With all these jambs, I’ll go to the dealer, then I’ll write back. There is hope for eliminating breakdowns, because Santa Fe 2 reviews indicate positive results.

They warned me that this was not an SUV. But no, I was carried home from the dacha after two days of rain and I sat down on my belly on a rut. No amount of fidgeting back and forth with connecting the “type” of all-wheel drive helped. The result is a dirty interior, wasted nerves and being towed by the LAWN to the asphalt.

In general, the car is not bad, but all sorts of little things spoil the existing opinion about it. However, this is the last “Korean” in my life. Therefore I DO NOT RECOMMEND it.

Neutral reviews

Complete set:

  • 12 airbags
  • 2-zone climate
  • cd-mp3 for 6 discs
  • bright skin
  • panoramic sunroof
  • refrigerator compartment under the armrest
  • power mirrors and seats
  • light-rain sensor
  • cruise control and multimedia leather steering wheel
  • cool instrument lighting
  • attractive eyelash dimensions
  • rear parking sensors, etc.

Advantages of the model:

  • Very spacious car
  • almost silent engine operation
  • excellent climate control performance
  • spacious trunk (you could stuff an elephant)
  • Huge hidden storage space under the trunk
  • the most cost-effective model in its class.

Disadvantages of the model:

  • acceleration dynamics (not a fountain) about 11 seconds. up to a hundred
  • rare 4-speed automatic transmission stalls in all ranges
  • slightly stiffer suspension (only GAZ-69 is stiffer)
  • no xenon even as an additional option (why?)
  • Infinity radio did not exceed my expectations
  • it doesn’t consume fuel, but consumes 13.9 liters per hundred without climate control - this, in my opinion, is gluttony for 2.7
  • At first, the bugs were not heard, but gradually they began to appear, especially in the luggage compartment.

Conclusions:

Of course, the results of South Korean auto manufacturers are obvious, but as always, they lack something. Either the engines are weak, or the plastic is noisy, or the suspension is like on crutches, or they just can’t decide on the face. Specifically regarding Santa, I can say the following, they have a version 3. 3 American, they say it’s very fast, and there is also a Veracruz model (ix55) for Europe that is twice as powerful as the Santa 3. 8 engine, but is on a strict diet of 12 liters per hundred. formula AI-95. Of course, it costs more, depending on who you are. Although the Veracruz is considered a higher class (Lexus RX-350), outwardly, (it seems to me) Santa does his best!

Advice. Take it, but keep in mind that this is not a Lexus or an Infiniti, but just a successful Hyundai. In other words, it's worth the money, that's a fact!

My opinion is that Santa is a big toy for adults, which is always missing something. Charge it with a Veracruz engine and suspension and everything will fall into place. In principle, it’s nothing, there’s just something to compare it with. It's not a Lexus, but it's worth the money.

If I sell, I'll buy myself a Veracruz. These Koreans have become really good at making cars.

HI ALL! I have owned the car since 2013. The equipment at that time was called “Sport”, now there is no such thing, then there was a gap between complete and incomplete “minced meat”. I went everywhere, to the sea, to the Urals, for my insignificant mileage of 57,000 km. nothing serious happened. Diesel froze twice, in the Urals the temperature dropped sharply in October, and diesel is summer and in Moscow on New Year’s Day it was more than minus 32. Now I use additives if the forecast promises severe frost.

Breakdowns:

  • The headlight washer froze in the cold, I pushed it in by hand and apparently broke it, it was replaced under warranty, the warranty is valid for up to 3 years.
  • left stabilizer link at 55,000 km. (they said it was a factory defect, it lasts more than 100 thousand km), the official dealer has a replacement for 5 thousand rubles. , they said the warranty was 4 years, I didn’t have time.

There was nothing else, I tested the four-wheel drive on a field in the snow, it was fine. The Kia Sorento is basically an analogue for the Santa Fe, all the parts are identical, a friend drove 120 thousand km without problems, he only changed the bearings. If someone wants to buy a used version, I think it’s a good idea, the chassis hardware is inexpensive to replace.

Large outside and inside the car. It has a “conditional” all-wheel drive, which turns off automatically when the speed reaches 40 km/h, but it is necessary to knead the snow when parking in yards. The ground clearance is small and allows you to climb onto the curb, but you need to get off it carefully!

My opinion is that not a single car in the world is worth the money they ask for it, including this one! The cars have lost their individuality, are made like carbon copies and, in principle, have the same set of qualities and problems. But demand creates supply and another “masterpiece” comes off the assembly line! The price of this car is lower than that of competitors, Germans or Japanese, but it seems to me that it is still high (especially the current price tag): (

ADVANTAGES:

  • Large trunk/lounge volume.
  • The presence of “conditional” all-wheel drive sometimes helps.
  • Availability of 2-zone climate, good suspension.
  • Comfortable interior, although the quality of materials could be better.
  • The general warranty is 3 years, if the car is imported, then plus another 2 years for the engine and gearbox, and that’s it!

The logic of the head light’s operation is not clear - if the engine is running, then the LED backlight is working, to turn it off you need to turn on the low beam, i.e. in any case you will be “marked”, perhaps even when you don’t want it! There are no standard acoustics (replaced with JBL). I replaced the head unit with INCAR on Android, Yandex, Navitel navigation and a rear view camera (the original GU costs a lot of money!). At 33,000 km I had to change the power steering assembly under warranty (a feeling of “biting”) in the assembly (this is their proprietary disease; many KIAs have the same power steering, respectively). 38,000 km replacement of one tip and one LED backlight in the fog lamp under warranty. A signature “sore”, “saffron milk caps” appear at the junction of the windshield and the roof (especially noticeable on white cars), is treated with a guarantee if noticed in a timely manner, and otherwise the coloring of part/entire roof is at your own expense!!! In general, the quality of the painting leaves much to be desired; there are small “jambs” even on brand new cars! At every maintenance you have to do an alignment/wheel alignment! I didn’t do this so often even in a Zhiguli!!! At speeds over 100 km/h, the car has to be “caught” on the road; the car is heavy and begins to scour the road at speed. A more adequate interaction between the automatic transmission and the engine was cured with CHIP tuning. Consumption is about 13l/100km in the city, on the highway about 7-9l. The fuel tank volume is small. Weak body rigidity, we roll over the speed bump and hear the characteristic creaking of the door panels, and when the wheels are hanging on one side, do not try to open/close the fifth door - you will be very disappointed by the obvious distortion! . At 47 thousand. The right ice light died, the warranty has already expired, so: 3.5 thousand repairs, 44 thousand. - another steering tip died!

There is no general warranty of 5 years, maintenance after 15 thousand. km.

The overall rating, believe me, for very “gentle” operation - CREE!!!

I chose a car that had a diesel engine (2.2,150 hp) with a manual transmission (manual transmission), was large and spacious... the choice was either a slightly used Mitsubishi Pajero or a new Hyundai Santa Fe. I settled on Santa - a new model, streamlined, nice appearance, the dashboard is made to look like wood, comfortable rear seats (not like in a tag, the legs reach up to the jaw), it’s comfortable to drive long distances....

Breakdowns after 3 months:

  • I replaced the front strut at my own expense, it is not included in the warranty
  • Now we need to change all the cylindrical blocks of the front suspension, the car is 4 months old, not counting the fact that the wheels are installed with square ones, which come with the car.

People, think for yourself, but a big jeep is good if it’s for the city, and where there is recreation and fishing, everything starts to break down... the car is 4 months old, and you drive along dirt roads and think that you’re sitting on a penny in the seventies, that everything is rattling and it probably doesn’t knock in all of them...

Advantages:

  • Design
  • relatively inexpensive if you look at competitors

Flaws:

  • Interior trim
  • weak suspension

2016 Hyundai Santa Fe.

The equipment was almost complete, the only thing missing was a sunroof and a large display (although the regular one is quite informative, the camera is convenient to use when parking). The comfortable entry option works flawlessly, quickly and adequately + stylish key fob.

Diesel unit and all-wheel drive. Be prepared to warm up the car for about 20 minutes. Diesel after all. When purchasing, it is better to immediately acquire auto start, or better yet, engine heating. The latter will be extremely expensive.

At first glance, the Hyundai Santa Fe seems like an ideal car, both in price and quality.

In economy mode, the car actually consumes significantly less fuel, but this goes against the dynamics. The gas pedal begins to become harsh, sometimes the “brains” do not quite understand which gear to engage. When overtaking you have to switch to the manual mode of the automatic transmission. And by the way, the economy mode is disabled.

In Sport and Comfort mode the car behaves adequately.

What remains unclear to me is that when idling, the thermostat slowly cools down.

As for the chassis, everything is according to Korean canons. The suspension is very weak, the suspension in the pits knocks as if something is about to fall off.

Unfortunately, it was not possible to check the off-road qualities. But rest assured, it will get out of the snowdrift without any problems. In the urban cycle there is no point in turning on all-wheel drive.

Salon. Everything here is Korean, stylish and multifunctional. But the materials leave much to be desired. Still the same cheap and hard plastic. The leather steering wheel has almost worn out after only 49,000 km. It is not difficult to scratch plastic panels due to carelessness.

Official maintenance at the dealer will cost you about 20 thousand, be prepared.

And so, the price of this car at the time of purchase was approximately 1,900,000 rubles. Few competitors can boast of such a price with such a rich package, albeit with a budget finish.

Greetings to all Hyundai Santa Fe owners, as well as potential buyers. I’ve been driving for a long time and I won’t bore you with my former brands. Choosing a car took a long time and painfully. Reviews and recommendations weighed in favor of Santa, and last year I became his owner, almost fully equipped, only used.

What I immediately liked about the Santa Fe was the ease of entry and electric adjustment of the driver's seat, which comfortably holds the driver on the road. The dynamics were a little disappointing. When overtaking, you drive into oncoming traffic, pedal to the floor... and nothing happens!!! While I got used to it... I found a little “cure”. You need to manipulate the “gas”: immediately after switching speed, perform a maneuver. If you drive slowly, 110 km/h, then the consumption is about 10 liters. Even when climbing a hill, the traction does not disappear.

The low lighting is noticeable. Perhaps it is not adjusted correctly - it shines like a chandelier. Turning on the fog lights saves the situation.

Advantages of Santa Fe 2.4:

  • excellent suspension, not yet broken, rolls are minimal;
  • good sound insulation;
  • comfortable seats, especially the driver's seat with electric drive (I drive far and don't get tired);
  • the rear row is adjustable in tilt and folds into a flat floor;
  • The music plays quite well;
  • acceptable consumption (9, 7 – highway, 13, 5 – city);
  • Everything fits in the trunk, there are convenient drawers in the floor;
  • climate control works great;
  • keyless entry;
  • refrigerator in the armrest.

Flaws:

  • This is not an SUV;
  • inconvenient navigator;
  • outdated interior, wooden inserts literally hurt the eyes;
  • The handbrake is made as a “foot” brake.

That's all I paid attention to this year. I met Hyundai Santa Fe 2. 4 reviews that said about the rattling back row. I didn’t notice it myself. A good car for the money. Even though I am the second owner, the car works like a clock. Before that there was a Sonata, so I had no doubt about the reliability of the Koreans.

And further. In May I went to the Caucasus. On serpentines, the automatic is a little inconvenient - it doesn’t want to engage the lower gear uphill. I used the manual mode, the same as on the mechanics, everything is familiar, but it’s better not to touch the clutch. It takes turns confidently. Of course, I didn’t drive too hard...

Positive reviews

Santa Fe is an excellent car, large and spacious, reliable and easy to maintain, with excellent off-road character. In the nine years that I have owned it, I have had no strong complaints; it worked conscientiously.

What I would like to note. The car is stable on the road in any weather, the electronic stability control works great! Good clearance, neither curbs nor snowdrifts are scary. Great engine, I have a 2.7 V6. If you drive along the highway at 110-120 km/h, then the consumption is approximately 9-9.5 liters. So I recommend it!

Advantages of the car:

  • big and spacious
  • reliable and easy to maintain
  • with excellent off-road character.

Disadvantages of the car

  • hard plastic, but this is in comparison with the Germans.

Good day everyone!

This car is not the first in our family and we got it in the late fall of 2016. “Late” means it’s already cold and there’s snow here and there. Since I repair all my cars myself in the yard or in my father-in-law’s garage (350 km from home), I decided to put everything aside until it’s warmer and ride off the winter with what I bought. The only thing was to change the engine oil with the filter of course. The chassis asked for a little intervention, but it was tolerated until warmer days.

A little bit about yourself. I am 46 years old. Since 1993, as soon as I received water. certificate and graduated from a motor transport technical school, my work experience began as a driver of cars of various brands and manufacturers. At the moment I am also using the service ones: Camry 2.5 AT 2016. V. , BMW X6 3.0 D AT 2014 V.

First impressions of Santa Fe:

  • the seating position is high, like in a Kruzak (without a step I can hardly jump up (height is 174 cm), with the seat down);
  • smooth as a ship;
  • tight steering wheel;
  • the idle speed of the brake pedal is too large;
  • I can’t hear or feel the engine;
  • The gearbox (4-speed) works very softly (pah-pah-pah), sometimes you don’t even feel the shift at all (although when you get stuck in traffic jams there are “jabs”);
  • short-travel suspension, but there is no roll in corners;
  • poor lateral support of the driver's seat;
  • small scratches are very noticeable on the black plastic;
  • adequately stable on winter roads when cornering (ESP works great). my brain is just resting;
  • on road junctions and stones - hard;
  • on speed bumps - soft;
  • the stove in winter gives heat within a couple of minutes, as if there was an electric hair dryer;
  • I really want to install a rear view camera;
  • small turning radius despite its not small external dimensions;
  • The rear seats are spacious (I can’t see my boys, 8, 5 and 10 years old, in the rearview mirror;) ;
  • in the 5-seater version, you can hide half of the “necessary things” that are stored on the balcony in the trunk;
  • a full-fledged SUV (not an SUV for sure);
  • This car is simply a pleasure to drive.

Now about the repair:

  • During the first frosts, the front struts leaked. It was decided to give it away for pumping after the New Year. I already had experience of such a restoration of the rear ones on the x-trail. They did everything, they still work great, the price is 3000 rubles.
  • With the arrival of heat; - replacement of the front stabilizer bar bushings (80 rubles each),
  • replacing the inner boot of the right front drive (RUB 160 + lubricant),
  • replacement of the left ball joint (~800rub),
  • It was a trip to my beloved mother-in-law (350 km), which means there will be a garage. The mileage of 120,000 km was just approaching - replacing the timing belt with rollers (~6000 rubles). Regarding the belt, don't tighten it for so long. Mine just miraculously survived. An interesting effect has occurred!!! Gasoline consumption on the highway dropped from 10 to 8 liters per 100 km. according to the on-board computer, at an average speed of 100 km/h. In the city, of course, everything depends on the type of driving.
  • I changed the oil in the engine again (it quickly became dark - I filled it with Lukoil Lux - the old waste was washed away, there was even a moment when the oil pressure light began to blink (at that moment I was very scared for the engine), now everything is Ok - light - will last until the cold weather. Consumption not noticed yet.
  • I did a partial oil change in the automatic transmission, I’ll definitely do it again before winter!
  • I did a complete fluid change in the power steering, filled it with Dexron 3. The steering wheel began to turn easier!
  • Light bulbs in headlights and dimensions.

That's it!!!

Last week there was a run to Kosh-Agach with a stop at the Chemal hydroelectric station. Pleasures - full of pants!!! I'm as happy with the car as an elephant!!! (T-T-T).

In the future I will add as much as possible...

In my opinion, one of the most beautiful and stylish cars in its class. Quite soft suspension. Driving Santa doesn't feel like you're driving a big SUV. Spacious interior and roomy trunk. Those who say that it doesn’t drive are clearly talking about a gasoline engine. Diesel is rushing. When accelerating, you noticeably press into the seat. I accelerated to 190, then it gets boring, but the pedal is not yet up to the floor, with a reserve. Reasonable turning radius. Doors covering thresholds. What pleased me was that the heated rear seats and steering wheel are already included in the basic configuration.

I haven’t found any serious drawbacks yet, except for the noise of the wheels from the arches.

Every time I get into this car, I get the impression that I’m getting into a huge all-terrain vehicle. True, unlike an all-terrain vehicle, movement on the road goes like cheese through butter. No extraneous noise, no extraneous vibration, tapping or any other discomfort. All your movement consists only of the sound of the engine. The suspension seems to adapt itself to the road, so as not to inconvenience the driver. The rear seats for passengers also turned out to be very comfortable, even on long trips. If you are going on a trip or fishing trip, the luggage compartment will allow you to fit everything you need. Believe me there will be enough space. As for the rich equipment and its advanced functions, there is nothing to write home about, the quality is at the highest level, no glitches or errors occurred. The electronics are doing their job. Even though the Santa Fe is inferior in many ways to its more prestigious counterparts, for its price and class, it is worthy of competition.

An excellent car, large and spacious, reliable and easy to maintain, with excellent off-road character. In the 9 years that I have owned it, I have had no strong complaints, it worked conscientiously. What I would like to note: it is stable on the road in any weather, the electronic stability control works perfectly! Good clearance, neither curbs nor snowdrifts are scary. Great engine, I have a 2.7 V6. If you drive along the highway at 110-120 km/h, then the consumption is ~9-9.5 liters. So I recommend it!

I bought (August 2015) a specialist diesel, 4WD, I gained experience in owning a diesel in the Far East (Toyota Emina), although many are skeptical about diesel. In winter I drive with the additive, there have been no problems so far, dropping 50g into the tank before refueling is not a problem. The throttle response is quite satisfactory, the consumption is pleasantly surprising. In the city in winter with a stove there was no more than 9 liters per 100 km, but on the M4, visiting my parents in Rostov, I kept within 6 liters per 100 km, but provided that I tried not to run more than 120-125 km/h, if I fool around up to 150 km/h it will be 6.8-7.0 liters per 100 km. I went through three maintenance services, on average every 13,000-14,000 km, and changed the front pads at 44,000 km. The rest is still normal, I’m stocking up on consumables and getting ready for the 4th maintenance.

FLAWS:

  • Haven't discovered it yet.

Hyundai Grand Santa Fe crossover - A good quality car without pretensions to frills

Advantages:

  • Excellent build quality
  • good maneuverability

Flaws:

  • A little heavy

I bought my Santa Fe new in December 2014 at the Sim showroom in Moscow. This car became my 6th in 14 years of driving experience and my 3rd crossover. The previous 5 were German-made (BMW, Volkswagen, Audi). However, it is worth noting that this is my first new car, which of course added some positive emotions.

In general, after a year of operation, the car fully justified the money spent and was not at all tired of it. The build quality is quite good. The cabin is quiet, nothing creaks. Two small children have not yet been able to scratch or break anything. Sound insulation is excellent. No worse than my previous X5. Engine 2.4 petrol (perhaps diesel is a little better heard).

In the first month after the purchase, we went to Poland to ski. On the very first day, everything was covered with snow, and our apartments were on the mountain. Not a single passenger car came up the track with acceleration. We drove in without even skidding anywhere. At the same time, I didn’t turn on the differential lock or anything else.

Externally, the car continues to please the eye and I don’t notice a single flaw.

The only point worth noting is the large mass with a not very powerful engine. It's a little hard to accelerate (especially after x5). The box is no problem, everything is smooth. Otherwise I also like the car. Equipment: Speaker with additional TV. The sound is quite good. The parking camera also makes a difference. In general, the impression is positive.