FAST FACTS

Hyundai Santa Fe

4 doors, 5 passengers, compact SUV. Front-wheel drive / full-time four-wheel drive.

Price:

Essential FWD — $28,999; Essential 4WD — $32,199; Preferred 4WD — $35,099; Luxury 4WD — $41,899; Ultimate 4wd — $44,999.

Engine:

Essential and Preferred (standard) — 2.4 litre inline four, double overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder, variable valve timing, direct injection; Preferred (optional), Luxury and Ultimate — 2.0 litre inline four, double overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder, variable valve timing, direct injection, turbocharged.

Power/torque, horsepower / lb.-ft:

2.4 litre 4 — 185 @ 6,000 r.p.m. / 178 @ 4,000 r.p.m.; 2.0 litre turbo 4 — 235 @ 6,000 r.p.m. / 260 @ 1,450 — 3,500 r.p.m.

Fuel consumption, Transport Canada City/Highway, l/100 km:

2.4 litre FWD — 10.7 / 8.2; 2.4 litre 4WD — 11.2 / 8.7; 2.0 litre Turbo 4WD — 12.3 / 9.8. Regular fuel.

Competition:

They list Ford Edge, Honda CR-V, and Nissan Murano as their targets.

What’s best:

Handsome, well-crafted and well-equipped interiors; smooth quiet ride; amazing levels of high-techery...

What’s worst:

...some of which drives me batty; chassis could handle more power; power door locks should be programmable.

What’s interesting:

Think about where this company was 20 years ago...