SMOOTH-DRIVING SUV PROVIDES PLENTY OF SPACE
On a warm summer night, we decided to have ice cream after dinner. And what better time to review the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe than when you've got the family together, and are loaded with all essentials (masks, diapers, wipes, and throw-up buckets).
We put the two bigger car seats on the two ends and the booster seat in the middle and it fit perfectly. Sure, a bit more room would have been sweet, but I'll take whatever space I can get in anything that's not a minivan.
Each of the three back-row seats has the ability to tether a car seat into place, though it's probably worth noting that I don't think three big car seats could fit side by side.
As everyone started piling in, I noticed the open stroller in the garage; the trunk in the Santa Fe looked so large that I decided to put it to the test. I had to turn the open stroller on its side, but it fit, and that earns major bonus points in my books.
It's a short drive to Dairy Queen, but the tested top trim — Ultimate Calligraphy — has many features, so I punched in the address.
The head-up display (HUD) is pretty fancy and extremely useful. It's like the perfect summary of a book. It shows you all the important things at once. There's the actual speed, but it also updated the speed limits, and if you go even one kilometre over the limit, your speed on the display changes from white to orange.
There are also options to view radio stations while clicking through, guided lane assistance, and even the directions coming from the navigation system. The drive was uneventful, which is just the way I like it. (Later I also took the Santa Fe for a longer trip, sans kids. It drives well, picks up speed and slows down with ease. I appreciate the simplicity of the drive.)
Just when we thought the trunk couldn't get any bigger or better, we found not one, but two hidden storage compartments. They are great spots to store toys, extra clothes, emergency diapers and wipes, or tools and whatever else you might want to keep handy in your vehicle.
The kids quietly ate their ice cream because ice cream has that effect; the calm before the sugar storm. And they actually played in the trunk for a little while.
The top trim of the Santa Fe isn't equipped with any kind of entertainment for kids, there are no screens in the back seat, no games or movies.
But that's awesome! On the short drive back home, the kids played “I Spy” and pointed out five different coloured Jeeps — yellow, green, purple, grey, and blue — which was odd, but also exciting for them.
As I backed into the driveway, the view from the reverse camera, as well as a bird's-eye view popped up on the screen. Quite frankly, it's an amazing camera, and it's almost impossible not to park properly.
There are two buttons on the key fob for Remote Start Parking Assist. With the kids safely in the house, I pressed one and the car started backing up. It did what it's supposed to do and stopped before hitting the garage, but my heart can't handle that type of excitement and anxiety over the thought that I might smash a $50,000 car that doesn't belong to me.
If you have kids, you probably know what happens next. The sugar rush slowly starts to fade, and everyone's got something to complain about again.
I thoroughly enjoyed the
Santa Fe. I can't say it's the right vehicle for me, but that's mainly because I would prefer a bit more space for my three kids and car seats. Perhaps its bigger sibling, the refreshed Palisade, would be the one for us. However, as far as SUVS go, this one gets top marks from me and I'd recommend it to anyone with fewer than three chunky car seats.