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April 27, 2008
2008 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited AWD Review
by
Daniel Lafrance
, Auto123.com
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I don't need to remind you that life can be pretty complicated nowadays. Busy schedules, work, kids, uncooperative weather: we seem to live life in fast forward.
 | | The Santa Fe is a pretty solid vehicle with no complexes. |
If you like to keep things simple, just like me, there's a pretty good chance that the 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe will meet your needs. While no significant change was made for 2008 (after all, it was fully redesigned last year), this crossover still boasts go-anywhere styling which may not turn a lot of heads but will certainly make its owner proud. Exterior build quality is also commendable. Meanwhile, in order to make the interior more enjoyable and comfortable, the automaker did a good job of harmoniously matching four different materials of different colors.
Is it time to get out already?
Inside, fit and finish is neatly executed and there's a certain premium feel to the cockpit. I felt quite at ease despite the limited number of seat adjustments; in fact, I managed to find a comfortable driving position. The instrument panel is easy to read, especially at night with the soft blue backlighting. The dashboard features centralized controls that are readily accessible. The sound quality of the 6-speaker stereo is good. Meanwhile, the HVAC system is as effective as it gets. There's no extravaganza, but all the features that one really needs are found inside.
If you're like me, your vehicle is equally a driving tool and a mobile warehouse. With that in mind, the Hyundai Santa Fe will make your life easier. Storage compartments are plentiful, easy to access and conveniently distributed throughout the cabin. The rear cargo area is also easy to reach and I liked the fact that the liftgate handle is easy to use. Headroom is good and I had no problem climbing on board because the ground clearance is fairly low. However, when sliding the front buckets all the way back, access to the rear seats becomes more complicated for adults, though still decent for children.
 | | Inside, fit and finish is neatly executed and there's a certain premium feel to the cockpit. |
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