The updated 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport is a sharp look inside and out. It gets all the good things about the original Santa Fe and combines it with Hyundai's Tucson resulting in a compact SUV with quality features and safety.
The 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The new Santa Fe Sport gets updated headlights, taillights, trim panels, and front and rear fascia. Hyundai claims that 25 per cent of its mechanical and technical parts have been updated.
Santa Fe Sport's fascia is closer in design to the Tucson but a lot sportier. The fog lamps and headlamps are trimmed with LED lighting and lined up to a hexagonal grille that is just the right size. The sills on the side go up and over the rear wheel wells. The tailgate features a well-balanced mix of glass and taillights.
Interior-wise, the Santa Fe Sport is enhanced by available 7.0-inch and 8.0-inch display touchscreens with 5.0-inches as standard. The infotainment system is compatible with both Android Auto and Apply CarPlay and is supported by the convenience of traditional knobs, buttons, and switches.
The Sport also features an audio system from Infinity and an upgraded Hyundai Blue Link telematics. Safety features include a lane-departure warning, adaptive headlamps, and adaptive cruise control with pedestrian detection and automated emergency braking.
The base engine of the Santa Fe Sport is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. When on front-wheel drive, EPA ratings for fuel economy are at 21 miles per gallon in city driving, 27 miles on the highway, and 24 combined. An all-wheel-drive mode has these ratings drop to 20/28/23 miles per gallon. The Ultimate trim has a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with EPA ratings at 20/27/23 miles per gallon.
The handling on the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport is quite strong. Steering is not that sharp but a lot better than the average electronically assisted power steering. The ride is smooth and comfortable but can get a little bumpy over dirt roads. Acceleration is somewhat unenthusiastic, with the top-level trim going from 0 to 60 in 7.6 seconds.
Although it may seem a bit pricey at US$40,000 plus, the Sport offers more than the competition could. Top level trims even offer more equipment and features one would expect.
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