Hyundai Santa Fe
Top-Ten Finisher
What It Is
Strong player in the large compact or small midsize segment with all the right pieces and price to make a credible mainstream entry.
What You Should Know
Full of standard safety features (stability control, six airbags, reinforced door beams), the Santa Fe goes head to head with the Highlander, RAV4, and CR-V, but comes in several thousand dollars less. Strong on significance and value, but less so on superiority.
Bottom Line
Another in a growing list of Hyundai taking aim and Toyota at Honda quality and design and coming incredibly close to the bullis-eye.
| 2007 Toyota Rav4 |
| Base Price Range | $21,595-$28,595 |
| Price As Tested | $28,690 (Limited AWD) |
| Vehicle Layout | Front engine, AWD, 5-7-pass, 5-door SUV |
| Engine | 3.3L/242-hp/226-lb-ft DOHC 24-valve V-6 |
| Transmission | 5-speed auto |
| Curb Weight (f/r dist) | 4214 lb (59/41%) |
| Wheelbase | 106.3 in |
| Length X Width X Height | 184.1 x 74.4 x 67.9 in |
| Max Towing Capacity | 3500 lb |
| Max Cargo Capacity | 78.2 cu ft |
| 0-60 mph | 8.5 sec |
| Quarter Mile | 16.6 Sec @ 84.3 Mph |
| Braking, 60-0 mph | 129 ft |
| Lateral Acceleration | 0.75 g (avg) |
| 600-Foot Slalom | 60.3 mph (avg) |
| MT Figure Eight | 29.1 sec @ 0.55 g (avg) |
| Epa City/Hwy Fuel Econ | 19/24 mpg (est) |
| Bet you didn't know | Hyundai claims the new Santa Fe's body structure is 59 percent more rigid than the Toyota Highlander's. |
| Sum Up | Another leap for Hyundai in quality and design--does just about everything well. |