First Drive: 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe XL
I vividly remember when the Hyundai Santa Fe first hit Canadian dealerships.
It was the spring of 2000, and my parents were shopping for a new family hauler to replace their minivan.
The requirements were simple: It had to be roomy enough for a family of four and able to tow at least 3,500 lbs.
And so it was because of the former that we went to the local Hyundai dealership to take the then-new Santa Fe for a spin, but due to the latter that my parents ultimately passed on Hyundai's first-ever SUV.
But I remember liking it.
A lot has changed since those early days, with Hyundai now offering three different sport utilities, including two variations of the Santa Fe.
And it was with the profound joy of a 12-year-old kid that I hopped behind the wheel of the 2017 Santa Fe XL, where I picked up right where I left off 16 years ago.
Because there's a lot to like about the automaker's three-row sport ute.
Refreshed for the 2017 model year, the Santa Fe XL boasts new headlights and taillights, and a new grille, bumper and wheel designs, which all help to further set it apart from its five-passenger sibling.
While related, to call the XL little more than an elongated version of the Santa Fe Sport doesn't tell the whole story.
Yes, the two—along with the Kia Sorento and Sedona—ride on the same platform, and yes, Hyundai is hoping the Santa Fe name will add some cache to its largest SUV offering, but the automaker's design and engineering teams have put in work to ensure that each stand on their own four wheels.
Both Santa Fes share the same beltline, for example, though the side windows and character lines of the XL appear stretched when compared to the smaller Sport.
This was done, according to Hyundai, to highlight "the increased passenger and cargo room" of the Santa Fe XL.
Because without a minivan in its lineup, this has become Hyundai's de facto minivan, offering room for as many as seven passengers and as much as 5,000 lbs. of towing capacity when properly equipped.
Unlike a minivan, though, the XL has a paltry 383 litres of cargo room behind its third row of seats.
That number grows to 1,158 litres with the third row folded flat, and 2,265 litres with both rows of rear passenger seats stowed, but still lags well behind the most practical people movers on the planet.
By comparison, the Kia Sedona has 960 litres behind its third row alone, and a whopping 4,022 litres from the front seats to the tailgate, offering further proof that minivans make the most sense.
But I digress.
Under the hood lies a 3.3-litre direct-injected V6 that is plenty powerful, with 290 horsepower and 252 lb.-ft. of torque going to the wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission.
The drive mode selector from the Santa Fe XL's smaller sibling is also along for the ride for 2017, giving the choice of Normal, Eco and Sport, with each adjusting steering, transmission and throttle response at the push of a button.
All-wheel drive models, like our six-seat Limited tester, add the so-called "Active Cornering Control," which applies the inside rear brake when accelerating through turns to keep the sport ute composed through the twisty stuff.
It all adds up to impressive driveability, where the XL is almost car-like despite its generous proportions—even on the racetrack.
(Yes, you read that right, but we'll save the story for another time.)
Body roll is still noticeable, as is nose dive under heavier breaking, but the burly SUV is fairly mild-mannered for a vehicle that measures more than 16 feet long and 5.5 feet tall while tipping the scales at well over 4,100 lbs.
No, you're not going to confuse it for a sports sedan, but I came away impressed with how much 'sport' this sport utility has.
And with a test average of a little more than 11 L/100 km over the course of a week—better than the combined 12.5 L/100 km advertised by Hyundai—it won't break the bank at the pumps, either.
Inside you'll find just about all the features you could ask for—but they don't come cheap.
Sure, equipment like heated front seats and a rearview camera count as standard across the trim range, including the entry-level front-wheel drive model and its $32,199 sticker price.
But you'll need to step up to at least the $42,199 Santa Fe XL Luxury to get the stuff you want, including leather seats, a heated steering wheel, and an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation.
And it's the latter you really want, with the infotainment system shared by Hyundai and Kia easily ranking as one of the best on the market today thanks to its ease of use.
Add in a power tailgate, panoramic sunroof, heated second-row seats and a blindspot detection system, and there is plenty of value in the pricier trim levels despite the sticker shock.
Okay, so my earlier retrospection may be a bit on the rosy side, but there really is a whole lot to like about the Santa Fe XL.
And if you can't bring yourself to buying a minivan, it may be the best alternative on the market today.
Starts at: $32,199
As tested: $46,694 (freight included)