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Dislikes - Santa fe 2013

102K views 376 replies 134 participants last post by  MuzzleFlash 
#1 · (Edited)
I think over all the Santa fe is a good car. But goal of this thread is to tell readers what to pay attention in their 15 mins test drive before they make a decision to buy. I test drove the car 5 times so far and found some dislikes.

Dislikes Santa fe 2013
1) Biggest one -- The blind spot of the car is really huge because of the rear windows design tapering up. I was not able to tell with confidence if there was something in my blind spot while driving. Hyundai should have really offered a blind spot monitoring system on this design. Not sure if people will see it as a safety concern?

2) No power lift gate not even as a paid option.

3) Despite the three DS modes Steering feels as if it's drive by wire.

4) I noticed the rear hatch is very light to close and open. May be it's really good design by Hyundai engineers. But I found that if you notice the door carefully when you slam it down it wiggles a bit which kind of gives the feeling that it's not strong enough and really made of very thin steel (May be this is where they used HT steel :) ). But I may be wrong on this one.
 
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#4 ·
Well, it is electric steering so it would almost have to be "drive by wire". Don't see how it could be otherwise.

I feel that every car has a different feel and it is whatever you get used to. I go back to some of the older cars that I first drove and I'm like "sheesh, this thing is horrible" but at the time it was fine. I drove a 1969 Pontiac this summer (convertible) and I hated how that thing drove.

The SF may not be "connected" to the road as some would like but I don't see it as being a sports car. I will have to agree that the "comfort" mode sucked. Otherwise I felt it was a very drive vehicle.
 
#5 ·
I do agree about the power lift gate not being an option as a no-no. So for me it is.....

1.). Power lift gate. Not even an option.

2.). No HID headlight option.

3.). Unveiled car in New Yor had LED lighting but the Sports don't.


None of these are really "deal killers" at this point for me though.
 
#6 ·
I do agree about the power lift gate not being an option as a no-no. So for me it is.....

1.). Power lift gate. Not even an option.

2.). No HID headlight option.

3.). Unveiled car in New Yor had LED lighting but the Sports don't.


None of these are really "deal killers" at this point for me though.
In addition I would add:

4.). No ventilated cooled drivers seats as you can get in Canada

5.). No 3D Navigation view as you get on Veloster

6.). Gas Mileage is lower than advertised even with ECO button on
 
#13 ·
7 miles up,

An electric powered hydraulic pump does not mean drive by wire. To use the aviation analogy, drive by wire would most likely be configured with input sensors and a feel system integrated into the steering wheel, those sensor outputs going to a small drive computer, the output of which would be fed to a steering servo connected to the wheels. Safety considerations would require sufficient redundancy so that failure modes would be manageable.
 
#22 ·
John......
I was unclear on what "electric power steering" implied exactly. I do not disagree with your assessment however Grandpaswagon shed some light on it.

according to the schematic it appears that a motor is driving a gearbox which then drives the rack and pinion. I am going to venture that the motor is of the brushless type providing high torque and a very long life.
 
#15 ·
I dislike the ride height. Needs to be at least a few inches higher. The LWB model looks like a mini-van instead of a proper SUV.
Like everyone else, want the power lift gate, blind spot monitor, HID and LEDs as well as the cooled seats. Price is also a little to high.
Also, that the pearl color option is not offered in the USA.

 
#17 ·
You are right. My wife's power sliding door on her Sienna finally broke after 7 years, but while it worked it was a great feature to have. Might have been covered under Hyundai's 10yr/100,000 mile warranty though. I hear you have to fight with Hyundai to get them to fix some things, but she loves fighting.:)
 
#23 ·
Grandpaswagon,

I really tried to get into the Hyundai site, but am running XP, and in spite of disabling the blockers etc, could not get to the security link, thus could not set up an account etc. Do you have a thought as to what might be possible?

The Chrysler looks like electronic supervisory inputs are enabled. Full fly/drive by wire would have no mechanical connection out of the cockpit/drivers position, i.e., no mechanical back-up.
 
#24 ·
I don't have the Santa Fe yet, but wonder if using the side view mirrors cover the blind spot everyone is talking about. Some of the video test reports that have been posted online have mentioned the blind spot. I see this as a problem mostly when parked and getting ready to back out of a space and checking for pedestrians. I think it's something I can get used to after living with the car for a few weeks. Just think of how bad trucks have it. Ever drive a van with no side windows in it?
 
#26 ·
Hi,
The point is if technology is available why not use it to make it more safe. Or at least make it available as a option. Ford is now offering it on most of it's cars. IMO getting used is Turn your head to check the blind spot and change the lane. But getting used to is not going to make the blind spot smaller :)
 
#25 · (Edited)
My biggest complaint so far is the lack of a power rear hatch.

Also it seems like the drivers side mirror in particular makes things look squished horizontally.

As for the blind spots...I really don't notice it that much. On such a small vehicle it seems pretty easy to maneuver and keep aware of what around you.

As for the steering feel I don't notice any real problems with it. I always keep it on comfort mode. My favorite type of steering is the recirculating ball like my truck uses. My father has it on some of his older vehicles and it was amazing how little force it took to turn the wheel. You could turn hard while sitting still with your pinky finger.

I really hated the power steering on our '08 SF. When we took our first long trip in it my arm was sore from fighting the cross wind the whole trip.
 
#27 ·
I am just a little surprised that the rear-view camera doesn't also have a backup sensor. Either it doesn't, or I haven't backed up to anything close enough to set it off yet. I also wish it had seat/mirror memory. My husband thought it would be great to be able to switch the Dual Climate Control from passenger to driver (such as in a situation where you pull over and let your passenger drive)...but this is probably a feature that doesn't exist in any car. (We always want what we don't have!)
 
#29 ·
I have no problem with the blind spot personally, the mirrors are huge and if you know how to use them do a great job of replacing the missing piece of window. I was disappointed with

*Lack of DRL on the US-spec models

*Lack of safety light in the doors (the red light embedded into the door which turns on when the door is open, in the Santa Fe it's just a reflector)

*To get a backup camera I could ONLY get a model equipped with Leather. IMO the backup camera should be part of the popular equipment package, especially considering how hard it is to see out the back.

*The retractible shades on the rear doors should be standard. They are a very nice feature to have for families, which might be more apt to attract customers if they're affordable, and they shouldn't be too expensive to add, in fact streamlining the production costs by getting rid of the second production line for the door panels might actually save some money in production.

*I was really looking forward to getting a gray 2.0t with gunmetal wheels, as they have in the press photos, it looked awesome like that! Then when it went on sale the turbos ended up with the hypersilver wheels and the 2.4 models got the gunmetal. What gives Hyundai? Can we at least get a sport package with 19 inch gunmetal rims, LED trim around the fogs, and a real dual exhaust?

*How about a manual transmission to go with the aforementioned Sport Package? Offer more than two colors, and actually offer some options on it, and I think people will buy it. I'd certainly trade my current car on one!
 
#30 ·
Not really a SF issue itself but I hate the fact that Hyundai has no brochures available. I have a brochure for a Ford Edge. Sure would be nice to sit down at the kitchen table and look at them side by side (without a computer).
If fact, the e-brochure isn't even available for the 2013 SF. Also, I find it difficult (impossible) to easily find a list of standard features on the SF. Pretty frustrating from a buyers perspective.
 
#32 ·
blind spot?

"I have no problem with the blind spot personally, the mirrors are huge and if you know how to use them do a great job of replacing the missing piece of window."

I've been wanting to say this. Most people do not properly adjust their sideview mirrors and instead point them at their door handles. If you set the side view mirrror correctly you should not have a blind spot in the back.

I can't beleive no one talks about the front blind spot that is covered by the A pillar. A pillars have grown over the years on cars and I have had more issues with someone in that blind spot when I am rolling up to a 4 way stop or pulling out and making a left hand turn into traffic.
 
#33 ·
"I have no problem with the blind spot personally, the mirrors are huge and if you know how to use them do a great job of replacing the missing piece of window."

I've been wanting to say this. Most people do not properly adjust their sideview mirrors and instead point them at their door handles. If you set the side view mirrror correctly you should not have a blind spot in the back.

I can't beleive no one talks about the front blind spot that is covered by the A pillar. A pillars have grown over the years on cars and I have had more issues with someone in that blind spot when I am rolling up to a 4 way stop or pulling out and making a left hand turn into traffic.
Venetian,

I agree with you 100%. I set my mirrors so that i see what is beside the car and not the car itself.
I have been noticing a lot of cars now have a more raked front windshield and that is affecting the visibility of the A pillar when making left turns. It does hinder your view to see just to the left of the car. but I guess that is the price you pay for making the car look more stylish and efficient.
 
#37 ·
Good thread. The new Santa Fe is a clear winner, but constructive criticism from real owners is never a bad thing.

What turned me away when it was time to replace my '08 is that the new model reminded me too much of my Elantra, which I find compromises visibility in the name of style, and robustness in the name of fuel efficiency. Reading some of the OP's criticisms makes me feel good about the Veracruz we chose, which has "old Hyundai" visibility and bank-vault construction. The $8000 discount helped too :)

That said, I still feel a twinge of remorse when I read about the new 'Fe's fuel economy, or park anywhere near one. It's a cutting-edge vehicle whose shortcomings are a small price to pay IMO.
 
#38 ·
We just brought our new Santa Fe home today and really like it. The only dislike we have so far is the lack of seat/mirror memory. It's a big deal for us since my spouse is 6'2" and I am 5'2".

I don't think visibility will be a problem with the back-up camera and the larger than usual side mirrors.
 
#40 ·
My understanding that it will be for ALL new vehicles sold. The law was supposed to take effect in 2014 but LaHood has delayed the ruling again so it may not happen in a timely fashion.

It is said that 1 to 2 kids are killed each week by drivers backing over them. :eek:
 
#41 ·
that just goes to show how many people dont look behind them before they back up same goes for lane changes. THese are nice features to add to a car but dont replace that thing called your head turning to see what is going on around you. The camera only shows you what is happening diretly behind. A kid running beside the car and then running behind the car will not show up on camera till its to late. be aware of your surrounding. that is the safety tip of the day.
 
#42 ·
I don't need a safety tip.

After driving our Enclave without a backup camera and then driving my brothers Dodge Durango with one... I was sold. Awesome safety feature. The SF is just and bad for backing up as the Enclave, no matter how much you turn your head you cannot see what is directly behind you.
 
#43 ·
you might not need a safety tip...

I don't need a safety tip.

After driving our Enclave without a backup camera and then driving my brothers Dodge Durango with one... I was sold. Awesome safety feature. The SF is just and bad for backing up as the Enclave, no matter how much you turn your head you cannot see what is directly behind you.
But others could use a safety tip. I have to agree with Pedro, these "advances" are crutches for people to rely on and eventually blame when things go wrong. People will still back over children if and when every vehicle has back up cameras. Just another way to jack the prices up and sell me things I don't need.
 
#45 ·
Regarding the blind spot, I have been paying very close attention to that issue when I drive my beeeeautiful new Santa Fe and don't find it is an issue at all. I find the mirrors are wide enough to cover all spots. If you have them set correctly, it's pretty much a non-issue. I have tried to put someone in a blind spot and have not been able to. The only size vehicle I have not been able to test is a motorcycle...but then again with those around me I am always uber cautious!
 
#48 ·
My dislike is that blue tooth phone can not be used with the radio off for outgoing calls. It can be used for incoming but not for outgoing unless the radio is on..
If your reason for wanting your radio off is silence, you can plug an audio cord into the AUX jack and leave the other end not connected to anything. Leave the radio on the AUX input and you'll have quiet.

Not sure if this helps you out, but I thought I'd offer it.
 
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