2003 Hyundai Santa Fe Review
2003 Hyundai Santa Fe Review
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Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Reasonable price, super warranty, roomy interior, long list of standard features, solid construction.
Cons
- Underpowered without the 3.5-liter engine, unusual styling won't please everyone.
What’s new
For 2003, side airbags become standard equipment for every Santa Fe. New this year is Homelink and a Monsoon sound system with a six-CD changer -- these are standard items on the LX, and the audio upgrades are optional for the GLS. There is a newly available 3.5-liter V6 which will be offered in addition to the 2.4-liter inline four and the 2.7-liter V6. The 3.5-liter engine replaces the 2.7-liter unit and is now standard on the LX as is a new five-speed automatic transmission.
Edmunds says
Odd design elements aside, the Santa Fe offers a consumer-friendly blend of space, comfort, features, performance and value.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe Fwd 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 5M) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio
$207/mo for Santa Fe Base
Santa Fe Base
vs
$201/mo
Avg. Midsize SUV
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe.
5 star(78%)
4 star(16%)
3 star(3%)
2 star(2%)
1 star(1%)
319 reviews
Trending topics in reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
4.13 out of 5 stars
2003 Santa Fe LX 2.7
sbraatz, 07/10/2011
2003 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS Fwd 4dr SUV (2.7L 6cyl 4A)
My wife and I bought it with 60,000 miles.
We had a couple of minor issues right of the bat that the dealer didn't want to handle.
I did replace the plugs and wires twice within the first two years because of the same problem.
It was a little time consuming but not impossible.
Definately cheaper then taking it into the dealer.
Other then that it has been very reliable.
Gas mileage could … be a little better.
I think we average around 17-18mpg.
We orignally bought it because we were told it could handle a boat.
Later found it the towing capacity wasn't great.
But would definately buy another one.
4 out of 5 stars
Mileage Gem
Howard F. Morgan, 12/16/2015
2003 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS Fwd 4dr SUV (2.7L 6cyl 4A)
Keep your vehicle maintained. As others have stated, the paint is not the best. I have 280,000 miles on this vehicle which was a program vehicle and had
11,000 when I purchased it. I have spent about $ 3,000 on it during a period of 12 years (repairs)
4.5 out of 5 stars
Great Used Car for Teens & College!
mktg64, 03/02/2013
2003 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS Fwd 4dr SUV (2.7L 6cyl 4A)
Bought a 2003 Santa Fe with 125K GLS 2.7L for my son his senior year of HS, he took it to college...had to replace a rear trailing arm & a coroded battery cable, other than that I did the timing belt, plugs & wires, new tires, and most fluids. GREAT car for the money, love the styling (its now a classic), modern interior, and perfect for teens and college age kids for room and safety. … Decent sound system, side airbags and lots of metal, smooth ride and quiet engine...you can do a lot worse, just stay away from the 4-cylinder.
4 out of 5 stars
Beat this car it can take it
Mark, 09/03/2017
2003 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS Fwd 4dr SUV (2.7L 6cyl 4A)
A great value for the price it's a great everyday commuter box nothing special but gets the job done, motor is solid, transmission is great, minor repair issues with aging, I.e ., power steering, rusted oil pan, alternator, but overall a great car, I use it everyday to commute to NYC and put 20,000 miles a year on it and it takes a beating ! I would get another one no problem, easy to … park and very fuel efficient
2003 Santa Fe Highlights
Base
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $17,549 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 20 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $207/month |
Seating | 5 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 30.5 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
Warranty | 5 years / 60,000 miles |
Safety
Key safety features on the Santa Fe include:
- Alarm
NHTSA Overall Rating
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverallNot RatedDriverNot RatedPassengerNot Rated
- Side Crash RatingOverallNot Rated
- Side Barrier RatingOverallNot RatedDriverNot RatedPassengerNot Rated
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront SeatNot RatedBack SeatNot Rated
- RolloverRollover3 / 5Dynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of RolloverNot Rated
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – OriginalGood
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalAcceptable
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestNot Tested
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintNot Tested
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