2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport Review
2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport Review





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Edmunds' Expert Review

byEdmunds
Edmunds
The Edmunds content team brings you industry-leading vehicle reviews, news and research tips that make it easier for you to find your perfect car.
Pros
- Generous rear-passenger and cargo space
- Lots of features for the money
- Lengthy warranty coverage
Cons
- Below-average fuel economy for a small crossover SUV
- Thick roof pillars hamper rearward visibility
- Ride quality can be uncomfortably stiff on rough pavement
- Adaptive cruise control isn't the best at maintaining or regaining speed
What’s new
For 2017, the Hyundai Santa Fe Sport returns with refreshed styling front and rear, along with numerous feature updates, including a height adjustment for the power passenger seat, a larger 5-inch standard display and an available 7-inch touchscreen with Android Auto. Newly offered safety features include adaptive headlights with automatic high beams, an electronic parking brake, a 360-degree parking camera, lane-departure warning and adaptive cruise control with automatic emergency braking. Also, the base four-cylinder engine loses 5 horsepower, while the optional turbo four loses a more significant 25 hp, though Hyundai claims driving quality is improved.
Vehicle overview
If you're looking at crossover SUVs, you may find the fact that Hyundai offers two separate models with very similar names a tad confusing. But once you understand where the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport fits in, you'll see that there's a method to Hyundai's madness. The Santa Fe Sport, which receives a thorough freshening for 2017, is a small crossover that seats five. The Santa Fe (reviewed separately), which has also been updated this year, is a midsize crossover SUV with room for up to seven passengers in three rows of seats.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A) 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 $3.57 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia
$188/mo for Santa Fe Sport Base
Santa Fe Sport Base
vs
$210/mo
Avg. Midsize SUV

Revised front-end styling is one way to tell the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport apart from its predecessors.
With that confusion cleared up, we can tell you the Santa Fe Sport's tidier measurements make for an all-around more nimble package. Engine choices include a 185-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder and a turbocharged 2.0-liter four that puts out a healthy 240 hp. These output numbers have actually dropped since last year, but Hyundai claims the retuning yields more oomph at low engine speeds. It should be noted that, despite a slight bump in fuel economy for 2017, neither engine is particularly efficient, with the Santa Fe Sport's official EPA numbers being only slightly better than those of the larger V6-powered Santa Fe.
Like most Hyundai models, the Santa Fe Sport provides a lengthy list of amenities, including some that you don't always see in this segment, such as a hands-free power liftgate and adaptive cruise control with automatic emergency braking. A roomy interior with a sleekly futuristic dashboard adds to the appeal. While the Santa Fe Sport has much to offer, the Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-5 are also very appealing, as is the related but newer Kia Sportage. It's certainly worth test-driving as many vehicles as you can in this fast-moving segment, but you just might find yourself coming back to the well-rounded 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport.
Standard safety features on the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport include antilock disc brakes, traction and stability control, front seat side airbags and side curtain airbags. Also standard are a rearview camera and Blue Link, Hyundai's emergency system that provides services such as remote access, emergency assistance, theft recovery and geo-fencing.

Blind-spot detection is one of the numerous safety features offered on the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport.
A blind spot warning system with rear cross-traffic alert are optional for the base Santa Fe and standard on both 2.0T models. Rear parking sensors and a multiview camera system that gives a 360-degree view around the vehicle are standard on the 2.0T Ultimate and optional on the base model. Forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and lane departure warning are available as options on the 2.0T Ultimate.
In government crash tests, the Santa Fe Sport earned a top five-star rating for overall crash protection, with five stars each in the frontal- and side-impact protection categories. In Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crash tests, the Santa Fe Sport similarly earned a top "Good" rating in moderate-overlap and small-overlap frontal-offset tests, plus a "Good" rating in the side-impact, roof-strength and seat/head restraint design (for rear-impact whiplash protection) tests.
The IIHS has also given the Santa Fe Sport's optional forward collision mitigation system a top ranking of "Superior."
In Edmunds brake testing, a Santa Fe Sport 2.0T AWD came to a stop from 60 mph in 127 feet, which is a few feet longer than average.
Edmunds' Expert Rating
Are you shopping for a versatile crossover SUV on a budget? With its generous equipment roster, top safety ratings and lengthy warranty, we think the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport is a desirable pick among affordable crossover SUVs.
Driving
On the road, the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport doesn't feel as sporty as its name might lead you to believe, but its firm suspension is a step in that direction. On the flip side, while ride and handling characteristics are fine on smooth pavement, that suspension tends to transmit rough patches directly to the cabin, with little apparent absorption. Happily, the interior is among the quieter spaces in this class, so as long as you stick to well-maintained roads, the Santa Fe Sport should be a pleasant traveling companion.

By the numbers, the 2017 Santa Fe Sport 2.0T is one of the most powerful vehicles in its class.
The standard 2.4-liter engine can hold its own against comparable four-cylinder engines from the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 and others. It's nice that Hyundai offers an upgraded turbocharged engine, but we've found its maximum performance to be underwhelming in Edmunds testing. Still, the turbo gives you a lot more get-up-and-go in everyday driving, so it's definitely worth test-driving alongside the base engine and seeing which one feels like a better fit for your style.
Interior
The 2017 Santa Fe Sport offers a passenger cabin that's a cut above what you might be expecting from an affordable crossover. Most materials have a quality look and feel, while the switches and controls are generally simple and intuitive to use. We also like Hyundai's straightforward and highly legible touchscreen interface.
The front seats offer good comfort and support, while the rear seats feel more spacious than those of competing models. The interior's biggest negative is visibility, thanks to wide rear roof pillars and small side and rear windows.

The available panoramic sunroof gives the 2017 Santa Fe Sport an airy and upscale character inside.
That roomy interior also makes for a spacious cargo hold, with 35.4 cubic feet of room behind the rear seats and a healthy 71 cubic feet with those seatbacks folded down, numbers that are on par with category leaders. Getting bulky items in and out is made easier by virtue of the available hands-free rear liftgate that opens automatically when you stand behind the car for a few seconds with the key fob in your pocket or purse.
2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport models
The 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport is a five-passenger small crossover SUV that's offered in three trim levels: base, 2.0T and 2.0T Ultimate. The larger seven-passenger Hyundai Santa Fe is reviewed separately.

Although the 2017 Santa Fe Sport is technically a small crossover, its bold styling and spacious interior make it seem more like a midsize model
The entry-level Santa Fe Sport comes standard with 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlights, heated mirrors, rear privacy glass, a rear spoiler, a windshield wiper de-icer (AWD models only), air-conditioning, cloth upholstery, a 40/20/40-split rear seat, a telescoping steering wheel, Bluetooth connectivity, a rearview camera, a 5-inch display screen and a six-speaker sound system with a CD player, satellite radio and USB/audio input jacks.
Optional for the base model is the Popular Equipment package that bundles front foglights, LED daytime running lights, roof rack side rails, dual-zone automatic climate control, an eight-way power driver seat (with four-way power lumbar), a 7-inch touchscreen display, Hyundai Blue Link services and Android Auto smartphone integration.
You can also get the Sport Premium package (requires Popular Equipment package). It adds extra safety features (see Safety section below), a hands-free power liftgate, keyless ignition and entry, leather upholstery, heated front seats, a six-way power front passenger seat (includes height adjustment), an auto-dimming rearview mirror, slide and recline functionality for the rear seats, and rear side window sunshades.
Step up to the 2.0T and you get a more powerful turbocharged engine, 18-inch alloy wheels and the contents of the above option packages as standard.
The top-of-the-line 2.0T Ultimate adds 19-inch alloy wheels, xenon headlights, a panoramic sunroof, rear parking sensors, a 360-degree parking camera system, driver memory settings, ventilated front seats, heated second-row seats, a heated steering wheel, an 8-inch touchscreen display, a navigation system and a 12-speaker Infinity premium sound system.
For the base Santa Fe Sport, you can get most of the Ultimate trim's extra features as part of the Tech package.
Finally, the 2.0T Ultimate model can be had with the optional Ultimate Tech package that includes adaptive headlights with automatic high beam control, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning and an electronic parking brake with auto hold.
Under the hood, the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport base model gets a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 185 hp and 178 pound-feet of torque. The Santa Fe Sport 2.0T models get an upgrade to a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 240 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. Front-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is optional. The only available transmission is a six-speed automatic.
According to EPA fuel economy estimates, the front-wheel-drive Santa Fe Sport 2.4 achieves 24 mpg combined (21 city/27 highway), while all-wheel drive knocks it down to 22 mpg combined (20 city/26 highway). These are below-average numbers for the segment. With the turbocharged engine, fuel economy is essentially the same at 23 mpg combined (20 city/28 highway) with front-wheel drive and 22 mpg combined (19 city/26 highway) with all-wheel drive.
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport.
5 star(53%)
4 star(10%)
3 star(17%)
2 star(12%)
1 star(8%)
101 reviews
Trending topics in reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
5 out of 5 stars
Awesome performance and LOTS of features
HappyToDrive, 06/06/2016
2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport 2.0T Ultimate 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
I've researched all of the compact SUV's on the market and I've owned a 2007 Mazda CX-7 and a 204 Nissan Rogue. Hyundai has really outdone themselves with the 2017 Santa Fe Sport 2.0T Ultimate. I love the acceleration with the Turbo and the nimble handling (it blows the Nissan Rogue out of the water). The list of features is jaw-dropping, including my favorite - automatic lift gate just … by standing behind the vehicle with the key in your pocket for a few seconds. Other standout features are: the panoramic sunroof, the speed-sensitive cruise control, the heated and ventilated seats, the 360 degree view camera for parking, both driver and passenger seats are power-adjustable. The overall feel is very top-notch and compares to that of Lexus and Mercedes. I have seen people saying that the Turbo is not covered under the 10-year warranty but if you get the extended 10-year bumper-to-bumper warranty then it is covered. I was able to negotiate that into my purchase at no additional cost.
Overall, I think this is an outstanding vehicle. 10 years ago I would have never considered Hyundai as an option but they have made such great strides over the years that now I think they have surpassed many other car brands in quality and performance (looking at you Nissan). I have driven the Mazda CX-5 and while it is definitely a sporty car to drive and has a lot of good things about it, I feel that there are some features that are lacking, namely in the sound quality of the stereo (even though it is a Bose, it still doesn't sound good).
If you are looking at a top of the line Honda CRV, Nissan Murano, Mazda CX-5 or even Lexus NX-200 or Mercedes GLC, I encourage you to look at the Santa Fe Sport 2.0T Ultimate.
5 out of 5 stars
Love this SUV!
RyanIL, 03/13/2017
2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport 2.0T Ultimate 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
I've only had this SUV for a short period of time, but it is everything and more I wanted and expected. The Unlimited AWD 2.0T model looks nicer then many that cost $10-$20k more and offers every option imaginable- including a full panoramic glass roof, Apple CarPlay and Complete wrap-around camera package so you can see your vehicle from every side. Coming from an economy car, it took a … bit to get used to 23mpg, but it's a small price to pay for the overall comfort. I originally was looking at the 2017 Tucson, which is a very good looking vehicle when loaded, but the quietness and soft ride in the Santa Fe Sport won me over. With the great rebates and discounts, the $40k price tag was greatly reduced. The interior is hands down much more attractive and sporty compared to the competition. If you are in the market for a SUV, put it on your list to check out.
[UPDATED 9/14/2018: While the new 2019 model is hitting the streets, I still love my 2017. The ride is still as nice as it was on day one. My 5-star review remains the exact same - great vehicle.]
[UPDATED 3/17/2019: Hands down one of the best vehicles I've owned. Very low maintenance - fantastic ride - and still looks great (even better) compared to even new vehicles on the road. Still earns a strong 5 star rating from me.]
5 out of 5 stars
Great features - Great Price Point
DTE-D, 04/23/2016
2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
Let me start off by saying that we traded in my wife's 2016 Rav4 for the Santa Fe Sport. After owning the Rav4 ($28k) for over a year, it was obvious that we made a huge mistake buying that car, and the Santa Fe Sport proved it. The Rav4's seats were constricting and painful... and the ergonomics we poorly done to the point where even the passenger side seemed confined due to the … location of the dash elements.
Enter the 2017 Santa Fe Sport - From the initial test drive it was obvious Hyundai really has their act together. The interior is great, the ride is smooth, and the seats are built for real people (wife is 5'6", and I am 6'2"). Everything is laid out very well, and the driver speedo console is so informative with great, simple help menu when you hit the enter button for more info... but not to the point of being cumbersome. To take it one step further, the instruction manual is well written, with QR codes for further up-to-date info.
All-in-all, very well done for the price point. We bought the base model AWD, and are very happy with it. We do wish, the rear seats slid without having to go to another package, but the storage behind them is fantastic. The USB location should be located higher so to not get bumped, and the radio should be able to be dimmed more (but can actually be turned off by hitting display), but those are small peanuts and decent trade-offs given some of the other tech integrations.
I would definitely shop Hyundai again in the future.
5 out of 5 stars
2017 HSF Sport 2.0T Ultimate w/ Tech Pckg
C. Aurelio - Laguna Niguel, CA, 09/08/2016
2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport 2.0T Ultimate 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
Acquired this vehicle early July this year & has driven 2500 so far. After doing my car buying homework & research, I finally traded my reliable 2010 Honda CRV-EXL for 2017 HSF Sport 2.0T Ultimate to get more room, comfort, power & advance technology yet doesn't compromise safety, reliability & fuel economy. It's a 4cyl engine boost w/ 240hp turbo charged. Excellent safety features to … include Auto Emergency Braking w/ Pedestrian Detection (w/c already put to test driving down Santa Monica, CA bumper-to-bumper traffic), Blind Spot Sensor w/c is awesome, Smart Cruise Control w/ Stop/Start, Lane Depart Warning, Electronic Parking Brake, Auto Leveling & Bending Head Lights. Some other cool features are Panoramic Sunroof, handsfree Liftgate, 360 degrees multi-view camera system, 8 inch Touchscreen Navi System, Powerful Premium Surround Sound System & 19 inch allow wheels to mention a few. Comfortably seats 5 adults w/ so much leg & elbow room to wiggle. Cargo trunk is very generous. Ride & handle is so smooth, quiet & responsive. Steering wheel controls & dash controls are very easy reach & operate. As far as the appearance, I love the stylish & sportier looks, couldn't ask for more designs. Just updated my Navi System w/c also included installation of Apple CarPlay where you can actually see your iPhone screen on the Navi screen itself, which is pretty cool for iPhone users (has built-in Android support feature). Bluelink App (subscription) is also available where you can remotely access the vehicle from virtually anywhere. And lastly, no one can beat nation's best 10yr/100K mile powertrain warranty for peace of mind. Overall, love the vehicle thus far, no regrets - no complains being a Toyota/Honda person for a quite long time.
2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport video
JOSH SADLIER This is Edmunds editor, Josh Sadlier, and here's an expert rundown of the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The Santa Fe Sport often gets overlooked when people are talking about the Honda CRV, Toyota RAV4, but we don't think that's fair. There's a lot going for the Santa Fe Sport. Starts with the optional turbocharged engine under the hood. By the numbers, acceleration isn't overwhelming, but there's certainly more torque at low engine speeds than you get in naturally aspirated rivals. On the downside, fuel economy isn't that great, even with the base engine, and the turbo engine doesn't do better, so that's a pill you're going to have to swallow if you go with the Santa Fe Sport. But as you can see, the Santa Fe Sports got plenty of style. It certainly stands out from the pack in this relatively conservative segment. It might even be worth considering alongside mid-size competitors like the Ford Edge. Step inside the Santa Fe Sport, and you'll find a pretty roomy back seat, at least compared to other compact crossovers. Decent legroom, plenty of headroom, nothing to complain about back here. Up front, the control layout's starting to look a little dated-- the Santa Fe Sport isn't the newest vehicle in this class-- but everything's pretty straightforward, and that touchscreen is really easy to use. One note of caution, though, about the base trim level. It's not that well-equipped, so, particularly because Hyundai's known for value, we'd advise stepping up to one of the middle trim levels. The bottom line with the Santa Fe Sport is that it's a stylish alternative to the status quo. Optional turbo engine adds a little spice. It's worth a test drive. For more Edmunds expert rundowns, click the link to subscribe.
2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport Expert Rundown Review
Are you shopping for a versatile crossover SUV on a budget? The 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport might be worth checking out. Here's a quick rundown of what we like, what we don't and the bottom line from the Edmunds editors.
2017 Santa Fe Sport Highlights
Base
Base MSRP | $25,350 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 24 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $188/month |
Seating | 5 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 35.4 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
Warranty | 5 years / 60,000 miles |
Safety
NHTSA Overall Rating
5 out of 5 starsThe National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverall5 / 5Driver5 / 5Passenger4 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverall5 / 5
- Side Barrier RatingOverall5 / 5Driver5 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront Seat5 / 5Back Seat5 / 5
- RolloverRollover4 / 5Dynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of Rollover15.1%
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestGood
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestAcceptable
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – OriginalGood
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalGood
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestGood
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintGood
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