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I read a news piece a short while back that recounted the return of the large family sedan and the fact that it's now beginning to take over from the SUV and Crossover. Although specifics on the terms “SUV” and “CUV” were not elaborated, large sedans were enumerated and included the likes of the Chrysler 300, the Dodge Challenger (they meant Charger...), the Toyota Avalon, and the Chevy Impala.

Although I agree that consumers as a whole are moving away from large SUVs, compact and midsize SUVs/CUVs are still extremely popular. In my opinion, they'll never outdo or even match utility vehicles on that exact adjective, and sedans will only become the alternative if manufacturers start pulling out of the fairly lucrative CUV/SUV segments, which they won't.


The main reasons for this migration from one category to the other, as stated in the article, are fuel consumption, purchase price, and total cost of ownership. They go on to enumerate other factors such as “distinctive styling, driving dynamic, riding comfort and technology, [which make] many of these models actually look, feel and drive like luxury cars.”

The last time I checked the list of available compact and midsize CUVs, most if not all of these attributes could be found in any or all of them. In many respects, utility vehicles have surpassed the car: in room, access, storage, all-weather and most-terrain abilities, and more. On the points such as driving dynamics, comfort, technology, and luxury the CUV and SUV can match any or all sedans.

If I may take my personal situation as an example, when the time came to replace my wife and I's beloved Volvo XC70, we could have opted for a sedan; we've no children, two cats, and don't canoe. Although I cycle on occasion, I usually coordinate outings with my press car. The point is; a regular sedan (so long as it's got AWD) would have done the job.

We ended up with a 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan, and could not be happier with the choice. From laughing at snow banks to eased ingress and egress, and access to a decent trunk (for our needs) thanks to a large opening, this compact CUV has no shortcomings from a utility and amenities point of view. A Jetta or Impreza sedan would not have been the same.

The compromise (the alternative), and our other choice, was a Volkswagen Golf. Here we have a decent-size trunk with a large opening and all manners of comfort and convenience. We we're in fact dreaming of a Golf R, but that would not have ended well for me... Plus, it was a little pricey for our budget.

So what am I saying? Forget about sedans as a whole! Buy hatchbacks and everyone will be happy and content. Better yet, just get a CUV. You'll likely never look back. Sedans are generally boring, anyhow.

Read Part I and Part II of our long-term test time with the Hyundai Santa Fe Sport.

Parting is such sweet sorrow
That's right, it's over. Our long-term test of the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport 2.0T SE has come to an end, and truthfully the entire office is a little bummed out at the prospect. For five months the Santa Fe Sport made the rounds from kid-packed families to singletons; this crossover satisfied many and all. However, it wasn't all roses and smiles, which is why we've put together this final update.

After covering roughly 10,000km in our 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport long-term tester through two seasons (winter and spring) and with multiple drivers behind the wheel, we discovered that this crossover is as utilitarian as it is sporty.



Comments from the peanut gallery
A long-term road test is an ideal means to give a greater number of people access to a given product. In our time with the Santa Fe Sport, we handed the keys to a number of staffers after which we collected their comments.

Here are a few that summarize the overall impressions of Team Auto123.com.

Maxime A. (current owner of a 2009 Santa Fe): We're not talking about a breath of fresh air or a mere evolution, but rather a revolution! While I enjoy driving my 2009 Santa Fe, the sporty nature of the 2013 model feels like driving a luxury sedan! You'll love the completely new interior and the jet-set exterior!

Suzanne G.: The 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport 2.0T SE is not only competent on snow- and slush-covered roads, but also safe and confidence-inspiring thanks to ABS brakes and stability control. Visibility is great. I enjoyed a nice view of the road, was sitting high and feeling warm, listening to the Rolling Stones, and revelling in the vehicle's cocoon-like interior. This is one good-looking crossover which also made me look good behind the wheel.

The report card
After tabulating scores and comments from all those who gave the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport 2.0T SE long-term tester a go, we've come up with the final report card.


The Highs

Styling to fall for
As we said in Part I and II, the highest marks of all go to the Hyundai Santa Fe Sport's exterior looks. Truly one of the best-looking crossovers currently on the market, not one negative thing was said about the vehicle's exterior design. In fact, so good-looking is this crossover, that a few of its shortcomings (which we'll get to in a moment) can and were even forgiven by a few testers.

It's true what they say: If you like your car's looks, many other things will be forgotten.

As we said in Part I and II, the highest marks of all go to the Hyundai Santa Fe Sport's exterior looks. (Photo: Philippe Champoux)

For families
Of course, the second biggest point gatherer was the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport SE's family friendliness. With plenty of space on board and in the trunk, as well as easy access to all seats, the Santa Fe Sport is the ideal family vehicle. From baby seats to grandparents, the Hyundai was able to handle everything in stride (and comfort). Across the board, we felt the Hyundai Santa Fe Sport was extremely easy to live with.

With plenty of space on board and in the trunk, as well as easy access to all seats, the Santa Fe Sport is the ideal family vehicle. (Photo: Philippe Champoux)

Value packed
The final high point we'd like to touch on was the overall value of the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport 2.0T SE. Perhaps this is the most important of all. While not the most obvious, the value of a vehicle is a very big selling point. Are you really getting what you pay for? You never want to get less, but what if you can get more?

Well, with the Hyundai Santa Fe Sport 2.0T SE, the feeling that you're getting so much more than what you're paying for was felt across the board. On more than one occasion a driver would guess the MSRP well above the actual cost.

Without really realizing what we were doing, we soon used the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport SE as a benchmark upon which to measure up other crossovers that landed in our parking lot. Were they as good? Often, no, and yet their price tags were usually higher.


The Lows

Now, the lows... No car is perfect, and the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport SE, while a fantastic vehicle, was not impervious to faults.

High fuel consumption
The low scores came from an area we were made aware of in the first few weeks of possession: fuel consumption. While this is something we tried to regulate, it's something the Hyundai Santa Fe Sport 2.0T SE continued to struggle with.

Fuel consumption numbers hovered in the 13-14L/100km range, well above what they should have been. And while they did decrease ever so slightly over the final week or so of the long-term test, we assume it was because of outside temperatures requiring no heat or A/C be used while we drove.

Good drive marred by steering
What might be a little shocking, as we've said a few times how sporty the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport SE felt, was the fact that performance and driving dynamics also scored poorly. For a number of drivers, steering feel fell short. Perhaps the Driver Selectable Steering might need a few tweaks on future models.

Transmission teething problems
The last low comes in the form of a transmission that continued to plague us over the months. While it felt the worst in the colder months, the Hyundai Santa Fe Sport's transmission difficulty with cold starts was a sore point for most and something we even had checked at the dealer.

As we've not heard of any other transmission issues with the 2013 Santa Fe Sport, we are going to assume that this was a teething issue. If you currently drive one and are experiencing otherwise, let us know!

(Photo: Philippe Champoux)

A lasting impression
Overall, our 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport SE long-term tester was enjoyed by many and for many reasons. And even though most of the lows pertained to driving dynamics, every time the keys were handed back the same comments were made: “What a fun, good-natured vehicle.”

Here is a vehicle that's loaded to the gills with amenities and comfort, able to fit five comfortably, has plenty of trunk space, is capable in the winter, and offers a bit of attitude behind the wheel, all for a decent price.

It's safe to say we definitely made the right choice by selecting the Hyundai Santa Fe Sport as our 2013 Compact Utility of the Year at the Auto123.com Awards.

From GMM

Mark Webber has the support of Red Bull mogul Dietrich Mateschitz as he considers his future beyond a 2013 contract.

That is the claim of the German publication Auto Bild Motorsport, following Australian Webber's claim late last week that "the ball is pretty firmly in my court" regarding a deal for 2014.

Previously, it was believed Red Bull was considering replacing Webber - who turns 37 in August - with either Sebastian Vettel's friend and 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen, or a Toro Rosso driver.

Photo: Red Bull Racing

Webber's seven-season run at the Milton-Keynes based team was said to be effectively over, having fallen out with teammate Vettel over the 'Multi-21' affair, and finally succumbing to the lack of support of the influential figure Dr Helmut Marko.

Webber, however, insisted last week that his relationship with billionaire Mateschitz remains strong.

"I'll continue to be in touch with him on where my thinking is at, where my energy levels are, and where my motivation is for still operating at this level," he said.

Citing Auto Bild's report, Die Welt newspaper now reports that Mateschitz has "personally presented the Australian with an offer to extend his contract".

The report added that Webber will consider the offer until August, when Red Bull's bosses Marko and Christian Horner have said consistently they will turn their attention to the team's 2014 driver lineup.

From GMM

Germany is only on this year's formula one calendar because Bernie Ecclestone waived the Nurburgring's usual race fee.

That is the claim of Bild newspaper, referring to that circuit's financial problems that put at risk the race-alternating scheme with Germany's other F1 host, Hockenheim.

Bild reports that, to ensure the embattled Nurburgring takes its scheduled turn next weekend, F1 chief executive Ecclestone agreed to waive his organisation's usual EUR 14 million race fee.

"Bild has learned that without the gift, there would not have been a Grossen Preis von Deutschland on 7 July," correspondent Helmut Uhl said.

"The Rhineland-Palatinate state and the insolvent Nurburgring GmbH could not have afforded the fee."

Start of the 2011 German Grand Prix, at the Nurburgring. (Photo: WRi2)

A spokesman for the company responsible for the Nurburgring's insolvency process confirmed: "We achieved an agreement in a very short time with Mr Ecclestone. The details are not disclosed."

The Nurburgring's insolvency administrator Jens Lieser added: "With his commitment to the Nurburgring, Mr Ecclestone did German formula one fans a big favour."

After announcing the top makes in its 2013 Initial Quality Study, J.D. Power now has the top models in each of the various vehicle categories.

Cars
• City car: smart fortwo
• Sub-compact car: Mazda2
• Compact car: Honda Civic
• Compact sporty car: Mazda MX-5
• Compact premium car: Acura TL
• Compact premium sporty car: Porsche Boxster
• Midsize car: Toyota Camry
• Midsize sporty car: Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang (tie)
• Midsize premium car: Hyundai Genesis
• Midsize premium sporty car: Porsche 911
• Large car: Chevrolet Impala
• Large premium car: Lexus LS

CUVs, MPVs, Minivans, Pickups
• Sub-compact CUV: Buick Encore and Kia Sportage (tie)
• Compact CUV: Honda CR-V
• Compact premium CUV: Mercedes-Benz GLK
• Compact MPV: Kia Soul
• Midsize CUV: Nissan Murano
• Midsize premium CUV: Infiniti FX
• Minivan: Chrysler Town & Country
• Large CUV: Chevrolet Tahoe
• Large premium CUV: Cadillac Escalade
• Large light-duty pickup: Chevrolet Avalanche and GMC Sierra 1500 (tie)
• Large heavy-duty pickup: Chevrolet Silverado HD

Source: J.D. Power

Photo: Sébastien D'Amour

From GMM

Force India on Wednesday said it will not hold Paul di Resta to his 2014 contract should the Scot want to join another team.

There have been rumblings about the 27-year-old's discontent in the middle of the grid and at the Silverstone based team, amid his recent criticism of race strategies and reports even a garage scuffle broke out in Montreal.

Deputy team boss Bob Fernley said on Wednesday: "Paul is contracted to us anyway for next season, so the question is whether somebody else comes in, so it won't be our decision.

"But we wouldn't stand in his way. That's not our policy. If a driver feels he is better somewhere else, what would be the point in keeping him?"

Paul di Resta, Sahara Force India. (Photo: René Fagnan)

Fernley said the fact Sahara Force India was able to pick up the pieces after Nico Hulkenberg's move to Sauber shows that the team would also cope with di Resta's exit.

"We then proved by bringing in Adrian (Sutil) we are capable of recovering from such a situation and carrying on as normal," he said.

Meanwhile, another British driver - rookie Max Chilton - has revealed ahead of his home grand prix this weekend that he would like to stay at Marussia for a second year.

"When it gets nearer the time then we'll hopefully work on it, but I love the team and obviously I'd love to stay for another year and to keep learning," he said.

"It's what a lot of drivers do; starting out at a team like this, learning, become the driver you are, and you work your way up."

His teammate Jules Bianchi has stolen a lot of the headlines so far in 2013, but Chilton believes he has done a good job in his own rookie season.

"I don't think I've underperformed," said 22-year-old Chilton, who claims the team was "over the moon" with his race in Monaco.

"I know the whole team are behind me, so if I can keep doing that, keep showing them what I can do, then anything is possible."

Honda Canada is once again issuing a recall on the 2007-2008 Honda Fit to correct a leak. Water may enter the driver's power window master switch, causing it to overheat and potentially resulting in a fire.

Although Honda previously attempted to remedy this problem by installing a plastic cover over the switch, this fix was inadequate. Dealers will therefore inspect and, if necessary, replace the driver's power window master switch.

Vehicles that were repaired following the first recall will also need to be repaired under this campaign.

Source: Transports Canada

Jaguar used the MotorExpo in Toronto (June 24-28, 2013) to present the all-new, limited-edition 2014 Jaguar XKR-S GT. Priced at $179,000, only 5 of the 30 units will be sold in Canada.

Under the hood is a 5.0L supercharged V8 engine that produces 550 horsepower and 502 lb-ft of torque through a 6-speed ZF automatic transmission and active rear differential. Acceleration from 0-60 mph (96 km/h) takes 3.9 seconds, while top speed is electronically limited at 300 km/h (186 mph).

Available in white only, the 2014 Jaguar XKR-S GT sports a high-strength, all-aluminum body, as well as extensive aerodynamic enhancements, suspension changes, and huge carbon ceramic brakes (398 mm front; 380 mm rear). It's the first production Jaguar to be fitted with such a braking system.

"The XKR-S GT is an uncompromised car, but one that inspires confidence and encourages the driver to push it to its limits, fully exploring its handling abilities. It's a car that draws you in and is never intimidating, with performance that is both accessible and rewarding," said David Pook, Technical Specialist, Steering and Handling.

Photo: Jaguar

The 2013 J.D. Power Initial Quality Study is out, and Porsche leads the way with a mere 80 problems per 100 vehicles over the first 90 days of ownership. At the other end of the spectrum, Fiat (154) and Scion (161) fare the worst.

The industry average is 113 problems per 100 vehicles.

Overall, nearly two-thirds of the problems experienced in the first three months of ownership are related to the vehicle's design, as opposed to components that malfunction. The study also finds that many problems cited by owners relate to the driver interface, which includes voice recognition or hands-free technology.

Source : J.D. Power

From Caterham

British driver Will Stevens is the latest name to be added to the Caterham Racing Academy roster, the driver development program designed to create a clear route to F1 and provide all the training required for future motor racing champions.

Stevens, currently in fourth place overall in the 2013 Formula Renault 3.5 Series, began his motorsport career in karts aged 11. By 2008 he was widely recognised as one of the top karters in the world, having secured European and Asia-Pacific titles with the factory Tony Kart team.

In 2009 he made the move to cars in Formula Renault 2.0 and spent three seasons in that category, notching up race wins in the UK series and the Eurocup series, finishing fourth overall in Eurocup 2011.

In 2012 Stevens moved up to the top step of World Series by Renault, competing in Formula Renault 3.5 that year and then again in 2013.

In 2012 he scored 10 race results in the top 10, including a podium in Hungary and he is building on that in 2013, including a podium at the last round in Moscow.

Photo: Renault

From wrc.com

Citroen Racing boss, Yves Matton will talk to Sebastien Loeb before Rally Finland to see if he wants to do more rallies for the troubled squad in the second half of the WRC season.

Tempting Loeb out of retirement is one option Matton is considering as he seeks to turn around a miserable start to 2013 for the French car manufacturer, during which Volkswagen has pulled ahead in the drivers' and manufacturers' championships.

Sébastien Loeb. (Photo: Citroën Racing)

Matton made the admission at Rally Italia Sardinia, shortly after his lead driver, Mikko Hirvonen crashed out from second place while trying to narrow a 40-second gap to Volkswagen's Sebastien Ogier.

As he makes the transition from rallying to racing, nine-time World Rally Champion Loeb was scheduled to tackle only four WRC events for Citroen this year, with a final appearance on his home Rallye de France-Alsace in October.

“I haven't spoken to him yet but for sure at the half of the season I will speak again with Sebastien to see if he has the motivation to do maybe one or two rallies more,” said Matton. In the following days or weeks then we will have an answer and we will see with Seb what we can do.”

Loeb has a busy racing programme this year, and he will tackle the Pikes Peak hillclimb in Colorado this weekend. After winning Rally Argentina in May, however, he didn't rule out more WRC outings.

Matton said that in the meantime his team would be working hard to find improvements before the next WRC round in five weeks' time.

Photo: Peugeot Sport

From Sahara Force India

Sahara Force India's simulator driver, James Rossiter, will make his debut in an official Formula 1 practice session this week when he drives for the team during Friday morning practice at Silverstone.

James Rossiter (Photo: Sahara Force India)

The 29-year-old British racer will drive Adrian Sutil's car to gain more experience of the Mercedes-powered VJM06 to help ensure the team's simulator remains as close to the real car as possible.

Rossiter is the former BAR-Honda and Super Aguri F1 test driver.

The time in the car will allow Rossiter to give greater feedback during race weekends when he normally supports the team from the factory by carrying out simulator running.

The scheduled run for Rossiter is dependent on dry track conditions to ensure the team can gain meaningful feedback.

“This is an amazing opportunity and I'm really looking forward to taking part in an official practice session during a Grand Prix weekend,” said Rossiter.

“The fact that Silverstone is my home race makes the news even sweeter. The main reason for driving the car is to help progress the team's simulator programme, which I've been working on for almost twelve months. I drove the car during winter testing in February, but it's valuable to have another opportunity to experience the real car and make sure it's in harmony with the simulator,” he added.

Adapted from Williams F1 Team

Williams F1 Team celebrated a landmark achievement last year at the British Grand Prix - reaching 600 races in Formula 1.

Williams Formula 1 Team invited their fans to comment on a Facebook post asking what their favourite historic Williams moment was. The results are below along with a selection of photography of the most prestigious Williams F1 cars.

10
Finland's Keke Rosberg breaking the 160mph average speed with his lap at Silverstone in 1985 behind the wheel of the Honda-powered Williams. Just magic!

Photo: Williams F1 Team

9
Alan Jones' championship winning season in 1980. Jones won five races that season, including the final two races held in Montreal and Watkins Glen.

8
Clay Regazzoni scoring the team's first victory at Silverstone in 1979, driving the FW07 Ford Cosworth.

Photo: WRi2

7
The complex reactive suspension system which was prominent in Alain Prost's championship win in 1993.

6
Keke Rosberg's championship winning season in 1982 despite winning just one race that season - the Swiss Grand Prix held at circuit Dijon-Prenois.

Photo: Williams F1 Team

5
Jacques Villeneuve's rivalry with Michael Schumacher in 1997 which came to a head in the last race of the season where Villeneuve won the championship after a collision between the two of them put Michael out of the race.

4
Nelson Piquet's 1986, Hungarian Grand Prix win where he beat Ayrton Senna in what was a spectacular race.

3
Ayrton Senna vs Nigel Mansell at Silverstone in 1991. The track was invaded by overjoyed fans and the iconic image of Mansell giving Senna a lift on his sidepod back to the pits.

Photo: WRi2

2
Nigel Mansell vs Nelson Piquet at Silverstone in 1987. Mansell chased Piquet down over the last 20 laps and won the race in what was an electrifying finish.

1
Nigel Mansell's championship winning season in 1992. He was absolutely dominant behind the wheel of the Williams and clinched the title in August, long before the end of the season.

Photo: Williams F1 Team

Drayson Racing Technologies' LMP1 prototype has broken the world land speed record for a lightweight electric car, reaching 204 m/h.

The Lola B12 69/EV vehicle, powered by a lightweight 20-kilowatt hour battery powering an 850 horsepower electric motor, reached a top speed of 204.2mph (328.6km/h) at a racetrack at RAF Elvington in Yorkshire, UK.



The previous record, of 175mph was set almost 40 years ago by Battery Box General Electric in 1974.

Chief executive Lord Paul Drayson, who drove the car, said the achievement was designed to highlight electronic vehicle technology's potential.

Drayson Racing intends to field the vehicle into next year's 24 Hours of Le Mans, saying the competition would act as a "challenging test bed" for technologies that could eventually find their way into road cars.

Photo: Drayson Racing

Current ARCA Racing Series' champion, Chris Buescher won the inaugural SCOTT 160 at Road America by passing no less than two cars on the last lap of Saturday's event to take the checkered flag.

Buescher, in the Roulo Brothers No. 99 BeavEx-Reliance Tool Ford, took advantage of a last-lap tangle between the two cars in front of him, Chase Elliott and Andrew Ranger, to take the lead on Turn five of the 14-turn road course. He then held on for the victory.

Photo: ARCA RACING

The field re-started with three laps to go after the first full-course caution of the race.

Elliott, in the No. 9 Aaron's-Hendrickcars.com Chevrolet, came in contact with Austin Dillon's car, causing him to spin in turn one. Then, Elliott and Andrew Ranger drove side-by-side and exchanged the lead before Elliott took the white flag, signaling one lap to go. The two cars then came in contact in a tricky Turn five and Buescher, running third, passed them.

Ranger, who had earned pole position earlier in the day, finished second in his No. 53 WM Bagstar Dodge, Tom Hessert third in his Cunningham Motorsports Barbera's Autoland Dodge, Elliott fourth and Ryan Blaney fifth in his Cunningham Motorsports car. Dillon finished sixth.

Buescher was making just his second start of the season in the ARCA Racing Series. It was his 10th all-time series victory and first on a road course.

From GMM

Monza, the historic home of the Italian grand prix, could be a victim of F1's continued push into "emerging markets".

That is the warning of F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone, who admitted that even the sport's longest-standing European races are not secure.

"It is possible that Europe will lose a couple of races in favour of emerging markets," he told the weekly Italian magazine Panorama.

"If we do move away from Monza - and I say 'if', because no decision has been taken yet - it would be only for economic reasons.

"Of course, the quality of the circuit and the organisation could also be better," added Ecclestone, "but that is not the crucial point."

Parabolica curve at Monza.

Earlier this week, 1996 world champion Damon Hill warned Ecclestone that removing the "cornerstones" of the sport, such as key European races, is a real risk.

"Without European enthusiasm," he told the London Evening Standard, "if you just took the sport off to China, India or the States, it would die within minutes.

"But I don't think Bernie's interested in the sport. He's interested in the return it gives," added Hill.

No less than eight IZOD IndyCar Series teams were present this Tuesday to do some serious testing at Pocono Raceway which will welcome back IndyCar racing for the first time since 1989.

Were present: Marco Andretti, James Hinchcliffe, Ryan Hunter-Reay and E.J. Viso (Andretti Autosport), Sebastian Saavedra (Dragon Racing), Ed Carpenter (Ed Carpenter Racing), Ryan Briscoe (Panther Racing), Simona De Silvestro and Tony Kanaan (KV Racing Technology), Helio Castroneves and Will Power (Team Penske) for Chevrolet.

Representing Honda were James Jakes and Graham Rahal of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing while Sarah Fisher Hartman racing was represented by Josef Newgarden.

Photo: Pocono Raceway

Another test open to everyone will also be held July 4 in advance of the Pocono IndyCar 400 on July 7.

Apart from Helio Castroneves and Will Power, who had the chance earlier to try the Pocono Raceway for a Firestine tire test, it was a first encounter with the oval for all the others.

"Pocono is pretty incredible," Josef Newgarden said.

"I've never been to an oval like this. It's a challenge and unlike anywhere we've been. It almost combines a bunch of ovals."

The race will be the middle leg of the Fuzzy's Triple Crown, which carries a $1 million bonus if Kanaan can sweep the races at Indianapolis, Pocono and Auto Club Speedway in California. A driver who wins two of the three will receive a $250,000 bonus.

Read Part I and Part II of our long-term test time with the Hyundai Santa Fe Sport.

Parting is such sweet sorrow
That's right, it's over. Our long-term test of the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport 2.0T SE has come to an end, and truthfully the entire office is a little bummed out at the prospect. For five months the Santa Fe Sport made the rounds from kid-packed families to singletons; this crossover satisfied many and all. However, it wasn't all roses and smiles, which is why we've put together this final update.

After covering roughly 10,000km in our 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport long-term tester through two seasons (winter and spring) and with multiple drivers behind the wheel, we discovered that this crossover is as utilitarian as it is sporty.



Comments from the peanut gallery
A long-term road test is an ideal means to give a greater number of people access to a given product. In our time with the Santa Fe Sport, we handed the keys to a number of staffers after which we collected their comments.

Here are a few that summarize the overall impressions of Team Auto123.com.

Maxime A. (current owner of a 2009 Santa Fe): We're not talking about a breath of fresh air or a mere evolution, but rather a revolution! While I enjoy driving my 2009 Santa Fe, the sporty nature of the 2013 model feels like driving a luxury sedan! You'll love the completely new interior and the jet-set exterior!

Suzanne G.: The 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport 2.0T SE is not only competent on snow- and slush-covered roads, but also safe and confidence-inspiring thanks to ABS brakes and stability control. Visibility is great. I enjoyed a nice view of the road, was sitting high and feeling warm, listening to the Rolling Stones, and revelling in the vehicle's cocoon-like interior. This is one good-looking crossover which also made me look good behind the wheel.

The report card
After tabulating scores and comments from all those who gave the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport 2.0T SE long-term tester a go, we've come up with the final report card.


The Highs

Styling to fall for
As we said in Part I and II, the highest marks of all go to the Hyundai Santa Fe Sport's exterior looks. Truly one of the best-looking crossovers currently on the market, not one negative thing was said about the vehicle's exterior design. In fact, so good-looking is this crossover, that a few of its shortcomings (which we'll get to in a moment) can and were even forgiven by a few testers.

It's true what they say: If you like your car's looks, many other things will be forgotten.

As we said in Part I and II, the highest marks of all go to the Hyundai Santa Fe Sport's exterior looks. (Photo: Philippe Champoux)

For families
Of course, the second biggest point gatherer was the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport SE's family friendliness. With plenty of space on board and in the trunk, as well as easy access to all seats, the Santa Fe Sport is the ideal family vehicle. From baby seats to grandparents, the Hyundai was able to handle everything in stride (and comfort). Across the board, we felt the Hyundai Santa Fe Sport was extremely easy to live with.

With plenty of space on board and in the trunk, as well as easy access to all seats, the Santa Fe Sport is the ideal family vehicle. (Photo: Philippe Champoux)

Value packed
The final high point we'd like to touch on was the overall value of the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport 2.0T SE. Perhaps this is the most important of all. While not the most obvious, the value of a vehicle is a very big selling point. Are you really getting what you pay for? You never want to get less, but what if you can get more?

Well, with the Hyundai Santa Fe Sport 2.0T SE, the feeling that you're getting so much more than what you're paying for was felt across the board. On more than one occasion a driver would guess the MSRP well above the actual cost.

Without really realizing what we were doing, we soon used the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport SE as a benchmark upon which to measure up other crossovers that landed in our parking lot. Were they as good? Often, no, and yet their price tags were usually higher.


The Lows

Now, the lows... No car is perfect, and the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport SE, while a fantastic vehicle, was not impervious to faults.

High fuel consumption
The low scores came from an area we were made aware of in the first few weeks of possession: fuel consumption. While this is something we tried to regulate, it's something the Hyundai Santa Fe Sport 2.0T SE continued to struggle with.

Fuel consumption numbers hovered in the 13-14L/100km range, well above what they should have been. And while they did decrease ever so slightly over the final week or so of the long-term test, we assume it was because of outside temperatures requiring no heat or A/C be used while we drove.

Good drive marred by steering
What might be a little shocking, as we've said a few times how sporty the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport SE felt, was the fact that performance and driving dynamics also scored poorly. For a number of drivers, steering feel fell short. Perhaps the Driver Selectable Steering might need a few tweaks on future models.

Transmission teething problems
The last low comes in the form of a transmission that continued to plague us over the months. While it felt the worst in the colder months, the Hyundai Santa Fe Sport's transmission difficulty with cold starts was a sore point for most and something we even had checked at the dealer.

As we've not heard of any other transmission issues with the 2013 Santa Fe Sport, we are going to assume that this was a teething issue. If you currently drive one and are experiencing otherwise, let us know!

(Photo: Philippe Champoux)

A lasting impression
Overall, our 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport SE long-term tester was enjoyed by many and for many reasons. And even though most of the lows pertained to driving dynamics, every time the keys were handed back the same comments were made: "What a fun, good-natured vehicle."

Here is a vehicle that's loaded to the gills with amenities and comfort, able to fit five comfortably, has plenty of trunk space, is capable in the winter, and offers a bit of attitude behind the wheel, all for a decent price.

It's safe to say we definitely made the right choice by selecting the Hyundai Santa Fe Sport as our 2013 Compact Utility of the Year at the Auto123.com Awards.

Read Part I and Part II of our long-term test time with the Hyundai Santa Fe Sport.

Parting is such sweet sorrow
That's right, it's over. Our long-term test of the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport 2.0T SE has come to an end, and truthfully the entire office is a little bummed out at the prospect. For five months the Santa Fe Sport made the rounds from kid-packed families to singletons; this crossover satisfied many and all. However, it wasn't all roses and smiles, which is why we've put together this final update.

After covering roughly 10,000km in our 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport long-term tester through two seasons (winter and spring) and with multiple drivers behind the wheel, we discovered that this crossover is as utilitarian as it is sporty.



Comments from the peanut gallery
A long-term road test is an ideal means to give a greater number of people access to a given product. In our time with the Santa Fe Sport, we handed the keys to a number of staffers after which we collected their comments.

Here are a few that summarize the overall impressions of Team Auto123.com.

Maxime A. (current owner of a 2009 Santa Fe): We're not talking about a breath of fresh air or a mere evolution, but rather a revolution! While I enjoy driving my 2009 Santa Fe, the sporty nature of the 2013 model feels like driving a luxury sedan! You'll love the completely new interior and the jet-set exterior!

Suzanne G.: The 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport 2.0T SE is not only competent on snow- and slush-covered roads, but also safe and confidence-inspiring thanks to ABS brakes and stability control. Visibility is great. I enjoyed a nice view of the road, was sitting high and feeling warm, listening to the Rolling Stones, and revelling in the vehicle's cocoon-like interior. This is one good-looking crossover which also made me look good behind the wheel.

The report card
After tabulating scores and comments from all those who gave the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport 2.0T SE long-term tester a go, we've come up with the final report card.


The Highs

Styling to fall for
As we said in Part I and II, the highest marks of all go to the Hyundai Santa Fe Sport's exterior looks. Truly one of the best-looking crossovers currently on the market, not one negative thing was said about the vehicle's exterior design. In fact, so good-looking is this crossover, that a few of its shortcomings (which we'll get to in a moment) can and were even forgiven by a few testers.

It's true what they say: If you like your car's looks, many other things will be forgotten.

As we said in Part I and II, the highest marks of all go to the Hyundai Santa Fe Sport's exterior looks. (Photo: Philippe Champoux)

For families
Of course, the second biggest point gatherer was the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport SE's family friendliness. With plenty of space on board and in the trunk, as well as easy access to all seats, the Santa Fe Sport is the ideal family vehicle. From baby seats to grandparents, the Hyundai was able to handle everything in stride (and comfort). Across the board, we felt the Hyundai Santa Fe Sport was extremely easy to live with.

With plenty of space on board and in the trunk, as well as easy access to all seats, the Santa Fe Sport is the ideal family vehicle. (Photo: Philippe Champoux)

Value packed
The final high point we'd like to touch on was the overall value of the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport 2.0T SE. Perhaps this is the most important of all. While not the most obvious, the value of a vehicle is a very big selling point. Are you really getting what you pay for? You never want to get less, but what if you can get more?

Well, with the Hyundai Santa Fe Sport 2.0T SE, the feeling that you're getting so much more than what you're paying for was felt across the board. On more than one occasion a driver would guess the MSRP well above the actual cost.

Without really realizing what we were doing, we soon used the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport SE as a benchmark upon which to measure up other crossovers that landed in our parking lot. Were they as good? Often, no, and yet their price tags were usually higher.


The Lows

Now, the lows... No car is perfect, and the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport SE, while a fantastic vehicle, was not impervious to faults.

High fuel consumption
The low scores came from an area we were made aware of in the first few weeks of possession: fuel consumption. While this is something we tried to regulate, it's something the Hyundai Santa Fe Sport 2.0T SE continued to struggle with.

Fuel consumption numbers hovered in the 13-14L/100km range, well above what they should have been. And while they did decrease ever so slightly over the final week or so of the long-term test, we assume it was because of outside temperatures requiring no heat or A/C be used while we drove.

Good drive marred by steering
What might be a little shocking, as we've said a few times how sporty the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport SE felt, was the fact that performance and driving dynamics also scored poorly. For a number of drivers, steering feel fell short. Perhaps the Driver Selectable Steering might need a few tweaks on future models.

Transmission teething problems
The last low comes in the form of a transmission that continued to plague us over the months. While it felt the worst in the colder months, the Hyundai Santa Fe Sport's transmission difficulty with cold starts was a sore point for most and something we even had checked at the dealer.

As we've not heard of any other transmission issues with the 2013 Santa Fe Sport, we are going to assume that this was a teething issue. If you currently drive one and are experiencing otherwise, let us know!

(Photo: Philippe Champoux)

A lasting impression
Overall, our 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport SE long-term tester was enjoyed by many and for many reasons. And even though most of the lows pertained to driving dynamics, every time the keys were handed back the same comments were made: "What a fun, good-natured vehicle."

Here is a vehicle that's loaded to the gills with amenities and comfort, able to fit five comfortably, has plenty of trunk space, is capable in the winter, and offers a bit of attitude behind the wheel, all for a decent price.

It's safe to say we definitely made the right choice by selecting the Hyundai Santa Fe Sport as our 2013 Compact Utility of the Year at the Auto123.com Awards.

BMW says the redesigned 2014 X5 crossover will start at $53,725 for the new rear-wheel-drive sDrive35i model.