2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
New for 2016
The Hyundai Santa Fe Sport returns for the 2016 model teeming with sought-after tech and comfort features that make the Santa Fe Sport a perennial people pleaser.
Grace Meets Grunt
The midsize crossover segment is crowded with impressive candidates, but the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport stands out with style, value, and an array of nifty tech features. Fuel-efficient powertrains provide plenty of grunt, while attention to detail in the design helps the Santa Fe Sport stand out from the crowd.
Powertrains and Performance
The 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport is offered with two powertrain options that emphasize efficiency, without making this crossover’s “Sport” nomenclature hollow.
The base engine is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder unit that produces 190 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. It’s connected to a six-speed automatic transmission and available with with either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.
With front-wheel drive, this naturally-aspirated engine will return an EPA-rated 23 mpg combined (20 mpg city, 27 mpg highway), while the all-wheel drive version gets 21 mpg combined (19 mpg city, 25 mpg highway).
Where most crossovers offer V6 engines as an extra-cost option, the Santa Fe Sport gets a turbocharged four-cylinder unit for better fuel economy. The 2.0-liter engine produces 265 hp and 269 lb-ft of torque, and comes with the same six-speed automatic as the base engine, and front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive as well.
EPA-rated fuel economy for that engine is 23 mpg combined (20 mpg city, 27 mpg highway) with front-wheel drive,* and 21 mpg combined (18 mpg city, 24 mpg highway) with all-wheel drive.*
Features and Trims
The 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport is only available as a five-door, five-seat crossover, starting at $24,950.** For those looking for extra seating, Hyundai also offerers the standard (non-Sport) Santa Fe with seating for six or seven.
The Santa Fe Sport is offered in two trim levels based around the two engine options, with additional option packages. The base model is paired with the 2.4-liter four-cylinder, and includes standard projector headlights with LED accents, 40/20/40 split-folding rear bench, steering-wheel-mounted audio, cruise, and Bluetooth controls, and iPod and USB input jacks.
This model can be further upgraded with the Popular Equipment package, which adds roof rails, fog lights, heated front seats (with power adjustment for the driver) and a display audio system with 4.3-inch screen.
Building on the Popular Equipment package is the Premium package, which adds leather seats, a 60/40 sliding second-row bench, dual-zone automatic climate control, and an electroluminescent gauge cluster, among other notable features.
This brings the base model up to the standard equipment level of the Santa Fe Sport 2.0T, which also features the more-powerful turbocharged engine. Both models can be further upgraded with Technology (base) and Ultimate (2.0T) packages, which add features like navigation, a panoramic sunroof, ventilated front seats, and heated rear seats.
In addition, the Ultimate model gets a 12-speaker premium audio system, 19-inch alloy wheels, HID headlights, and LED taillights.
Exterior/Interior
The 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport features a dynamic design inside and out, with an exterior that combines traditional SUV styling cues with more car-like features shared with Hyundai’s sleek sedans.
That gives it a more aerodynamic shape, while standard 17-inch alloy wheels (bigger sizes are available) add some street cred.
The available sliding second-row bench makes the Santa Fe Sport a champ at its intended task, as does the Smart Liftgate, which can be programmed to automatically open when the owner is three feet behind the vehicle, no gestures required. The opening height can also be set to prevent the tailgate from smashing into your garage ceiling.
The interior itself is also well-appointed, especially with the optional electroluminescent gauge cluster and leather seats. While not as flashy, the standard seats are covered in YES Essentials stain-resistant cloth, which also has an antibacterial feature to control odors. That’s good thinking considering that many Santa Fe Sports will probably be bought by families.
Safety
Standards safety equipment on the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport includes anti-lock brakes, stability and traction controls, downhill brake control, hill-start assist, and a full array of airbags.
A suit of optional electronic driver aids is also available, including blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear park assist, lane-change assist, and a rearview camera.
Bottom Line
The 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport checks all of the family crossover boxes, and with Hyundai’s legendary reputation for value and solid reliability, it should be a winner. Stop by MotorWorld | MileOne Autogroup today for a test drive.
*EPA estimates. For comparison only. Your actual mileage may vary with options, driving conditions, driving habits and vehicle's condition.
**MSRP excludes destination charges, tax, title, and license fees.