New Car Overview of the 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe Compact Sport Utility Vehicle

Description: Compact Sport Utility Vehicle
Base MSRP Range: $21,649 - $26,099
Invoice Price Range: $20,307 - $24,455
Where built: South Korea

The compact-class sport-utility vehicle from Hyundai, with four doors and two rows of seats for five riders, is built upon the front-wheel-drive (FWD) platform of a sedan for a smooth ride quality.

Power flows from one of two V6 engine options this year and there's optional all-wheel-drive (AWD) traction with the larger V6. The full-time AWD system employs a unique Dual Drive front differential with planetary gears plus viscous coupling and it sends as much as 60 percent of the engine's muscle to front wheels and 40 percent to the rear.

Despite car-like drive characteristics, Santa Fe looks tough like a sturdy wagon rigged for work yet it's also stylish with a bold face and shapely contours on the sides. The cabin layout consists of bucket seats and center console in front of a bench seat for three and a bay in back measuring to 30 cubic feet for cargo and sports equipment. Two trims work in 2005 as GLS and LX.

GLS gets the 2.7-liter V6 off Sonata with 170-hp as standard plant, or an optional 3.5-liter dual-cam V6 worth 200-hp through Hyundai's 5-speed Shiftronic automatic. The 3.5-liter V6 is standard to LX.