2013 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS

My first drive of Hyundai’s all-new Santa Fe came in the top-trim and fully optioned Limited model and it was very well done.  But do you get the same experience if you opt for the base GLS?

The price difference between the two is $4,750 and they’re the only 2 trims available – both available in front or all-wheel drive.  Sometimes base models can feel really sparse – don’t dare try it with one of the German luxury brands.  But here in the GLS, life is still pretty darn good.  My tester isn’t completely stripped as it does have the $950 Popular Equipment Package which is money well spent.  Included in that bundle are roof side rails, fog lights, auto headlights, heated outside mirrors, a power driver’s seat with lumbar control, heated front seats and a leather wrapped steering wheel and shift knob.  And hey, the GLS provides 7-passenger seating with a second row bench seat while the Limited seats only 6.  The stain-resistant Yes Essentials seats are comfortable, durable and parent friendly so I wouldn’t miss the leather, either.

One of the things I miss most from the Limited model is the height-adjustable passenger seat because this one doesn’t have it and without it you sit very, very low.

Everyone who sat over here this week looked ridiculous, with their eyes at dash level.  Perhaps it’s Hyundai’s clever way to entice you into a pricey option package which includes a power front passenger seat.

Yes, the center stack looks a little down-market with this small screen for audio functions but it has adaptable lighting and comes with Bluetooth and XM Radio.

If you want a full-blown navigation system on the GLS model you’re going to have to pay for it.  It’s part of a $4,000 option package.  Without it you’ll have access to Hyundai’s BlueLink telematics service which has a navigation feature.

Like OnStar, BlueLink offers various packages which cover safety, convenience and guidance.  I used it a number of times for navigation and it worked very well, with excellent voice recognition and displaying the route on the radio screen.  The basic Assurance Package comes free for 3 years while the Essentials and Guidance Packages come free for 3 months.  After that, it’s $99/year.  But, if you want a compass you’ll need to step up to that big $4,100 leather and navigation package which also includes a pantry of other upgrades.  It necessitates you chose the popular equipment package this tester has.

From a mechanical standpoint, the 290-horsepower 3.3-liter V6 and 6-sped auto are the same across the board. However, I did notice a considerable level of torque steer on the front-drive model that I didn’t on the AWD.  And from a convenience perspective, I noticed that easy access to the 3^rd row is limited to the passenger side.  Hyundai should be the slide and tilt on both sides to provide options.  Otherwise, the Santa Fe is a sharp looking, 25mpg highway, powerful and pleasant driving 3-row with lots to like.  Even when you eschew the Limited model.  MSRP as tested is $30,280.  For Drive Time I’m Steve Hammes.