Hyundai Santa Fe

munro21
munro21 Forum Participant Posts: 57
edited May 2019 in Towcars & Towing #1

Hi, I was wondering, does anybody tow with a Hyundai Santa Fe.  I noticed that it has a full sized spare wheel which seems to be rare these days.  I wondered what you think of it as a tow car, what sort of fuel economy can you expect both towing and solo.  Any thought would be much appreciated. Thanks  

Comments

  • Simon100
    Simon100 Club Member Posts: 665 ✭✭✭
    500 Comments
    edited May 2019 #2

    I have it's sister car, the KIA Sorento. They are almost the same mechanicals and engine under a slightly differently styled body.

    Both are excellent tow cars, as evidenced by the many reviews on line and in forum. 

    Try and get one with self leveling suspension.

  • lornalou1
    lornalou1 Forum Participant Posts: 2,169
    1000 Comments
    edited May 2019 #3

    practical caravan mag did a tow test that's on youtube, take a look. good towcar.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOsVtkFuN40

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited May 2019 #4
  • lornalou1
    lornalou1 Forum Participant Posts: 2,169
    1000 Comments
    edited May 2019 #5

    Cheers MM, but people could just copy and paste.surprised

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited May 2019 #6

    They could ... but if they're on a phone, it's far easier to click a live link that opens a new tab innocent

  • deaness
    deaness Forum Participant Posts: 8
    edited May 2019 #7

    Hi there, we're on our second manual Santa Fe - now have a 2015 plate, Premium model. We went for manual as auto has a 500kg gross train wt reduction.

    Last year we had 6 wks away & towed our Swift Elegance 580 1.75  tons (has an air con. unit & motor mover with wt plate upgrade) all the way to Italian lakes. We went through the French Mont Blanc tunnel with obviously a lot of uphill stretches then back through Austria, Germany & France. Very pleased & I think we get an average of about 28/30 mpg when towing depending terrain. When motoring without caravan, we get aound 34 mpg in winter, but up to 40 mpg in summer. I did meet one chap once wo said he was disappointed with mpg, but then admitted he was heavy on right foot!

    We were looking at the current manual model, but a bit disappointed as they seem to have stopped the 5 seater option. Also as our current model has only got about 36,000 on the clock, still wondering about the diesel outlook!

    Happy to answer any other questions.

  • munro21
    munro21 Forum Participant Posts: 57
    edited May 2019 #8

    Thanks for the information Deaness, if you are getting up to 40mpg in Summer then that doesn't seem bad for a engine of that size.  Is the boot on the 5 seater about the same as a 7 seater? 

  • lornalou1
    lornalou1 Forum Participant Posts: 2,169
    1000 Comments
    edited May 2019 #9

    laughing cheers again.

  • pterodactyl
    pterodactyl Forum Participant Posts: 35
    edited May 2019 #10

    I now tow my twin axle Unicorn Barcelona with a 2018 Santa Fe. My two previous tow cars were Kia Sorentos both of which I thought were great tow cars. However the Santa Fe seems even better. One slight concern I have is the use of the electronic handbrake.. I would far prefer a conventional one on a steep hill start when towing. I am getting about 5 miles more per gallon when towing than I did with the Kia. 

  • paul dale
    paul dale Forum Participant Posts: 10
    edited May 2019 #11

    I tow my Elddis Crusader with a 2017 Santa Fe Auto. The attached gives a review by the C&CC and gives bit more info. I find it very relaxing to tow with and I get about 23/24 miles per gallon towing and at the moment, the gauge is showing 38.4 mpg combined. I have the 7 seat version which has self levelling suspension. It has a very similar boot space to the 5 seater, although the 5 seater has addition (hidden) storage in the space taken by the additional 2 seats on the 7 seater.

  • deaness
    deaness Forum Participant Posts: 8
    edited May 2019 #12

     Hi Munro21, the reason we don't particularly like the 7 seater is that our 5 seater has a good deal of packing space where the additional 2 seats would go. We certainly used this on our Italian trip last year for spare bedding etc. Otherwise the boot space is the same as our current model, although I think the car itself is a bit longer.

    OH has suggested maybe we could e-mail Hyundai to see if we could order a manual 5 seater Santa Fe, even if we had to wait a year. I understand from our local Hyundai dealer that they will be able to sell diesel cars until 2040.

    I also noted pterodactyl's comment about electronic handbrake which I concur with, but I think this seems to be a current trend.

  • munro21
    munro21 Forum Participant Posts: 57
    edited May 2019 #13

    Just been looking at the spec's and it seems that they have changed from a full sized spare wheel to a space saver?

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
    1000 Comments
    edited May 2019 #14

    Have you looked at the Kia Sorento ?

    or would a Sportage be adequate

  • munro21
    munro21 Forum Participant Posts: 57
    edited May 2019 #15

    Sportage is not big enough. I have been looking at the Sorento as another option.

  • Fysherman
    Fysherman Forum Participant Posts: 1,570
    1000 Comments
    edited May 2019 #16

    The latest Sorento also has a space saver. Its to make room for the Adblue tank. Also be careful you get a tow bar for the 2019 model year. 

    Decent towcar, not the best I have had but not bad. Lots of toys.

    Hope this helps.

  • IanTG
    IanTG Forum Participant Posts: 419
    100 Comments
    edited May 2019 #17

    I have a 7 seater diesel auto Santa Fe. It’s the Bradley Wiggins special edition (just a few extra bits such as running boards and different wheels). I didn’t particularly want or need 7 seats but the other components of the spec I did want, at that time and at that price, meant there was no 5 seat option.

    I've therefore never missed any potential extra space, and the 2 extra seats do fold pretty flat. I do have a full size spare wheel - important I think.

    i love it, probably the best all round vehicle I've owned/driven. Lots of toys, smooth ride, comfortable driving position, tows well. Never really focussed on mpg, as it is what it is. But the onboard computer does indicate optimum towing revs/speed, so I try to use that.