The Hyundai Santa Fe is a compact/mid-size crossover SUV based on the Hyundai Sonata platform.

The new Santa Fe is undoubtedly the best car Hyundai has produced to date. It has a versatile seven-seat option, good quality interior, comfortable ride and a great new diesel engine. It would stack up well alongside mainstream competition - if there was any. It is in a different class to the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V and Nissan X-trail, being larger and offering seven seats, but isn’t aspirational enough to be measured against more expensive rivals like the Volkswagen Touareg and Volvo XC90. However, the Santa Fe is a good effort whichever way you look at it, and anyone deciding to take one for a test drive is guaranteed to be pleasantly surprised.

The Santa Fe comes in three trims — the GLS, SE and Limited — with either a 2.7-liter or 3.3-liter V6 engine. It comes standard in front-wheel drive, but all-wheel drive is available.

It represents three Hyundais in one. Such is the model¡¯s versatility that it combines a reassuring off-road capability with the comfort and driveability of a large passenger car and the practicality of a people-carrier for up to seven people.