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2003 Hyundai Santa Fe User Reviews

2003 Hyundai Santa Fe Review Ratings

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Average Ratings from 12 reviews

  • Performance:3.9 out of 5 stars3.9 out of 5 stars3.9 out of 5 stars3.9 out of 5 stars3.9 out of 5 stars 3.9 / 5
  • Appearance:4.2 out of 5 stars4.2 out of 5 stars4.2 out of 5 stars4.2 out of 5 stars4.2 out of 5 stars 4.2 / 5
  • Build Quality:4.1 out of 5 stars4.1 out of 5 stars4.1 out of 5 stars4.1 out of 5 stars4.1 out of 5 stars 4.1 / 5
  • Overall:4.8 out of 5 stars4.8 out of 5 stars4.8 out of 5 stars4.8 out of 5 stars4.8 out of 5 stars 4.8 / 5

Review Highlights Click to filter reviews below

PROS
"comfortable car" 5 reviews
"power" 5 reviews
"ride" 5 reviews
"handling" 4 reviews
"fuel economy" 3 reviews
CONS
"build quality" 2 reviews
"power" 2 reviews
"fuel economy" 2 reviews

User Reviews

Displaying 1 - 10 of 12 reviews 12 Next
David writes:
2003 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS 3.5L Review
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Pros

fast

Cons

bad blind spot

45

Love :) — its fast and has great handling for a suv... but has a little too much power in the rain. it has cheap repair costs and great on gas. best suv i ever. i recommend it to anyone. great space too.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Nicholas writes:
2003 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS 3.5L 4WD Review
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Pros

Creature comforts in the interior.  Sporty ride for an SUV.  Off-road capable.

Cons

Automatic climate control insists on running the a/c if temp is above 40 (can be manually turned off though).  Has an interference engine.  (Basically, the engine destroys itself if the timing belt breaks.  Don't ask how I know this)

45

Nice Daily Driver. — This car is a great everyday driver. The handling is pretty good for an SUV with plenty of power. The cabin is comfortable yet just a touch too small for a 6'+ person as I am. There is decent storage room and the seats fold easily. Capable of mild off roading and handles well in the snow.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful.
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hyundaifundai writes:
2003 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS AWD Review
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Pros

Very quiet and very comfortable

Cons

I wish it got 100 mi/gal but for this size it does well.

hyundaifundai
30

Great Family Car — I love this vehicle. It is fun and it is very comfortable. I really cannot get over how comfortable it is and how well it handles. The only thing I dislike is the turning radius. I have had Volvo's before and their turning radius surpasses any other car I have ever driven. I would highly recommend this vehicle to anyone with a family, pets or wants a comfortable ride!!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Christopher writes:
2003 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS AWD Review
Appearance:
Performance:
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Pros

Ride height

Cons

Engine Power

55

Henry — I call my car 'Henry' for it works hard for you. Henry has seen all of Long Island, Montreal and Maine. Engine performance is acceptable at best, but it's fun to drive. Driver, plus 2 friends, plus a week's worth of gear turned into an enjoyable road trip in the car. All that could be asked for would have been more power from the engine and a less body gaps. But those seam to have been addressed with the second generation.

2 of 3 people found this review helpful.
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timrichie83 writes:
2003 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS 3.5L Review
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Pros

Great car for around town and hauling small stuff. Great on gas!

Cons

can be small for three adults across the back seat.

timrichie83
20

Great Small Family Or Teenager Suv Good On Gas And Very Safe. — Love the car. It's easy on gas and the wallet! This car starts and runs strong every time. Oil changes are easy and cheap! Tires are decently priced. The brake job was under $400. The sound system in it is awesome!

Primary Use: Commuting to work

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alfredwan writes:
2003 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS Review
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Pros

Nice power, all wheel drive, big cargo space, comfortable seats

Cons

Lack of functionality in dashboard, no built-in bluetooth, road noise is relatively big

alfredwan
20

This Is Good Suv To Own, Makes Me Feel Nice When Driving It, Very Versatile. — The Santa Fe is the go-to when thinking about both business and casual life, it gives me great experience when driving either in urban or rural areas. With the all-wheel drive, it can definitely take the driver to have fun offroad in somewhere rough.

Primary Use: Commuting to work

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Stewart writes:
2003 Hyundai Santa Fe LX AWD Review
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Pros

Look great and 4x4

Cons

build quality and resale

35

Great Value Off Roader — Wow wow wow, if its avlue for money you wanted then this bay had it (in 2003) - Hyundai subsequently got greedy and seriously overpriced the new Santa Fe model, so much so that they sold very few in comparison. Leather seats, tiptronic gear box, CD/MP3, huge boot capacity, luxurious cabin, 4x4 - shame about the build quality and the ride really. It felt like you were sitting on the top mast of a very tall ship when cornering.....but up high and towering above all before you who cares. Was pretty empowering to drive and half decent off road. Great fro cruising the mtor ways but thirsty.

Primary Use: Family transportation

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Paul writes:
2003 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS AWD Review
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Pros

its tall

Cons

cost of fuel

35

Big And Bold — very big and plenty of towing power get old now time for upgrade auto fun to drive ,great for the dog never let me down in 5 years had her all mod cons inside in gleaming black,looks very cool

Primary Use: Utility (towing boats, transporting cargo, etc.)

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Sohan writes:
2003 Hyundai Santa Fe LX Review
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Pros

Its reliable

Cons

none

25

Best Small Suv Period — Its a good car all around. I bought lo in 2003 and i haven't had a problem since. I recommend this car to anyone who wants an affordable, reliable and comfortable car. If you are looking for a performance car, look elsewhere.

Primary Use: Family transportation

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Nicholas writes:
2003 Hyundai Santa Fe LX AWD Review
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Pros

Comfortable, spirited handling (for an SUV)

Cons

Driving position a little cramped for a 6'+ person

45

Spirited Mid-size Suv — If you can get by the quirky styling (which grows on you after a while) this is a very good daily driver and a solid vehicle. The handling is crisp for an SUV and it has decent power. The AWD system is fair and the car can handle moderate off roading if the stock tires are replaced with more aggressive ones. The options are very nice, the Monsoon sound system is great and the heated mirrors and seats are great in the winter. The build quality seems solid, I'm approaching 90K miles and haven't needed many repairs beypnd normal wear items.

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Displaying 1 - 10 of 12 reviews 12 Next
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Similar Cars Compared to a 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe

2003 Hyundai Santa Fe 2003 Honda CR-V 2003 Kia Sorento
2003 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS 3.5L picture, exterior
2003 Honda CR-V, The 2006 Honda CR-V, exterior
2003 Kia Sorento LX 4WD picture, exterior
Cost $6,242 Average Instant Market Value $9,280 Average Instant Market Value $7,176 Average Instant Market Value
Gas Mileage (highway) 25 26 18
Horsepower 138 160 192
Crash Test Rating 5 5 4
Cargo Volume (cu. ft.) 30.5 31.4
Front Leg Room (inches) 41.6 41.3 42.6

Reviews From Other Years

2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Reviews

The Best Suv I Ever Owned By pizzadoc

free oil changes, washes. Henderson Hyundai is the best. Service is prompt ,knowledgeable , can you believe it HONEST. every thing about this car is enjoyable, from the comfy seat to the HEATED STEERI... Read More

Read all 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe reviews

2012 Hyundai Santa Fe Reviews

Sad That The One Bad Thing Outweighs All The Good. Update! By cagib

In general I love the (2012) car, but the fact that it is seriously underpowered is making me trade it in. There simply is no power!! I have the 2.4L AWD automatic transmission model and there is sim... Read More

Great Value By jetboy

I replaced an 02 Caravan with the Santa Fe and miss the space I had. This vehicle gets much better mileage considering the power available. It is fun to drive and great value. Have 2 yr extended warra... Read More

Read all 4 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe reviews

2011 Hyundai Santa Fe Reviews

Great Value, With Lots Of Power And Fuel Economy By robdavisjr

Very powerful and responsive and I have achieved 28 mpg on a 3 hour road trip. My wife really likes the size, large enough to feel roomy inside, but easy to manuver in parking lots. Love the Bluetooth... Read More

Read all 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe reviews

2010 Hyundai Santa Fe Reviews

The All Arounder By hoppy71

great all around and cant beat the cargo layout. Lots of amenities Fun for the whole family and especially the driver! I would suggest this car for the utilitarian as well as the driving enthusiast. ... Read More

Nice Vehicle If You Want Something Affordable, Dependable, And The Best Warranty Around. By J.J.

Loads of pep, and the gas mileage is pretty decent with the V6 and the AWD. There is a nice option to lock the transfer case for true 4WD. The 18 inch wheels look good, until you have to buy tires, ... Read More

Read all 7 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe reviews

2009 Hyundai Santa Fe Reviews

Great Suv! By sports65g

Unfortunately we have to get rid of this car because of our growing family. It was and is a great vehicle. The warranty is unbeatable and the car handles better than any other in its class. Great find... Read More

Okay Vehicle By Rainy114

This has been an okay car. Previous car was rx300 2000, so I was used to a smooth ride. This just doesn't accelerate the same way. I wish it had more pick up and better options fpr convenience. - b... Read More

Read all 12 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe reviews
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