2006 Hyundai Santa Fe Trims and Specs

Aside from adding a standard auto-dimming rearview mirror, the 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS 2.7L remains the same as last year. Fueled by a 2.7-liter, 170-hp V6 and 4-speed automatic, the front-wheel drive compact SUV can opt for a more powerful 3.5-liter V6 that puts out 200-hp and 219 lb-ft of torque when coupled with a 5-speed automatic. Sitting on 16-inch alloy wheels with all-season tires, the 2006 Santa Fe GLS 2.7L features a fully independent suspension, 4-wheel disc and ABS brakes, traction control, foglights, and dual front and front-side airbags.

Updated cloth fabric adorns the two rows of seats. The back row folds nearly flat to expand the cargo area from 30 to 78 cubic feet, and there is also a fold-down armrest. Tie-downs, a net, and a cargo cover are standard, and a trailer hitch can be added. The rear window opens separately from the liftgate. Wheel-mounted cruise control, a CD player, intermittent front and rear wipers, full power setup, a security system, heated mirrors, and leather trim are included. For a little extra, you get a sunroof, a garage opener, or wood accents for the interior. A low price tag, coupled with reliability and 5-star crash ratings, makes the 2005 Santa Fe GLS 2.7L attractive to families, and its easy handling is always mentioned. But owners do complain about driver legroom and the 17/23 mpg.

Few changes this year to the 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS 3.5L. The compact/mid-sized SUV features a 3.5-liter, 200-hp V6 and 5-speed auto tran (with manual mode) and gets 219 lb-ft of torque. It rides on 16-inch alloy wheels and all-season tires and comes standard with a four-wheel independent suspension, 4-wheel disc and ABS brakes, traction control, foglights, and dual front and front-side airbags. The front-wheel drive SUV with the big bumpers seats five in two rows, with cupholders for each row and folding armmrests. Rear seats fold down for up to 78 cubic feet of cargo room in addition to the standard roof rack. Tie-downs, a cargo net, and cargo cover are all included.

The 2006 Santa Fe GLS 3.5L does add an auto-dimming rearview mirror to its list of standard equipment. This includes a full power setup, wheel-mounted cruise control, a CD player, leather trim, heated mirrors, tilt steering, a security system, first aid kit, and intermittent front and rear wipers. A sunroof can be added, along with wood interior trim. Also available is a trailer hitch, to help you tow nearly 3000 pounds. The 2006 Santa Fe GLS 3.5L benefits from more power, though drivers still say it needs more. Other than the poor fuel economy, owners are happy with the safety, reliability, interior space, and exterior style of their SUV.

Full-time all-wheel drive without low range gearing comes with the 206 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS 2.7L AWD, making it a more capable compact SUV in tricky road conditions. This adds to the five-star safety rating provided by standard ABS brakes, traction control, 16-inch wheels with all-season tires, foglights, a new auto-dimming rearview mirror, and dual front and front-side airbags. The AWD comes with a limited slip center differential. Power is offered by a 2.7-liter, 170-hp V6 and 4-speed automatic.

The base model GLS is well equipped with power windows, mirrors, and locks, heated mirrors, wheel-mounted cruise control, intermittent front and rear wipers, and a security system. Leather trim can be complemented with optional wood trim. Cupholders, pockets, and consoles add convenience, and a standard first aid kit is also included. Rear seats fold to expand the cargo space, which features tie-downs, a net, and a cover. A roof rack adds more storage space, and a trailer hitch is optional. The 2006 Santa Fe GLS 2.7L AWD can be outfitted with a sunroof. A spacious interior stands out for owners, who complain about fuel economy in the low teens.

Extra power from a 200-hp 3.5-liter V6 engine helps confidently propel the AWD system in the 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS 3.5L AWD, the base model of the compact SUV. Accompanied by a limited slip center differential, but without low-range gearing, the five-person SUV is best suited for paved roads in tricky weather conditions, rather than off-road adventure. A 5-speed auto tran with a manual mode is the only transmission. Five-star crash ratings are thanks to dual front and front-side airbags, 16-inch alloy wheels with all-season tires, 4-wheel ABS brakes, and traction control. Foglights and a new auto-dimming rearview mirror are also standard.

Passenger comfort is not neglected. Full power features, a CD player, folding and reclining rear seats (that expand 30 cubic feet of cargo space to 78 cubic feet), leather trim, intermittent front and rear wipers, wheel-mounted cruise control, a tachometer, and a security system are all standard. A first aid kit comes in handy, and the cargo area comes with secure features such as tie-downs and a net. A roof rack is included, and a trailer hitch can be added. Other options are a sunroof and wood interior accents. Owners of the 2006 Santa Fe GLS 3.5L AWD like the roominess, style, and standard features, but wish for better gas mileage (17/23 mpg) and a more powerful engine.

The 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited is the high-end version of the front-wheel drive compact/mid-sized SUV. It replaces last year's LX trim and is available in a monochrome black color without the two-tone body cladding. The 2006 Santa Fe Limited is powered by a 3.5-liter, 200-hp V6 with 219 lb-ft of torque and a 5-speed shiftable auto tran. It sits on a fully independent suspension and features 4-wheel disc and ABS brakes, traction control, 16-inch wheels with all-season tires, foglights, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and automatic headlights. Dual front and front-side airbags earn 5-star crash ratings.

Heated leather seats stand out in the five-person SUV, and other non-GLS features found standard in the Limited are a power driver's seat, a 6-CD changer, keyless entry, a trip computer, compass and temperature display, automatic climate control, and a universal remote. This is in addition to full power features, cruise control, a security system, and front and rear intermittent wipers. Expandable to 78 cubic feet with the rear seats down, the cargo area comes with tie-downs, a net, and a cover, and is supplemented by a standard roof rack and optional trailer hitch. A sunroof and wood trim are other options. Drivers like all the standard features for an affordable price, the roomy interior, and the handling of the 2006 Santa Fe Limited. Gas mileage, at 17/23 mpg, is the biggest complaint.

Luxury, comfort, and AWD performance meet up in the 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited AWD, a replacement for last year's LX. The compact SUV seats five in two rows, with a cargo area that holds from 30-78 cubic feet of storage, which can be secured with tie-downs, a net, and a cover. A roof rack is standard, and a trailer hitch for towing 3000 pounds is standard. Towing power comes with a 3.5-liter, 200-hp V6 and 5-speed shiftable auto tran. The AWD features a limited slip center differential. Other standard equipment includes 16-inch wheels, traction control, 4-wheel ABS, automatic headlights, foglights, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. Dual front and front-side airbags earn five stars in crash tests.

Upgrading from the GLS, the LX offers a power driver's seat, heated leather seats, automatic climate control, a 6-CD changer, a compass and temperature readout, and a trip computer. Cupholders, power outlets, a first aid kit, and storage compartments abound, and both rows recline for passenger comfort. Intermittent front and rear wipers, a security system, tilt steering, and wheel-mounted cruise control are also included. The major add-on is a power sunroof, but you can also get wood interior trim in addition to the standard leather trim. Style, comfort, room, car-like handling, and the standard features at an affordable price please owners of the 2006 Santa Fe Limited AWD, but they hate the poor fuel economy.