There's no doubting that it is a good looking, well-built seven-seat SUV, which can rival the likes of the Honda CR-V and the Mazda CX-5.The upmarket family car also provides first-class comfort, comes with a powerful engine and has plenty of cutting-edge technology to ensure it excels on every surface.The option of five or seven-seat layouts also gives it a practical edge.Unlike most models on the market today, the Santa Fe is only available in one drivetrain across the whole range - a 194bhp 2.2 CRDi diesel mated to a four-wheel-drive transmission.This means the only choice you have to make is whether to go for a manual or automatic gearbox. The one I drove came with the latter, and I was very impressed.Hyundai say they challenged their designers to create an exterior to the Santa Fe that hints at the capabilities within, and I think they have more than achieved it with the striking hexagonal grille combined with sleek, compact headlights and LED daytime running lights.The sophisticated rear end features distinctive twin tailpipes. Sleek is the word I would use to describe the look of the Santa Fe. Yes, it's a big SUV with presence, but it's more dynamic than bulky.Sitting inside the car the two feelings that first struck me was space and luxury. A panoramic sunroof on the model I drove helped to flood the cabin with natural light. You can really tell that special attention has been given to the interior detail, with each surface carrying the hallmark of quality and care.Heated front seats come as standard on the Santa Fe - ideal for the cold winter months - and, despite having all the gadgets you can possibly think of, they are laid out in such a way that the dashboard is clean and clutter-free, meaning the higher than usual driving position is a great place to be.Available in three trim-levels, the Santa Fe comes well-specced. The top-of-the-range Premium SE model I drove came with 19-inch alloys and an easy-to-use touchscreen sat-nav system that guided me to my destination with the minimum amount of fuss.There's plenty of other clever technology too - everything from keyless entry to switching the engine on with a simple stop/start button and parking sensors and a rear-view camera make the Santa Fe an easy SUV to drive, despite its size.It's ok to have all of the interior space, but if it's not cleverly designed and very flexible then there's not a lot of point. That's certainly not the case with the Santa Fe, and practicality is something it excels in.When it comes to the seating arrangements there's no strict set-up. Instead, it's down to you to make all the adjustments you like.On the seven-seat model I drove the second row seats cleverly slide and recline, while the third row of seats can fold flat into the boot floor. Rear air-conditioning is also available on seven-seat models.A luggage net and hooks help you keep everything secure – ideal when you're packing for a family holiday.It's great car to drive, and I was surprised how quick it was when I first drove it – 0-60mph is achieved in a respectable 10 seconds. The automatic gearbox is as smooth as anything I've driven, and it's solid when cornering.The steering was also light for such a big car, particularly on country roads, and overall I could have no complaints about the way the Santa Fe drove at all.It particularly came into its own on several snowy mornings that we had during the week that I was testing it. Fitted with Torque on Demand four-wheel-drive, the Santa Fe cleverly directs power to all four wheels when adverse conditions require it, meaning I had more than enough grip to stick like glue to the slippery roads.You can also set the steering setting modes to the conditions and environment you're in thanks to Flex Steer, which has three modes: comfort, normal and sport.Running costs aren't too bad either, and I comfortably managed to average around 35mpg on my daily commute to and from work.The Santa Fe comes with a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating and, like all Hyundai passenger cars, comes with a five-year unlimited mileage warranty, which includes five years of roadside assistance and five years of annual vehicle health checks.The Hyundai Santa Fe costs just under £28,000 OTR, with the seven-seater Premium SE model I drove costing £35,430. This was increased to just over £36,000 with the addition of metallic Sleek Silver paint.
