Hyundai is celebrating a major milestone as they sell the one millionth Santa Fe SUV in the United States. Achieving that number for a high volume car maker like Hyundai is not a big deal. But still, it is a feather in the Santa Fe’s cap and shows how popular it is.
Introduced in 2000 and named after the capital of the U.S. state of New Mexico, the Santa Fe instantly hit it off with the customers. It was the Korean car maker’s first SUV, and at the time it didn’t really have many competition because the crossover segment virtually did not exist. The Santa offered distinctive design, great equipment, and decent quality for its price backed with the Korean’s monster warranty.
Now 13 years on, the Santa Fe has established itself as one of the major players in this popular and busy segment. The current version of the car is hugely sophisticated, offering two wheelbases – either two-row, five-passenger, or long wheelbase three-row, six/seven passenger – a lineup of great powertrains, four-wheel-drive, and as usual, a long list of features and equipment for a reasonable price.
The Santa Fe is also an important car in America because it is produced locally in West Point, Georgia, and previously in Montgomery, Alabama.