Vehicle Details: Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
The Hyundai Santa Fe has earned no shortage of awards from industry authorities for safety, resale values, appeal and overall value, though the most recent award given to Hyundai’s hot-selling crossover recognizes it for a truly unique set of attributes. The 2016 Santa Fe Sport was honored earlier this year as a BEST 5 All-Around Performance from Automotive Science Group (ASG) for achieving the highest combined social, environmental and economic performance scores.
Where most awards in the automotive industry focus on things like driving dynamics, resale values, safety and owner satisfaction, the ASG award focuses on several key big-picture attributes that extend beyond the vehicle itself.
“ASG recognizes Hyundai’s continued leadership on corporate social responsibility, producing vehicles that consumers can be proud to own,” said Colby Self, managing director of ASG. “The top-rated 2016 Santa Fe is one such example that leads in a hypercompetitive market segment by delivering noteworthy all-around performance that strikes an intelligent balance between environmental, social and economic performance considerations.”
The Santa Fe Sport’s award comes after evaluation of a group of 104 midsize SUVs. ASG rated 2016-model-year vehicles available in the North American market by performing data-driven automobile assessments based on thousands of algorithmic calculations and data points to determine the award winners. ASG uses its proprietary Automotive Performance Index, which is a combination of conventional specifications, along with environmental, economic and social performance indicators. The gist? As shoppers shift their attention to big-picture considerations, including recyclability, emissions, country of origin, environmental impact and more, this highly relevant award recognizes models that stand out in the industry.
“We are proud the Santa Fe Sport is recognized by the Automotive Science Group as a market segment leader by setting new standards,” said Brandon Ramirez, senior group manager, product planning, Hyundai Motor America. “As the crossover segment continues to break record sales, Hyundai is well positioned to meet the expectations of these shoppers by delivering crossovers with exceptional quality, value and technology.”
With an updated model-year 2017 Santa Fe hitting dealer lots soon, and the recent award from ASG, there has never been a better time to check out one of the market’s undisputed crossover value leaders. Key among the enhancements for 2017 are revised LED lighting signatures, updated infotainment and connectivity systems, added safety technologies, and a new Drive Mode selector system, which allows Santa Fe drivers to tailor vehicle characteristics to their mood and tastes, in real time.
With models spanning multiple levels, numerous powertrain options, and pricing from well under $30,000 with all modern-day crossover must-haves, the Santa Fe Sport lineup amounts to a compelling value in any version — from the standard model up to the luxurious and potent turbocharged 2.0T Ultimate.
Further, all models ride on a high-strength, crash-optimized body structure, and pack a full array of the latest driver assist systems, which contribute to the Santa Fe’s consistently excellent industry safety scores.