Crash Test Rating
Source   NHTSA
MPG (up to)
17 City / 23 HWY
Horsepower
200
Seats
5
Front angle medium view.

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle Nicole B
Hyundai, it is your machine.
The Hyundai Santa Fe is roomy and comfortable, offers great features like heated seats, sunroof, and six CD changer. It handles really well in the snow, and in the mountains where I live. I have had mine for almost four years now, and it is been a very reliable vehicle. Good on gas. In general, I have no complaints about this vehicle.
accountCircle paul k
It is the best year for a santa fe!! Great mid size truck!
I needed a second vech. Due to certain circumstance.After much recherche I decided on the 2006 hyundai santa fe, as that model year ALL the issued had been addressed by the mfg. Well, I guess they were Correct. This has been a WONDERFUL truck! A few minor issues,as which you get with ANY used car,but that is it! NO Major/costly issues at all. My BRAND NEW car that I leased had WAY.. More Issues than this has had.!
accountCircle Leslie K
It is a dependable and comfortable vehicle.
The only problem with my vehicle is the sun visor, it blocks vision if pulled all the way down and not enough coverage to the left of the left visor as well as the right visor to the right.
accountCircle RTD T
The sleek performance is none to other, very efficient and effectively.
The vehicle has all it takes to perform. A very good mechanism making rounds most of the time.
accountCircle Ed D
Dependable and stability season in season out.
I like the vehicle though it gulps more gas. There has never been an issue of disappointment and stands out. The maintenance is peasy easy.
accountCircle Michelina P
It runs smoothly and looks great all the time. It always has a great smooth ride and takes me where I want to go.
I've never had any issues since I bought this SUV. It runs smoothly and everyone enjoys the ride. It saves on fuel efficiency. I can't think of anything I dislike about it since I bought it.
accountCircle Lucas L
The Hyundai Santa Fe is much longer lasting than most cars.
My vehicle is reliable and has lasted for a long time. There are no problems other than the amount of gas that is required by such a large vehicle. It is very comfortable and drives really well, especially for a vehicle of this age. I have no complaints about the performance.
accountCircle judy c
My Santa Fe: Best vehicle I have ever owned
No problems. Very smooth and comfortable ride. Spacious with plenty of leg room front and back also room for storage. Good gas mileage

Negative Owner Reviews

accountCircle Barbara V
Hyundai Santa Fe, great vehicle.
Been a good vehicle, only mine problems and wear and tear. Had to replace a/c unit, and alternator but have had it now for over 6 yrs. And it has been very reliable. Great for carrying my kayaks and equipment. Rides nice, handles well, plenty of headroom,
accountCircle Richard B
Big and bold. Great on the roads and freeway.
Performs great. Nice power. It performs great and is very comfortable. I wish it had better seats for the long rides. Good on gas in the city and on the freeway. I would buy another car just like it. I highly recommend this vehicle to anyone. I really like the color also which is black.
accountCircle Cindy L
Good day to day vehicle for a small family.
No air conditioning. Brakes make noise. My check engine light is on. My tics light is on. It drives pretty well on the snow. It has just enough room for me at 5'1" and my two girls. My fiancé doesn't fit to well on the car. It's a little small for him. My power steering pump went out. Other then that i haven't had any major problems with the car.
accountCircle Carry M
It is a dependable vehicle and gets me from a to be. It has problems with the air conditioning and brakes.
They should know that is Korean so it is hard to find some parts sometimes.
accountCircle Candice P
2006 Hyundai Santa Fe what we have got after buying.
The Hyundai has given us tons of trouble. After having it for a two months we had to put a new alternator. I know its use but we kept having to spend money on it. We also had to replace all tires the cruise control doesn't work and now the ac went out. So it gets me around but we have had nothing but problems with it.
accountCircle Jessica N
It's very roomy, great if you have giants for children like I do.
I like the car itself. It's a good go-getter. However, it's not that great on gas. There was also a recall on the tanks and I do not think the problem was fixed properly.
accountCircle Kayleigh M
The car is a great reliable vehicle. I use it as a family car and it has stood the tests of a five year old. It is not the fastest or the nicest but it gets the job done.
Comfortable for driving short and long distances. Has been great on road trips as well as a daily driver.

Hyundai Santa Fe Models

Models also known as Trim Levels, are used to identify a vehicle's level of equipment or special features.

car
GLS
200 HP 20-20 MPG 5 Seats
car
Limited
200 HP 20-20 MPG 5 Seats
Photos may not match model

2006 Hyundai Santa Fe Owner Reviews

4.39
69 Reviews
close Write Review
5 stars 49%
4 stars 41%
3 stars 10%
2 stars 0%
1 star 0%
accountCircle Cindy L on March 31, 2021
Good day to day vehicle for a small family.
No air conditioning. Brakes make noise. My check engine light is on. My tics light is on. It drives pretty well on the snow. It has just enough room for me at 5'1" and my two girls. My fiancé doesn't fit to well on the car. It's a little small for him. My power steering pump went out. Other then that i haven't had any major problems with the car.
accountCircle Anna B on February 28, 2021
Drives great, good compact suv, plenty of storage space.
Drives great in the snow. Good safety feature. Reliable and efficient.

Pros from Owners

likeFilled Linda W.

100,000 Mile or 10 year warranty on transmission. Great color options. Roomy interior/ comfortable ride. Clean body. Fold down seats to expand trunk. Exterior/ roomy trunk/ good gas mileage. Good lighting.

likeFilled Danielle T.

It has all wheel drive, so definitely safe. Because it is an SUV, there's plenty of room and storage. It has a sunroof. It is pretty reliable and has not had any major mechanical issues. There is a roof rack.

likeFilled Makayla A.

These cars have a nice size to them! Very nice build and drive nice! My car is a little older so it has minor problems but still a very nice car! I love the size of it! Very safe cars! I would recommend these cars for a teenager first driving.

likeFilled Michael C.

It is very comfortable and spacious, and has appeal because it is a crossover. The seats have enough room to fit 5 large people and the windows are not small and restricting. I would definitely recommend this vehicle.

likeFilled Sandra R.

It has great pickup and roomy inside with high seating. And leather seats that are also heated seats. It also has a sunroof and tinted windows. Has lots of storage room when the seat backs are down. Also has a rear plug and a special seat belt for children's car seats.

likeFilled Michelina P.

It has a very smooth ride and never any difficulties with mechanical issues. The interior is superb and the mileage is great. There is sufficient room for cargo and many passengers also. It does not take a lot of fuel so it is energy efficient and saves a lot of money.

Cons from Owners

dislikeFilled Linda W.

Would prefer better dashboard lighting/ would need to update to have back up view on dashboard. The console area could have more. Cup options and the glove compartment could be larger. Perhaps offer leather interior. Stereo speaker in rear.

dislikeFilled Danielle T.

The gas mileage is not the best, only 18.8 Miles a gallon. If something does go wrong, it is kind of hard to get parts for it because it is a LIMITED trim level. If repairs are needed, the labor can get expensive because it is a LIMITED trim.

dislikeFilled Makayla A.

Can give some problems here and there. The steering wheel does not have access to the radio. The seats do not go back far enough. No sunroof. Other than that they are pretty nice cars! I bought my car from someone so it is definitely used a little.

dislikeFilled Michael C.

While It is spacious, it does not have an exorbitant amount of power behind the throttle when the vehicle is packed full of groceries and people. Thoughts on a solo trip, or with the dogs it is comfortable, a journey to snow capped mountains would be time a formidable trip.

dislikeFilled Sandra R.

Gas mileage is not very good. The ride can be a bit bumpy. The gas pedal is very sensitive. Because of its age, it does not have Bluetooth or Wi-Fi but you can install a camera and touch screen in the dash to update it. Does not have an aux input either.

dislikeFilled Michelina P.

I really cannot say anything against this vehicle. It could pick up speed faster when stopped at a red light, however I never see any issues with anything at all. It could possibly have more cargo space for long hauls on trips with the family vacations.

Ranks #6 Midsize SUV by Owners

The 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe has an average owner rating of 4.39 out of 5 which ranks it #6 of 18 other Midsize SUVs.

1
car
4.74
2
car
4.68
6
car
4.39

Ranks #3 Midsize SUV by Fuel Economy

The 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe has a combined MPG of 24 which ranks it #3 of 18 other Midsize SUVs.

1
car
26 MPG
2
Tie
car
24 MPG
2
Tie
car
24 MPG
3
Tie
car
23 MPG

Is The 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe A Good Car?

Yes. Extremely reliable. It is a 2006. I purchased it used in 2010. Major brake job in 2014. Usual maintenance done on regular intervals. Would buy another Hyundai without reservation. I have used it... Read More
Dolores D.
Yes it is but it needed a lot of spendy repairs this summer. The alternator, water pump, struts all needed to be replaced and cost over $3k.
Chris G.
Yes. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING IT FOR 13 YEARS AND I still love having it as my primary vehicle. It rocks!
Raven D.
Very good vehicle. Drives well and spacious I really don't think I should be forced to express more than I care to
Max S.

How Reliable Is The 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe?

I have listed the problems on the previous page. Paint has not held up in the florida sun. Could use a paint job, because I plan to keep the car. I am 73 and this has to last. I have not had a... Read More
Dolores D.
My Santa Fe burns oil so it needs more attention than I wish on a weekly basis. I hate having to check my oil every time I fill up my tank!
Chris G.
Nope. I have had no major problems in almost fourteen years. The SUV is still good as gold and still in good shape.
Jessica B.
Very reliable I have not had any concerns and have taken some very long trips. The family was always comfortable
Kristen H.

Is The 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe A Good Value?

I bought it used for $16,000 in 2010. It was a $34,000 SUV in 2006. I think it is an excellent value.
Dolores D.
I purchased my Santa Fe used, it cost me $6,000 when I purchased it in 2017. It seemed like a reasonable cost at the time.
Chris G.

Related Articles for 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe

From the Vehicle History blog

car
Hyundai Santa Fe Reliability: How Long Will it Last?

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe transmission fluid type?

Answer: The 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe transmission fluid type is Dexron ViATF. The transmission fluid needs to be replaced every 30,000 to 60,000 miles. Along with fluid changes, terrible sounds will come from the...

What are some of the 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe power steering problems?

Answer: Some of the 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe power steering problems are power steering pump failure and power steering fluid leaks. When it's starting to die, the power steering pump usually will make a whining or...

2006 Hyundai Santa Fe: What is the oil type and capacity?

Answer: The 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe useS4.8 quarts of oil with the 2.7L V6 engine, or 4.5 quarts with the 3.5L V6 engine. For both engines You should use SAE 5W-20, and Hyundai recommends using fully synthetic oil when...

Answers are provided by third parties. We do not guarantee accuracy of responses

Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Logo
NHTSA Crash Test

Overall

Front

Rollover

Side

*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
IIHS Logo
IIHS Crash Test

Moderate Overlap Front

Side

Roof Strength

Not Rated

Driver-side Overlap Front

Not Rated
*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety