2001 Hyundai Santa Fe

Hyundai Santa Fe

Santa Fe is one of those names you hear less often in Joburg traffic, but for families who don’t want to follow the Fortuner herd, it’s worth a closer look. Hyundai’s offering slots in neatly where you’d expect: seven seats, all-wheel drive, and a badge you can trust—without lurching into Prado territory on price. Right now, forget about ordering new: this is a used-only reality, and the local classifieds paint a picture that’s all over the map. I found just four examples, priced from R79,500 to R279,500, with most hovering around the R217,700 mark. That’s a wide gulf, but it tracks with the age gap in stock. Petrol and diesel options, automatics across the board, and all the variety you’d expect from a model that’s been around for over two decades. Zoom in and you’ll spot everything from a 2001 2.7 petrol auto at R79,500—basic, but honest—all the way to a late-model R2.2 diesel Elite AWD 7S at R279,500, which brings the full suite of toys. There’s also a five-seat Elite auto at R249,900 if you pack smart and don’t need the extra pair of seats. Mileage averages out at 175,501 km, and while that’s not low, it’s par for the course with these family haulers. What I’ve always liked about the Santa Fe, especially compared to a Fortuner, is how much more car-like it feels—both on the freeway to Durban and crawling in Sandton school runs. The R2.2 diesel in later models is quiet and doesn’t drink like a rugby team, which matters, because a Fortuner diesel at this age will cost you more for less spec. On paper at least, the Santa Fe has always offered more kit for your rand, and that’s the point.