http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Drives/Search-Results/First-drives/Hyundai-Santa-Fe-22-CRDI-2013-CAR-review/

 

Top of the range, 194 horses, seven seats with every toy you can imagine...  and probably with the same discount once you go to the brokers.

 

I know it is not quite the same in terms of quality or such a good driver's car as the Yeti, but heck this is a gorgeous car and a LOT of car for the money.

 

(And yes I know I have posted this before but this is a new test).

I like these a lot. Huge amounts of room and very comfortable, but a bit bigger than I'd need and not so hot on fuel.

But it's  SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO    BIG!!!!!

I like these a lot. Huge amounts of room and very comfortable, but a bit bigger than I'd need and not so hot on fuel.

 

True on all that...  but amazing that a full size SUV from the class above the Tiguan  (it is nearly ML Mercedes sized) can cost the same as a baby crossover like the Yeti that is (officially) in the Juke class! AND to top it all it is not as crude inside or out as a cheap as chips Duster. I can't think of any car which gives you better value for money than this Hyundai. Had it been ugly I'd be indifferent but heck I love how it looks too.

£30k for a yeti? I bet you'll have more chance seeing a real yeti roaming the streets!  :]

£30k for a yeti? I bet you'll have more chance seeing a real yeti roaming the streets!  :]

 

Bless...  you've obviously not specced an L&K Yeti with a just a tiny few needed options yet.  Very easy to break to the £30,000 barrier... and that is before you've even done a 170 DSG which you can't get currently...

£30k for a yeti? I bet you'll have more chance seeing a real yeti roaming the streets!  :]

 

Start with a diesel 4WD Elegance or L&K and it's not that hard at all to hit £30k with a few options.

Start with a diesel 4WD Elegance or L&K and it's not that hard at all to hit £30k with a few options.

Best compare a Yeti Elegance 170 manual with the top of the range ix35 which is more Yeti territory (Premium Pana sunroof 2.0 4WD list price £26.1K, or auto £27.4K - albeit the latter has tragic CO2 figures)...

 

PS: The Manual Santa Fe SE Premium is £32.9K for the not-recommended manual... per the Hyundai website... so still a margin above the L&K Yeti. The fact that a mid range Santa Fe overlaps with a top end Yeti is hardly surprising surely?

But actually it's not all about money is it. I went to my Skoda dealer to buy an Octavia estate, good reviews, taxi drivers love them (always worth seeing keeping an eye on what they drive) and cracking prices because they were on a "VAT free" promotion or something - it was as they were running the Mark II's out. Had a test drive and it was OK, actually better than OK and it did everything I wanted. Then out of curiosity (I didn't want a "4x4" and was sooooo naive at that stage) took out a Yeti and I'd barely left the forecourt and the Octavia was forgotten, good value though it was. My Yeti cost me probably an extra £4-5k over what I would have paid for the Octavia but every time I drive it I know it was the right decision.

 

And anyway, if I'd gone down the Octavia route I wouldn't have got all the help and advice from the nice people on this Yeti Forum would I? (OK. that's creeping but you never know when you might need something!).

I don't particularly like the look of the santa-the quality and value of the Hyundai is now admirable but the style I still find a bit Korean for my taste. But it isn't in the same market as the Yeti. There are many other large vehicles which might suit others and seem to suit you. If I wanted a large vehicle I might consider one but its just not the type of thing I'm looking for. I might hit more clay pigeons with a bofors gun but my Miroku ovwer and under 12 bore is my choice. 

I wouldn't have a Santa-even if it were cheaper than my 23k L&K.

But I don't have an MDF and fibreglass palace to transport

Don't forget to consider depreciation when making these comparisons. History would suggest that the Yeti will hold value better than any Hyundai.

If you're spending £30k on a yeti, surely you'd consider the Tiguan?

Day

Johann, gorgeous? Give over, surely it's just a generic SUV designed to look like a big cheap toy to excite the masses who don't need a 4x4 except to park outside the school gates and cannot afford a German one with a Star or propeller badge.

Maybe, but I'd guess that like for like with the same options, the Tiguan would cost more than the yeti.

I wouldn't chuck money at a VW badge just for the sake of it.

I don't particularly like the look of the santa-the quality and value of the Hyundai is now admirable but the style I still find a bit Korean for my taste.

 

+1

Edited 23 October, 201312 yr by Hirundo

It pains me to say it, but I've driven a lot of newer Hyundai's and in a lot of ways, I'd rate them more highly than anything VAG has to offer.

 

When I was tradeplating about 3 years ago, we had a debate "Would you have a 3 year old Golf, or a brand new [now old shape] i30?", and it was a close run one. Now if I had to choose between a new Golf and a new, current model, i30, I'd go with the i30.

 

Of a very similar vein, I showed a Ford-loving mate the new Kia Pro'ceed GT in orange, from a side view, and his first words were "the next Focus ST looks so much better than the current one".