The 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe is the company's entry level midsized crossover. Its market competitors are the Ford Edge, Toyota Highlander, Honda Pilot and the Mazda CX-7 to name a few. It comes with your choice between 2 engines: a 2.7L 185hp 183 lb-ft V6 mated to a 5-speed manual transmission (4-speed auto optional) and a bolder 3.3L 242hp 226 lb-ft V6 that is joined to a 5-speed automatic exclusively. The smaller engine is said to lack gumption, especially on upslopes. However, the 3.3L provides ample power and acceleration to stand up to all competitors.

The 2009 Santa Fe comes stock as a front wheel driven vehicle. You can opt for an all-wheel-drive setup as well. There are 3 trims available: the base GLS, the SE and the Limited. While the GLS seats only 5 passengers, the SE and the Limited come with a removable third seating row to accommodate up to 7 passengers in comfort. The SE and Limited models have towing capacities of 3500 pounds. Concerning fuel economy, the 2.7L engine models deliver 17/24 mpg city/highway with front wheel drive and the 5-speed manual transmission while the 3.3L models will take you17/24 mpg city/highway regardless of drivetrain setup.

The strong points for the 2009 Santa Fe are its value presented along with its high-quality interior and comfort standards. It's fairly spacious as well. 34.2 cubic feet of storage space is located behind the second seating row. That turns into 78.2 cubic feet if you fold down the seats. That's a little more than the RAV4, but a little less than the Highlander. The weaknesses about the Santa Fe by Hyundai are found in its lacking engine gumption (2.7L models) and the fact that is not capable of off-road performance. It is also loose in cornering.

An enhanced audio system is another feature that makes the Hyundai Santa Fe an attractive value. For 2009, USB/iPod connectivity jacks have been added. Also, the SE Touring Package features a powered driver's seat and the HomeLink transmitter as a theft deterrent. The Limited and SE models also feature cross rails on the roof and a Trailer-Prep Package.

MSRPs for the Santa Fe fall considerably below the competition, especially for the base model GLS. Even when considering the weak 2.7L engine, it presents excellent value starting at just $22,000. Features like standard electronic stability, ABS braking, AC, keyless entry and power windows make shoppers take notice. Add on another $3000 or so and get that more powerful 3.3L engine, 18-inch wheels, heated mirrors and more. A fully loaded Santa Fe with powered sunroof, 10-speaker audio, HomeLink transmitter and all other goodies will still cost less than $30,000. Coincidentally, the AWD option will run about $2000.

The NHTSA awarded the Hyundai Santa Fe for 2009 with a 4-star frontal crash test rating. It has also been named as an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety "Top Pick". Front, front-side and curtain airbags are all standard.

Overall, the 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe is a solid choice for your new midsized crossover. It is recommended to fork out the extra 3 grand and get the 3.3L engine if you want to have any fun at all. Given that, the Santa Fe offers many features that the competitors do not without considerably more expense.