On a long and winding 150-mile drive between Santa Barbara and Orange County, Calif., the Santa Fe easily navigated a variety of roads, surfaces, and conditions. Through it all, the SUV rarely lost composure, responding promptly to input from the driver, absorbing road irregularities and navigating corners capably though the P235/60R18 tires registered their complaint when pushed hard through turns and body roll was moderate. Changing lanes, parking, and maneuvering through Southern California’s traffic snarls took little effort; the Santa Fe’s turning radius is very tight and visibility, thanks to the large rear doors and big windows, is excellent. Braking was firm and responsive, with just a touch of awkward pedal play.
