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Hyundai Santa Fe vs Toyota RAV4 vs Mazda CX-7 vs Ford Edge

811 messages,  Last post on Sep 15, 2008 at 10:40 AM

You are in the Hyundai Santa Fe Forum.

What is this discussion about? Hyundai Santa Fe, Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX-7, Ford Edge, Honda CR-V, SUV

Messages Page 3 of 81

#21 of 811 I own 2004 Santa Fe LX 3.5L 4WD and CX-7 GT 4WD W/Tech by vbbuilt

Jul 20, 2006 (10:38 am)

6'4" here. RE MPG, both are gas guzzlers. Interior Room: a wash, I fit in both.
 
Interior accommodations and quality: Compared to the CX7, the Santa Fe is primitive. Hyundai doesn't offer Nav nor does it offer Satellite radio. Hyundai does not offer premium audio like CX-7 offers. Security features on Santa Fe are minimal compared to CX7. Leather seating in Hyundai is inferior quality compared to CX7. Also, Sante Fe design is very dated (at least 5 years). Accelleration seemed to be the same in both.
 
Granted comparing a 2004 with a 2007 is somewhat like comparing apples and oranges, but I've looked at the current Santa Fe and walked away wondering why Hyundai is stuck 1st gear. CX7 is far superior.
 
Vince.

#22 of 811 Re: I own 2004 Santa Fe LX 3.5L 4WD and CX-7 GT 4WD W/Tech [vbbuilt] by wolverinejoe80

Jul 21, 2006 (12:31 pm)

Replying to: vbbuilt (Jul 20, 2006 10:38 am)
strange. i thought CX7 was just another bad CUV. santa fe looks better IMO, and so far every mag i've read was high on santa fe, and wasn't too big on cx7. well mags aren't always right though.
 
anyway, i had a chance to drive cx7 when my GF was shopping for mazda 3 or civic. i was never a fan of mazda except mazda 3 and miata. i don't like mpv, i hate rx-8, and 6 is so-so.
 
anyway cx7 looks boring compared to what i've seen on pics. when it first came out on pics, i thought it looked great, but in person, it turned me down. i don't like the cheap looking altezza tail either, and the there is an awkwardness in the side profile. front looks good in an aggressive way, but lacked detail IMO.
 
    i don't remember in every details of my brief test drive couple of months ago, but i remember i wasn't impressed at all. maybe too sporty for my taste? the experience was kinda like what i had with mazda 6.
 
i haven't test drive a santa fe yet. i wanted to but my dealer only has 2.7
 
i would spend few grand more to get a murano over outrageously expensive cx7. maybe that was one of the biggest reason it turned me off. santa goes over 30k too, but i'm sure you can get an awesome deals on santa later.

#23 of 811 Re: CX 7 Looks great but requires Premium Unleaded? [guyf] by edwardsf

Jul 31, 2006 (3:21 pm)

Replying to: guyf (Jun 18, 2006 12:46 pm)
On gas mileage, there seems to be quite a difference between the RAV4 and the CX-7. The 6 cylinder RAV 4 gets 21/28. The CX-7 (and the Sante Fe) get 18/24 on premium. (Using regular when the specs call for premium is not smart). While this difference seems small, it is indeed substantial over time. If one drives 15,000 miles per year, driving 50% city/50 highway, I came up with a difference of about $600/year. You keep the car 5 years and that comes to $3000. This will be true if, IF, the Chinese stop increasing their demand for oil and the U.S. government does nothing to stop climate change and the price of gas remains the same. Of course those things will not happen and the price will continue to rise, meaning the difference could be around $4000 and a big difference in emissions.

#24 of 811 Re: mazda cx7 [syadasti] by jimd4

Jul 31, 2006 (4:05 pm)

Replying to: syadasti (Apr 24, 2006 5:13 pm)
Read some other stuff and sites. RAV4 I4 is like 28 hwy for lots of people. V6 is like 26++. Easy to get 16MPG in RAV4 v6. It is a blast to drive. Leave the CX7 in the dust..

#25 of 811 Bought the CX-7 - WOW! by almcg2

Jul 31, 2006 (11:30 pm)

I've been shopping for 6 or 7 months now, for my next car. Until yesterday I drove a 98 Volvo S70. I'm 56 and felt it was time for a more interesting ride. I'm a real active guy, karate teacher, weight lifter, kick boxing instructor, high school teacher, track coach, back packer etc.... and felt the S70 was comfy, nice to look at, but boring. So I narrowed the field to the Murano and CX-7. The Murano had lots of room, but sort of felt heavy. Love the exterior looks, but the interior was sort of boring. I also drove an FX35 and a Caddy SRX. Looked at all the GM products as well as the Fords, Honda, Toyota, Lexus and Chrysler Pacifica. Nothing caught my eye or emotions. I also didn't want a nuclear blast to my finances....But... I wanted a new car, that looked cool and felt cool. I also wanted a little more room than a sedan. Then I saw the CX-7. I LOVED what I saw. A great look. I waited for a test drive for a few months and finally had my chance last month. WOW!!! I was sold. Went to a Mazda dealership yesterday that had the color and options I wanted, and 1 1/2 hours later, I drove out with my new Red Copper Mica GT CX-7. Sand, leather interior and Tech package. I love it!!!!!! I make enough money not to care about the extra hundred or two a year the gas might cost me. This is one hell of a crossover SUV. All the room I need. I have two kids, 13 and 17, and they love the back seats. Handling is fantastic as is the performance. Very exciting engine. Feels like a 6, not a 4. The Turbo is cool as hell. It's only the second CX-7 I've seen on the road in my area, so I finally have a car that you don't see every 30 seconds. LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT!!!!

#26 of 811 Re: Bought the CX-7 - WOW! [almcg2] by vbbuilt

Aug 01, 2006 (5:17 am)

Replying to: almcg2 (Jul 31, 2006 11:30 pm)
Damn, feel the energy...congrats!
 
Vince.

#27 of 811 Re: I own 2004 Santa Fe LX 3.5L 4WD and CX-7 GT 4WD W/Tech [wolverinejoe80] by wjbushsr

Aug 01, 2006 (4:33 pm)

Replying to: wolverinejoe80 (Jul 21, 2006 12:31 pm)
i would spend few grand more to get a murano over outrageously expensive cx7
 
This guy can't be serious! where is the CX-7 "outrageously expensive"?!?!?!?
If you compare the cars side by side, amenity to amenity, you'll see the CX-7 comes out way ahead on the bang for buck scale. There is a debate on which car you like, which is fine,we all have our own opinions, but qualify your remarks with something other than "i don't remember in every details of my brief test drive couple of months ago"...

#28 of 811 Re: CX 7 Looks great but requires Premium Unleaded? [edwardsf] by mike_belknap

Aug 01, 2006 (9:11 pm)

Replying to: edwardsf (Jul 31, 2006 3:21 pm)
"The CX-7 (and the Sante Fe) get 18/24 on premium."
 
Just as an aside, the 3.3-liter Santa Fe gets 19 mpg in the city and requires only regular (87-octane) unleaded gasoline.
 
Mike

#29 of 811 Re: I own 2004 Santa Fe LX 3.5L 4WD and CX-7 GT 4WD W/Tech [vbbuilt] by mike_belknap

Aug 01, 2006 (9:39 pm)

Replying to: vbbuilt (Jul 20, 2006 10:38 am)
"Interior accommodations and quality: Compared to the CX7, the Santa Fe is primitive. Hyundai doesn't offer Nav nor does it offer Satellite radio. Hyundai does not offer premium audio like CX-7 offers. Security features on Santa Fe are minimal compared to CX7. Leather seating in Hyundai is inferior quality compared to CX7. Also, Sante Fe design is very dated (at least 5 years). Accelleration seemed to be the same in both.
  
Granted comparing a 2004 with a 2007 is somewhat like comparing apples and oranges, but I've looked at the current Santa Fe and walked away wondering why Hyundai is stuck 1st gear. CX7 is far superior."
 
Just a few things to note: the '07 Santa Fe (as indicated by the thread title) is a completely different, far superior vehicle to the last generation models that you and I drive. Fit & finish is much improved, and I think you'll find the new interior, while very different in appearance, to be constructed of materials that are at least as good as the Mazda.
 
I'm not really sure what you meant by "security features," but if you're referring to safety devices, the Santa Fe meets or beats the CX-7 on all of those fronts as well, even offering standard active front-seat head restraints that are unavailable on the Mazda.
 
As to the availability of satellite radio and a navigation system, the former will be standard later this year (XM) and the latter will be offered sometime next. A ten-speaker Infinity ® logic 7 surround sound system is available on the Limited trim; it includes a subwoofer and 605-watt external amplifier. Also note that the Hyundai's DVD entertainment system is currently available, whereas it is not on the Mazda. Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity will be offered this fall.
 
Mike

#30 of 811 Re: I own 2004 Santa Fe LX 3.5L 4WD and CX-7 GT 4WD W/Tech [mike_belknap] by wjbushsr

Aug 01, 2006 (9:51 pm)

Replying to: mike_belknap (Aug 01, 2006 9:39 pm)
Also note that the Hyundai's DVD entertainment system is currently available, whereas it is not on the Mazda
 
Uhhh, yeah it is... Just check the catalog at Mazdausa.com or your local Mazada dealership for a brochure.
 
On a side note; the AWD is rated at 19 city - 24 hwy, real world figures are still coming in on the fwd.

Messages Page 3 of 81

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