Well Built Vehicle and Generally Comfortable - Mobile App Still Needs Work
This review is for the Ultimate trim line, and it was purchased specifically for its many features. The vehicle is enjoyable to drive and the features did not disappoint. It was well built when I received it and has not shown any signs of aging in almost 2 years. The ride is generally very quiet and I can often ride in winter without turning on any heat during the day because the internal temperature stays pretty steady once it warms up during the first trip. The sound system is very good and the Apple CarPlay integration seems to work really well. Since I gave almost every characteristic a 10, let me touch on the ones that didn't make that cut.
I gave comfort an 8 for two basic reasons. One is that it needs a little more headroom. I am not a tall person, but it's kind of a squeeze getting in and out, especially wearing winter coats, and probably because I have to set the seat a little higher. The other is that on long trips (10+ hours), the seat gets a bit uncomfortable. It feels like there's something pressing against the center of my back. Not a miserable thing, and definitely not until you've been stuck in the seat for that many hours.
I gave performance an 8 for the lack of power in the 25-45 mph range. Above and below that, the power seems fine, but trying to do any immediate acceleration in that range seems to be bogged down, and the transmission doesn't downshift quickly enough to compensate. This shows up especially when trying to maintain 40-45 mph on an incline. This is probably to get good mpg numbers, and I am very happy with the fuel efficiency on my Santa Fe.
I gave value a 9 for one basic reason - the mobile app that is used to do remote starts along with a few other tasks. The app should be a little better as part of the high end of the product line. For example, the app allows you to see the status of your vehicle - but it doesn't give you the status at the time you press the button. It gives you the status from the last time you used the vehicle. So after you press the button to see the status, you have to press the refresh button for it to go collect the current status. This should be part of the first button press. Also, the status fails to show two key bits of information. The first is the odometer reading, which would be helpful when the service feature asks for your mileage, but you are not sitting in your car. The other is more critical; the status of the security system. This is critical because the remote start function won't work if the security system is not armed, and if that is why it fails, the notification does not tell you that is why it failed. There are like 10 conditions that need to be in place for remote start to work, and the status screen doesn't show all of them. I reported this over a year ago, and after several updates to the app, it still has not been addressed. This is by far the only true disappointment for such a great vehicle.
Overall, a great vehicle to own and drive. As a retired I/T guy, the app capabilities hit a nerve, but not so much that I regret the purchase. Definitely would buy one again, both for the vehicle and the quality of the dealership.
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