2012 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2007-2012 Hyundai Santa Fe is the CM generation and grew substantially over its predecessor, offering an optional third row for the first time. Engines were a 2.4-liter four-cylinder and 2.7-liter and later 3.3-liter and 3.5-liter V6s, paired with four-, five-, and six-speed automatics. Front-wheel drive was standard with all-wheel drive optional. The body is a five-door wagon seating five or seven.

This generation brought a much more conventional and better-resolved exterior than the SM, along with a significant improvement in interior quality and refinement. Standard stability control and a full airbag complement were competitive strengths. The DM generation that followed in 2013 split the model into two distinct sizes.

As a used buy, the CM Santa Fe offers a lot of space for the money and generally holds up well. The V6 engines are the more durable choice in this generation and, in the later 3.3-liter and 3.5-liter Lambda units, use a timing chain rather than a belt. The third row is best regarded as occasional-use space rather than a genuine seven-seat solution. Corrosion and suspension wear are the routine concerns at this age.