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 | | | | | VERSUS 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe VERSUS 2009 Nissan Murano We did a lot of research in our analysis of these 2 vehicles. In our opinion, the Santa Fe came out on top.
Read on for detailed information supporting our decision and see who else agrees.
| Winner: 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe
Price
- For similar features, the Santa Fe is about $4,000 less expensive than the Murano.
- The Santa Fe MSRP ranges from $21,495 to $28,445 depending on options. Rebates usually range from $1,000 to $3,500 depending on current promotions. Zero percent financing is also often available. See current rebates here.
Warranty
- Hyundai has a better warranty than Nissan in every category:
| | Powertrain
| Bumper-Bumper | Anti-perforation | Roadside Assistance
| | HYUNDAI | 10 years
100,000 miles
| 5 years
60,000 miles
| 7 years
unlimited miles
| 5 years
unlimited miles
| | NISSAN | 5 years
60,000 miles
| 36 months
36,000 miles
| 5 years
unlimited miles
|
N/A
|
- Hyundai offers free Roadside Assistance for 5 years and unlimited miles. This covers dead batteries, lock outs, flat tires, ran out of gas, and any other reason your vehicle is out of commission. This free inclusion can save you hundreds of money compared to paying for a similar service. Nissan does not offer roadside assistance.
Fuel Economy and Greenness
- The Santa Fe's emissions are able to meet standards in all 50 states, including California's stricter guidelines.
- Gas mileage is also comparable. The following information comes from the 2009 fuel economy guide. Fuel cost per year is calculated assuming 15,000 miles of travel per year (55% city and 45% highway) at an average fuel price of $2.00 per gallon.
| City MPG
| Hwy MPG
| Fuel Cost per Year
| Santa Fe
| 17 | 24 | $1,245 | Murano
| 18 | 23 | $1,440 |
Safety
- Santa Fe has five stars in all four categories of crash tests; Murano has four stars in Driver/Passenger frontal crash tests.
- The Santa Fe was an IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) Top Pick for 2007.
- The Santa Fe is on the cutting edge of vehicle safety. It includes the newest technology and more safety features than the Murano. These features are listed below with a short description.
- 4-wheel independent suspension: front and rear stabilizer bars and motor-driven rank-and-pinion steering aid control and accident avoidance
- ABS with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD): monitors wheel speed, road conditions, and loading to correct over/under-steering and skids by varying the force applied to each brake, maximizing stopping power, and maintaining control. The Santa Fe's 4-sensor, 4-channel ABS and 4-wheel disc brakes lead the segment.
- Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS): monitors tire air pressure electronically to maintain proper fuel economy, tire wear, performance, and safety. TPMS is said to avoid 9% of all road accidents caused by tire under-inflation.
- Front head restraints and seat belt pretensioners: head cushions move and seat belts tighten to prevent whiplash during a rear collision.
- Lower Anchors & Tethers for Children (LATCH): makes attaching a child seat safe and easy.
- Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with Traction Control System (TCS): monitors steering angle, wheel speed, yaw, and lateral g-forces to maintain traction by reducing engine power or applying brakes to individual wheels in the case of treacherous conditions, slippage, or emergency maneuvers.
- Front, front-side, and side curtain airbags: total of 6 airbags reduce injury and fatality by over 50%.
- Remote Keyless Entry with alarm, panic, and trunk open
- 5-star frontal crash test rating from NHTSA
Interior Space
- Cargo volume in the Santa Fe is 34.2 cubic feet; murano has 31.6 cubic feet. There is an optional third row on Santa Fe and a third row is not available on the Murano.
- The Santa Fe has more head and hip room so you can ride in comfort without feeling cramped.
- The Santa Fe has tighter turning dimensions than the Murano for greater control and a better driving experience.
Technology Features
- The navigation system in the Santa Fe was designed exclusively for Hyundai by LG.
- Bluetooth hands-free cellular device is available from the manufacturer on all Santa Fe models. The built-in microphone and speaker improves safety on the road and recognition of multiple phones adds convenience to all your travels.
- The standard Santa Fe AM/FM/CD radio is XM-capable with 3 months free. It plays MP3 formatted music on CD or accommodates audio devices like an iPod via the auxiliary input jack. This enables the in-dash radio to control the MP3 player and even displays 4 lines of song, artist, and title info right on the dash.
- Steering wheel audio controls, trip computer, and automatic on/off headlights available on the base GLS model.
More Features
- The base Santa Fe comes standard with power windows, power door and tailgate locks heated mirrors, rear privacy glass and roof rack side rails.
- Other optional handy features include cruise control, in-glass antenna, telescoping steering wheel, heated front seats, leather seats, sunroof, sport-tuned suspension, rear spolier, and more.
All-New Santa Fe Blue Hybrid
- Slated for 2010, the Santa Fe Blue Hybrid will be a perfect mix of fuel efficiency and space. It will have a 2.4-liter gasoline engine run by a lithium polymer battery pack. At an average of 38 mpg, this hybrid really delivers. Carbon emissions are rated at 148 g/km- the same as a Subcompact car. Average emissions are over 300 for SUVs. The Santa Fe Blue can achieve a top speed of 105 mph.
Awards and Accolades
- The 2007 Santa Fe was named SUV of the Year by both Autobytel and the International Federation of Automotive Journalists.
- Strategic Vision awarded the Santa Fe "Best in Class" in their Total Value Report.
- The Santa fe ranked higher than the Murano on Best Affordable Midsize SUVs from US News and World Report.
- Technically, we cannot name this next award outright. See for yourself what drivers think of the Santa Fe here:
- Article
Become an Owner
- This information was provided by Eckert Hyundai, located north of Dallas in Denton, Texas.... and yes, we are biased! We did a lot of research on this comparison and wanted to provide you with the benefits and features of the Santa Fe. We truly believe in our product and we hope you do too, especially after this article. If you are still not a believer, take a test drive and let us prove what our cars can do!
- To schedule a test drive in the Dallas/ Fort Worth area,
- Email us or
- Call 940-220-6749 or
- Stop by our Dealership at
3811 South I-35 East
Denton, TX 76210 map
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