2003 Hyundai Santa Fe Review

Name: 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe Review
Brand: Hyundai
Price: 875 USD
Rating: 4.7 (319 reviews)

Price Estimate: $875 - $1,420

2002 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS AWD 4dr SUV Shown

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Hyundai Santa Fe model years

Hyundai Santa Fe for Sale

Edmunds' Expert Review

by the Edmunds Experts

Pros

Reasonable price, super warranty, roomy interior, long list of standard features, solid construction.

Cons

Underpowered without the 3.5-liter engine, unusual styling won't please everyone.

What’s new

For 2003, side airbags become standard equipment for every Santa Fe. New this year is Homelink and a Monsoon sound system with a six-CD changer -- these are standard items on the LX, and the audio upgrades are optional for the GLS. There is a newly available 3.5-liter V6 which will be offered in addition to the 2.4-liter inline four and the 2.7-liter V6. The 3.5-liter engine replaces the 2.7-liter unit and is now standard on the LX as is a new five-speed automatic transmission.

Edmunds says

Odd design elements aside, the Santa Fe offers a consumer-friendly blend of space, comfort, features, performance and value.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

For sale nationwide

15 listings

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2003 Hyundai Santa Fe
GLS 4dr SUV
$6,000
- 133,724 miles
- No accidents, 5 owners, personal use only
- 6cyl automatic
- Cars 4 U (787 mi away)
- AWD/4WD
- Alarm
- Rear Bench Seats
- Fold Flat Rear Seats
Close
Located in Missoula, MT
Zoom through the city streets in this sleek Silver 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe! This compact SUV packs a punch with its 2.7L DOHC V6 gas engine, making ever...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
18 Combined MPG (16 City/22 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: KM8SC73D93U424406
Stock: 424406
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 03-17-2025
2003 Hyundai Santa Fe
GLS 4dr SUV
$2,995
- 152,729 miles
- No accidents, 1 owner, personal use only
- 6cyl automatic
- CCS Auto (562 mi away)
- AWD/4WD
- Alarm
- Rear Bench Seats
- Fold Flat Rear Seats
Close
Located in Chicago, IL
Title in hand. NO Saturday Showings. We do not offer financing. Price shown is exclusive of taxes, title, license and doc fees that may be applicable ...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
17 Combined MPG (15 City/19 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: KM8SC73E03U542837
Stock: 542837
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 05-28-2025

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Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe Fwd 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 5M) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.15 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

$186/mo

$177/mo

Avg. Midsize SUV

Calculate my fuel costs

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Hyundai Santa Fe Reviews

Owner Reviews

4.7

319 reviews

5(78%)

4(16%)

3(3%)

2(2%)

1(1%)

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Most Helpful Owner Reviews

2003 Santa Fe LX 2.7

sbraatz, 07/10/2011

2003 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS Fwd 4dr SUV (2.7L 6cyl 4A)

My wife and I bought it with 60,000 miles. We had a couple of minor issues right of the bat that the dealer didn't want to handle. I did replace the plugs and wires twice within the first two years because of the same problem. It was a little time consuming but not impossible. Definately cheaper then taking it into the dealer. Other then that it has been very reliable. Gas mileage could …

Mileage Gem

Howard F. Morgan, 12/16/2015

2003 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS Fwd 4dr SUV (2.7L 6cyl 4A)

Keep your vehicle maintained. As others have stated, the paint is not the best. I have 280,000 miles on this vehicle which was a program vehicle and had 11,000 when I purchased it. I have spent about $ 3,000 on it during a period of 12 years (repairs)

Great Used Car for Teens & College!

mktg64, 03/02/2013

2003 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS Fwd 4dr SUV (2.7L 6cyl 4A)

Bought a 2003 Santa Fe with 125K GLS 2.7L for my son his senior year of HS, he took it to college...had to replace a rear trailing arm & a coroded battery cable, other than that I did the timing belt, plugs & wires, new tires, and most fluids. GREAT car for the money, love the styling (its now a classic), modern interior, and perfect for teens and college age kids for room and safety. …

Beat this car it can take it

Mark, 09/03/2017

2003 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS Fwd 4dr SUV (2.7L 6cyl 4A)

A great value for the price it's a great everyday commuter box nothing special but gets the job done, motor is solid, transmission is great, minor repair issues with aging, I.e ., power steering, rusted oil pan, alternator, but overall a great car, I use it everyday to commute to NYC and put 20,000 miles a year on it and it takes a beating ! I would get another one no problem, easy to …

See all 319 reviews of the Hyundai Santa Fe

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2003 Santa Fe Highlights

Trim:

Base

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$17,549
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	20 MPG
Cost to Drive	$186/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	30.5 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	5 years / 60,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Key safety features on the Santa Fe include:

Alarm

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
OverallNot Rated
DriverNot Rated
PassengerNot Rated
Side Crash Rating
OverallNot Rated
Side Barrier Rating
OverallNot Rated
DriverNot Rated
PassengerNot Rated
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front SeatNot Rated
Back SeatNot Rated
Rollover
Rollover3 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of RolloverNot Rated

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Not Tested
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Not Tested
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Acceptable
Side Impact Test – Updated
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Not Tested
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Not Tested

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2003 Hyundai Santa Fe Review

Price & Payment

Edmunds' Expert Review

Pros

Cons

What’s new

Edmunds says

For sale nationwide

2003 Hyundai Santa Fe
GLS 4dr SUV

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

2003 Hyundai Santa Fe
GLS 4dr SUV

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe Fwd 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 5M) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.15 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.}

Hyundai Santa Fe Reviews

Owner Reviews

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

Trending topics

2003 Santa Fe LX 2.7

Mileage Gem

Great Used Car for Teens & College!

Beat this car it can take it

2003 Santa Fe Highlights

Safety

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2003 Hyundai Santa Fe Review

Price & Payment

Edmunds' Expert Review

Pros

Cons

What’s new

Edmunds says

For sale nationwide

2003 Hyundai Santa FeGLS 4dr SUV

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

2003 Hyundai Santa FeGLS 4dr SUV

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe Fwd 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 5M) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.15 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Hyundai Santa Fe Reviews

Owner Reviews

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

2003 Santa Fe LX 2.7

Mileage Gem

Great Used Car for Teens & College!

Beat this car it can take it

2003 Santa Fe Highlights

Safety

People who viewed this also viewed

Related Used 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe info

Vehicle reviews of used models

Shop similar models

Shop used vehicles in your area

Popular new car reviews and ratings

Research other models of Hyundai

Research similar vehicles

Other models

Join Edmunds

2003 Hyundai Santa Fe
GLS 4dr SUV

2003 Hyundai Santa Fe
GLS 4dr SUV

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe Fwd 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 5M) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.15 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.}