2007 Hyundai Santa Fe - "Best SUV of the Year"

Hyundai also won the "Best New Midsize SUV" category for the Santa Fe.

The Autobytel magazine Editors' Choice Awards, now in their fourth year, are an annual listing of the best new vehicles on the market, as defined by a team of veteran automotive editors.

The Hyundai Santa Fe unanimously beat its competitors in both the "Best New Midsize SUV" and "SUV of the Year" categories by offering a new, sleek and sporty design coupled with a luxurious interior at an affordable price.

"We knew the Santa Fe was going to see great success ever since it was introduced by Hyundai" said Isam Abu Nabah, President of Hyundai Juma Al Majid Est.

"The car offers great value for money and meets all consumer demands for safety, style and performance.

"We're proud to be the sole dealers in the UAE for this great brand that has proven the competitiveness of Korean vehicles both locally and globally. We will continue to build on the outstanding success of the Santa Fe in this market and know we can achieve even greater success with Hyundai in the years ahead," says Abu Nabah.

"We have witness great demand for the Santa Fe since it was introduced to the local market in May last year. Sales exceeded our expectations by 300 per cent in 2006," according to Hyundai Juma Al Majid Est. Marketing Manager, Omar Baddar.

"The waiting list for Santa Fe has also set records for Juma Al Majid Est, which is understandable, given the vehicle's new sporty looks and excellent features, and we are expecting similar or better demand in 2007, Mr Baddar said.

The Santa Fe is seven seat SUV offered with two engine choices in the UAE - the 2.7 litre Mu and the 3.3 litre Lambda, both V6s of all-aluminium construction.

The Lambda is partnered with a five-speed automatic gearbox while the Mu has five-speed manual transmission as standard, with a four-speed auto version as an option.

Santa Fe's new electronically controlled four-wheel-drive system automatically routes power to the wheels that have the best traction, while the driver-selectable 4WD lock provides continuous 50/50 torque split between front and rear wheels in off-road situations.

All Santa Fe models are equipped with segment-leading standard safety technologies, including airbags, active front head restraints, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Brake Assist and Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), and Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).