Once in, the interior is mostly touch-friendly. Human-hand sized controls for the stereo and climate control system offer easy adjustment. Climate controls felt and looked plasticky, though.

Seats are quite comfortable. Space-wise, the Santa Fe is competitive with or betters the competition. Only the Ford Escape beats the Santa Fe by more than a half-inch in front-seat headroom or hiproom.

The Santa Fe's rear-seat headroom equals or beats all but the Suzuki Grand Vitara. Santa Fe legroom equals or beats the competition. Rear-seat passengers get head restraints and three-point seatbelts only on the outer positions, none for the center position. The shoulder belt anchor loops are fixed, not adjustable. The restraining loops for rear-seat belt buckles don't seem very durable. And the rear seatback recline adjusters are fiercely awkward, consisting of fabric loops extending from the outer edge of the seatbacks; the easiest way to adjust them is to climb out and yank them until the seatback is where you think you want it. Rear-seat cupholders are molded into the door-mounted map pockets.

Cargo-wise, the Ford Escape is the only competitor significantly bettering the Santa Fe. For hauling cargo-type stuff, the Santa Fe is a nirvana of tie-down loops, boasting as many as nine, depending on the seating configuration. The optional, subfloor storage bins in the cargo area are a thoughtful feature, provided your stored items fit the pre-configured bins. In other words, nothing too tall, wide or thick.