Hyundai continues its climb upmarket, with a new Santa Fe that¡¯s big enough to take on the Toyota Highlanders of the world, at least according to a new set of spy shots taken by photog Hans Lehmann. Gone are the character lines that made the current Santa Fe stick out among small utes like John Merrick at a Washington Press Corps dinner. The new model, which will be built Hyundai¡¯s new plant in Montgomery, Alabama, gains a dose of understatement, much in the way of the Mercedes M-Class. First introduced for the 2001 model year, Hyundai's Santa Fe has impressed many with its versatility and value for the dollar. It was the first sport crossover (an SUV based on a car platform) vehicle designed and engineered by Hyundai specifically for the North American market, and sales have been steadily climbing each year. Santa Fe goes up against stiff competition, such as the Ford Escape and Mazda Tribute, Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Suzuki Grand Vitara and Kia Sorrento. The test-drive week for the nifty little Hyundai's 2003 version coincided with a quick road trip of nearly 1,600 miles. The Santa Fe comes in three versions -- Base, GLS and LX -- with a price spread from $17,549 to $24,119. All models include front and rear disc brakes, power door locks and windows, air conditioning, an AM/FM in-dash CD player, body-colored and heated outside mirrors and protective lower side cladding. Hyundai continues its noteworthy 10-year/100,000 powertrain protection on all vehicles sold in the United States. New features added for the 2003 Santa Fe include illuminated window switches, gas-charged hood struts, an easier seat recline/folding mechanism, two outboard child seat anchors, an improved overhead console, and driver and front passenger side airbags. Consumers also asked for and received larger air vents in the center of the dash and an available power siding glass moonroof. The base model is available in a front-wheel-drive-only configuration powered by a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder with 138 horsepower. The standard transmission is a 5-speed manual, but an $800 automatic transmission features Hyundai's Shifttronic manual mode. Hyundai offers the GLS and LX in 2-wd or full-time awd versions. These models come with the added torque and quicker acceleration offered by a 2.7-liter, 173-hp V-6. GLS and LX models add cruise control, remote keyless entry, rear window wiper, a rear cargo net and retractable security cover, fog lamps, upgraded upholstery and a first aid kit. The LX adds leather seats, automatic climate control, heated front seats, an electrochromatic rearview mirror and Monsoon high-end audio system. Anti-lock brakes with traction control are also standard on the LX and available on the base and GLS. On the road For the test-drive week, Hyundai provided an awd GLS with anti-lock and traction control ($595) and mud guards ($75), adding up to a delivered price of just $22,069. On the open road and around suburbia, the Santa Fe handled assuredly and never presented us with any surprises. The vehicle rides on a strut front suspension with coil springs and stabilizer bar. The rear setup is an independent trailing-arm design with multi-links, coil springs and hydraulic shock absorbers. The steering is rack-and-pinion and the standard wheels are 16 inches. With the cruise control set at top-end freeway speeds, the V-6-powered Santa Fe rode comfortably and tackled the Siskiyou summit between Oregon and California with little extra effort. The EPA rates the SUV's fuel economy at 18 mpg city and 24 mpg highway, but the Santa Fe consistently achieved about 26 mpg at a steady 70-75 mph. On the trip there was no rain or snow to fully test the Santa Fe's awd capabilities. The Hyundai system, designed by the renowned Austrian firm of Steyr-Puch, requires no input by the driver. A dual drive differential with two planetary gears and a viscous coupling works full-time and reacts as traction surfaces change. Under normal conditions, 60 percent of the engine's power goes to the front wheels and the remaining 40 percent drives the rear wheels. The Santa Fe wasn't meant for rigorous off-roading, but should do fine through medium-duty snow and mud. Hyundai designed the Santa Fe with nice exterior proportions. A pronounced grille and front fender lines suggest an off-road demeanor. Lots of glass area offers good visibility. The full-sized spare tire stows outside underneath the cargo hold. The top-hinged rear liftgate opens to a position high enough to provide shelter from the rain, and an oversized latch handle makes opening the door that much easier. The split-folding rear bench seats drop down to provide a nearly flat load floor. The Santa Fe offers some of the best interior space in its class, with 101 cubic feet of passenger volume plus another 30 cubic feet of storage behind the rear seat. We appreciated the firmness and multi-adjustable front bucket seats, and were not worn out after long periods of driving.