When things get better, that’s great news. But when things get better, cost less and really impress, that’s the best news. Hyundai offers its best news yet via the re-designed 2007 Santa Fe mid-size crossover SUV. Santa Fe rides on a new, purpose-built unibody platform, and offers an optional third row seat in a now longer (by 7 inches), wider (by an inch) and taller (by 2 inches) vehicle. The track also gains girth – nearly 3 additional inches. As the first Hyundai designed at the automaker’s California studio, Santa Fe is very good-looking inside and out. A more trimmed-and-tucked exterior pushes down the drag coefficient from 0.39 to 0.37. Interior-wise, the four-door is very spacious, providing more than 78 cubic feet of cargo volume. Gauges, switches and buttons are backlit in a cool blue. Santa Fe can be stocked with either an upgraded 2.7-liter V6, or a 3.3-liter – replacing the previous 3.5-liter V6. The more powerful 2.7-liter engine (185 horsepower and 183 torque) now features variable valve timing and a variable intake system. The 3.3-liter V6 means an additional 42 horsepower when compared to the engine it replaces. Driving the second-generation Santa Fe is quite different from the first-generation Santa Fe, most notably because the ride and handling is vastly improved. There’s a 50 percent increase in body bending rigidity as well as a tighter (by more than 12 inches) turning circle. Six airbags, including side curtains for all three rows, are among the vehicle’s standards. The tested Santa Fe Limited AWD with 3.3-liter V6 and 5-speed automatic transmission carried a MSRP of $27,945 and per gallon mileage estimates of 19 city/24 highway.