HAVE you noticed how more and more people driving on the roads seem much taller these days?

No, I don't mean that the drivers and their passengers look like they have suffered on the rack for an hour.

But the trend towards cars with greater ground clearance and higher roof lines means that it's sometimes like the land of the giants out there.

When Hyundai looked for a celebrity to promote its Santa Fe, a big, muscle-bound SUV, it plumped for one of the tallest footballers ever to kick a ball for England, the beanpole-like Peter Crouch. It was almost like the Korean firm was promoting "tall" as a desirable commodity.

Crouch, who was given a Santa Fe to help him celebrate his World Cup call-up last summer, said: "It is just the perfect car for me. At 6ft 7ins, it's not always easy to squeeze into sports cars or supercars. I need something a bit bigger but I still want a car that can turn heads and drives great. The Santa Fe fits that bill."

Which is fair enough, because cars like the Daihatsu Copen are just not going to cope with his framework.

But most drivers of these taller, bulkier cars do so out of choice rather than necessity, and the Santa Fe - in common with other SUVs - will accommodate drivers of all shapes and sizes.

The key elements to this car's success are its keen pricing, ability to carry seven people, reasonably refined cabin and tremendous load-carrying capacity. Oh, and it looks pretty sharp, too, like something that belongs in another price bracket.

There is now such a wealth of talent among the large 4x4 vehicles that buyers can be very choosy.

So for starters the Santa Fe comes in five and seven seat formats, with the former offering that tremendous load-carrying capacity featuring an additional under-floor compartment.

There is a choice of two engines, a 2.7-litre V6 petrol and 2.2-litre VGT diesel, both very capable but whereas you will only get an average 26.6mpg from the V6, you can expect 38.7 from the diesel.

The Santa Fe was Hyundai's first foray in the SUV segment. This second generation model is going upmarket but still at a very tempting entry-level price of just over £20,000.

It is bigger all round, with strong curves in all the right places to give it a presence to rival that of premium brands. And, guess what, it's taller by 50mm.

A roof rack comes as standard (that raises the overall height by 65mm) and another feature worth mentioning is the door-handle type of opener for the boot, which makes access so much easier.

The cabin design is tasteful, except for a ghastly wood grain finish that extends across the whole length of the dashboard and really should have been confined to a 1980s dustbin, with comfortable seating and good legroom for all.

The ergonomics for the driver are excellent, helped by a telescopic adjustment on the steering wheel and well-positioned gear stick that allows a gear change with your forearm resating on the armrest.

Surprisingly, the cracking audio unit - possibly the best I've heard in a car at this price - features a cassette player in addition to the radio, CD and MP3 player.

The blue-lit dash looks sophisticated, and the controls are easy to operate, although the placement of the indicators on the right-hand stalk might cause annoyance and confusion.

The previous Santa Fe used a fixed four-wheel drive set-up, but the new model employs a "torque on demand" system. In normal conditions, drive is through the front wheels only.

Sensors monitor conditions and automatically engage all-wheel drive when required to give better traction and maintain stability. Four-wheel drive can also be engaged by simply pushing a button on the front console.

Even the entry-level GSI rides on 17-inch alloys and has all the usual safety and security features, plus air conditioning. The CDX adds dual zone climate control with independent controls for third-row passengers in the seven-seat versions, heated front seats and a full leather interior. The driver's seat is electronically adjusted and the sound system gets even better. Additional audio controls, surprisingly lacking on the GSI, are also introduced, plus cruise control, 18-inch alloys and auto-dimming rear mirror.

The CDX+ includes premium hi-fi, a DVD package, Smartnav satellite navigation, rain-sensing windscreen wipers, a cool box and electronic adjustment for the passenger seat, all for an extra £800 on top of the CDX price.

The 2.2-litre diesel is a willing and eager performer, so much so that - as with Land Rover's Discovery - it is hard to see the point of the petrol version.

The engine improvements, matched by the strong road presence and all-round quality feel make the Santa Fe a very desirable SUV.

According to Glass's Guide, it also has residual values that compete with the best in the market sector.

Hyundai's five-year unlimited mileage warranty, which broke the mould in the auto industry, will give owners yet another reason to smile and walk tall.


At a glance

Model: Hyundai Santa Fe 2.2 GSI 5-seat
Price: £20,995
Power: 148bhp at 4,000rpm
Speed: Maximum 111mph
Acceleration: 0-62mph in 11.6 seconds
Economy: 38.7mpg (combined cycle)
CO2 emissions: 193g/km