No doubt Toyota is unbeatable in terms of quality and workmanship, I go on a regular visit to couple of toyta plants in north America (Canada and Kentuky USA)no doubt there manufacturing style is awesome, claen environment, 5S, Kaizan. You would probably be surprise to know toyota is the only major global automaker who is not subscribert o TS16949, new global automotive quality standard which is new ver of QS 9000 which was actaully invented by GM Ford and Chrysler. toyota have their own production system which is called Toyota Production syetem (TPS)and they may not subscribe to this new global std either, b/c based on their own TPS they are now world no.2 and may be with in next 2-3 yrs would achieve No.1 position, I feel good to work for a toyta owned company infact 20 - 30 % of parts used in toyota / Lexus /Daihatsu Scion and hino are made by our company.
now come to point Santa Fe is a nice SUV the model they introduced in North America is a V6 dual transmission ctrl u can either drive it as manual or auto, but again some one said lion is king, tiger can't be a king of jungle even though run faster then lion. Korean cars are getting better but still they have a long way to go.