Hmm, your friend might also lean towards Domestic vehicles, too. The Santa Fe is a gorgeous vehicle (inside and out). The Journey is a great vehicle too but Hyundai has really stepped it up with their new 2013 model. All I can say is Test Drive! 
I'm 6'2 and don't have a problem in my Sante Fe, either driving or in the passenger seat. If you push the seats all the way back there is plenty of room.Leg room is something that I know I will need more than the spouse. When you are taking long road trips with a vehicle packed full of kids the last thing I want to do is drive myself and still be cramped up.
I've never really considered torso height in an SUV, it is an SUV after all...they normally come standard with headroom (coming from someone that's 6'1").I think I might need a little of both, taller in the torso and the legs. The other thing I was considering was the mileage since I drive almost two hours daily for work. If I can save on the gas tank it just might be worth the switch off (going from a truck that is).
So Eddie, what did you finally decide on? I was reading your comments but you never posted what your final decision was.I am liking it the more I read about it, the mpg is key for me. We travel far too much between work and school for the kids. For me with work I travel mostly country roads but the MPH is pretty decent, if we got it for the wife she is all highway travel so it might just work out.