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Hyundai's latest Santa Fe is further evidence that Korean brands are starting to put themselves on the feet of their European rivals. The big SUV is not quite in the premium league yet, but it's getting tighter, much cheaper and with a lot of features.
Value remains the most compelling reason for buying a car, especially when times are as tough and the future as uncertain as now.
High-end buyers may not have the same concerns regarding affordability, interest rates and operating costs, but most motorists place these aspects at the top of their list when it it's about replacing their aging family with something newer.
Like the brand itself, the Hyundai Santa Fe has come a long way. Now in its fourth generation, the generously proportioned SUV is leading a range of all-terrain vehicles that also includes the compact Creta, the Kona lifestyle-oriented and the medium-sized Tucson.
In 18 years, the Santa Fe has gone from bland to bold, usually to seductive, cheap and cheesy to intelligent and ambitious. And this progress is reflected by most other Hyundai models.
The Santa Fe range includes three models, starting with the Premium version, then the Executive version and the Elite version. The latter is the flagship product, and also the only one to be equipped with AWD.
Not surprisingly, the most distinctive view of the newcomer is from the front. The large almost vertical grille is undeniably Hyundai, but the unusual layout of the lighting creates a completely different look.
The main groups of lighthouses live in deep recesses on either side of the grille, while the ultra-flat LED daytime running lights are completely separate flashes of brightness, placed close to the bonnet line. Small fog lights have their own deep slots below the main headlights.
The result is a front face with a severe appearance, almost aggressive, proud of its individuality and which derives nothing.
The designers at Santa Fe have tried to get rid of the softening characteristic of large SUVs by drawing a slightly wrinkled shoulder line, flaking the sides and widening the thresholds, while bold-edged wheel arches surround the wheels. alloy.
The profile confirms that this is a large SUV with substantial front and rear overhangs, but the silhouette also shows some welcome streamlining, including streamlined roof rails and an extra-flat spoiler built into the roof. tailgate.
This hatchback dominates a rear axle lined with curved tail light beams and an elegant skid plate housing two tailpipes.
The overall impression is intelligent and resolute, if not necessarily robust. The relatively modest ground clearance of 185 mm confirms that the Santa Fe is more flexible than the off-road.
With its 4.7 m long, the new Santa Fe is significantly larger than its predecessor: 70 mm more and 10 mm more, to be precise. The wheelbase has increased by 65 mm, primarily to create a more spacious cabin.
This cabin is the true centerpiece of Santa Fe. Given that this is the place where the owners spend most of their time when they are in the Hyundai company, it is probably more important and more relevant than the 'outside.
The latest Santa Fe retains a three-row seating arrangement, with both front bucket seats and a three-seater central row raised by a third row seating two people. It was the latter who took the most advantage of the extra space in the cabin, offering a greater margin available to better accommodate adults.
The legroom has improved in all seating, reinforced at the rear by the absence of transmission tunnel. However, the seats in the third row remain compromised and are still better suited to youth than adults.
With the third row of seats in use, baggage capacity is also limited, with only 130 liters of available cargo space, although five liters more than the outgoing model. Store the third row of seats and place your luggage compartment at a useful flow of 547 liters.
Aside from the practicalities, the performance of the cabin is downright impressive and is a big step forward compared to the previous Santa Fe. Hyundai has managed to create a high-end ambience that convinces both visually and tactilely.
The perforated leather upholstery looks and feels like the upscale part, with quilted details that would not be out of place in a premium luxury sedan. A soft-touch dashboard coating with contrasting stitching and carefully selected chrome accents add to the sophisticated ambience.
The arrangement of the controls and instruments is ergonomic, if it is not particularly intuitive, with too many buttons and switches scattered in the cabin.
An infotainment system with a color touch screen is standard, bringing the benefits of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, although it only works if your smartphone is wired to the system via USB.
The standard equipment is complete throughout the range, even the Premium offering a kit level that would satisfy the most.
Leather, infotainment with Bluetooth and USB connectivity, electric windows and mirrors, air conditioning, remote central locking and rear parking distance control with reversing camera are among the main features.
Safety is also comprehensively addressed via six airbags, ABS brakes, electric stability control, descent control and hill start badistance. The Santa Fe also received a five-star rating in the evaluation of Euro-NCAP crash tests.
With an electric liftgate, keyless entry with push button start, LED headlamps and electric driver seat adjustment, safety accessories such as Blind Spotlights and traffic lights are included. also among the expenses of the executive clbad of mid-range.
The high-end Elite range further expands the list of specs by adding electric adjustment, heating and ventilation to both front seats, a panoramic glbad sunroof, a virtual LCD dashboard, a control panel front and rear parking distance and shift paddles.
Which brings us to the transmission of Santa Fe, which is almost identical on all three models. The 2.2-liter turbodiesel engine is from the previous lineup, but it is linked to a new, more refined automatic eight-speed transmission rather than six.
The new gearbox adds a higher lower transmission ratio and a higher upper transmission ratio, which improves up and downs and improves efficiency at constant cruising speeds. Premium and Executive models feature front-wheel drive, while Elite models feature Hyundai's HTRAC AWD system.
The latter varies the power between the front and rear axles depending on driving conditions and the selected driving mode. In Eco mode, much of the power is kept on the front axle, while the Comfort and Sport modes gradually increase the polarization of the rear power for increased traction.
With a maximum power of 142 kW and a healthy peak torque of 440 Nm, the Santa Fe is eager to move, thanks to a broad band of torque that keeps the horses galloping enthusiastically over much of the rev range.
The medium speed traceability is very high, which guarantees safe and incisive overtaking, as well as an effortless navigation at highway speed, even in the higher speed. Speed changes are executed brilliantly, and even if manual control is offered, it is preferable (and more convenient) to leave the dialog box 'independent'.
Despite an empty weight of about 1.9 tonnes, according to the current model, the Santa Fe continues to run less than 10 seconds at a speed of 100 km / h, while its maximum speed exceeds just 200 km / h .
Most owners are likely to be more interested in fuel consumption: Hyundai claims an average of 7.8 liters / 100 km for front-wheel drive models and 8.2 liters / 100 km for the heavier all-wheel drive version .
A generous 71-liter fuel tank should provide about 850 km of range under mixed driving conditions, and could even approach 1,000 km when traveling long distances.
For a large, relatively heavy SUV, the Santa Fe feels surprisingly agile. He responds to driving with enthusiasm and contains the lean body. The suspension feels composed without compromising driving, and the refinement of the transmission is admirable.
Although the Santa Fe is by no means an off-road in the great sense of the word gung-ho, it is not intimidated by the winding gravel. Even the front-wheel drive model followed the chosen line on rocky and sandy surfaces without ever needing extra traction.
Of course, the AWD Elite model offers greater peace of mind and higher cornering speeds on slippery terrain. This will also prevent more rough terrain in front-wheel drive models.
In terms of refinement, the only stain on Santa Fe's copy book was a sporadic but pervasive wind noise around exterior mirrors at highway speeds. Admittedly, the day was windy and we sometimes shot the wick, but it did not correspond to the general clbad of Santa Fe package.
The cost of owning a Santa Fe starts at just under 600,000 rand for the Premium model. This is very good considering the Hyundai space on seven seats, its high level of comfort and quality.
They may be better equipped, but the Executive and Elite versions face tough competition at their respective prices. For a price slightly higher than the price charged by the executive, you can opt for a Volvo XC60 with similar power, all-wheel drive and similar appeal.
The Elite could find the situation even more difficult: at R749,900, it is at the heart of the premium category, competing with BMW X3, Audi Q5 and Land Rover Discovery Sport.
This may seem like a great venture for a Kia, but remember that the Santa Fe is taller, with three rows of seats and a longer standard specification list than the fancy pants SUVs. In addition, it has another badet: a five-year / 100,000 km warranty, linked to a five-year / 90,000 km service plan.
For me, the Santa Fe Premium is the ultimate choice, offering a well-balanced set of comfort and safety features, playful dynamics, seven-seater seating and touch quality, all for less than 600,000 rands. .
This combination is synonymous with high value – and in terms of motorization, value is arguably the most convincing feature of all. DM
PRICE
Santa Fe 2.2 Premium To R599,900
Santa Fe 2.2 Executive To R659,900
Santa Fe 2.2 Elite to H Trac R749,900
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