With a bad look and a comfortable nature – New cars: SUV

Hyundai takes advantage of the SUV boom: in 2001, the Koreans founded a successful story by launching the Santa Fe in the D segment. Since then, they have sold 1.6 million SUVs in Europe. A good quarter of this figure is attributable to the Santa Fe, the flagship of the brand at least on the Old Continent. "With the first generation of Santa Fe, we laid the foundation for our SUV competence in 2001," says Thomas A. Schmid, Hyundai Europe's Chief Operating Officer. So now follows the fourth generation, and it shows on the outside, in which direction Hyundai goes: Keywords like "cheap", "cheap" or even "everything with" have long been taken for granted, today The manufacturer speaks with a broad chest of "Premium". The brand is said to be "smart and smart," says Andreas Christoph Hofmann, vice president of marketing and products at Hyundai Europe.

The Santa Fe is an example. The fourth generation, completely refurbished, is indeed "stylish", with extremely flat LED headlights and a confident grille, which is in no way inferior to the audacious audi grill. No wonder: the two design languages ​​are Peter Schreyer; The former director of Audi design has been responsible for the design of Koreans since 2014.

More Grand Santa Fe does not exist anymore, but the new generation of models offers a third row of seats optional – in Switzerland, it is equipped as standard. In general, only one variant is available in this country: the most powerful 2.2 CRDi diesel engine with all-wheel drive and 8-speed automatic transmission in the best Vertex equipment for 63,900 francs. There is all that is available for this car, only metallic liveries or Mica cost more. "

" We Believe in Diesel "

This is a lot of what the new Santa Fe offers. As for the assistance systems, it is not necessary. There is no need to hide behind the competition and shines with innovations such as the Safety Exit Assist or the Rear Occupant Alert.The first is an exit wizard that locks the door in case a passenger wants to leave the vehicle when 39, a vehicle approaches from behind.The second system alerts the driver when disembarking when there is a passenger in the back seat.This seems unnecessary, but again and again children are forgotten in the car with disastrous consequences.

The interior is feudal, while the upper version has leather everywhere, on the dashboard, on the seats or on the roof trim (suede). pleasant haptics are installed, everything seems solid treated. Cabin design with the screen in the center console, digital instruments and a large head-up display is also impressive.

The fact that only one diesel engine is offered in Switzerland is amazing. Otherwise, the Koreans with an electric battery version of the small Kona SUV and the new Nexo SUV hydrogen signals quite different: "We believe in diesel," but Michael Winkler, head of propulsion development at Hyundai Europe, and adds continue to work on the effectiveness of self-ignition. But he has good news for the friends of electric cars: "The new Santa Fe will also be hybrid and plug-in hybrid." First, there will be a light hybrid version of 48 volts and later a version for the electric charging. He does not authorize to obtain more precise information

About two heavy tons

The proposed 2.2 liter diesel engine in Switzerland is good with a power of 200 hp and a maximum torque of 440 newton-meters with the weighted SUV of about two tons, without being mastered. Although the Santa Fe has a bad look, but also a comfortable nature. It is a casual cruiser for the family and a long-haul commuter with plenty of room for luggage. The 4×4 variable will be very well received in Switzerland.

Dave Schneider drove the new Santa Fe to Barcelona at the invitation of Hyundai Switzerland.