Hyundai Santa Fe brings excitement to everyday life

Because of luxury and limousine: Ever since Genesis became its own brand and Sonata was reserved for Americans, Hyundai has been missing the flagship in Europe.

But when the new Santa Fe arrives at the end of spring with an estimated price starting at 63,000 euros, the Koreans will have a candidate for pride and status again. With a length of 4.83 meters, up to seven seats and a different design, the SUV moves at the top of Hyundai’s model range.

Better for action than pay

Inside, the Santa Fe repeats the elegant look. There are many processed materials, luxurious leather and decorative surfaces. But Koreans praise a car competitor like Skoda Kodiaq or Nissan X-Trail above all as a practical one. It should be suitable for families as well as for leisure and even less for adventure.

After all, the Santa Fe just doesn’t have a wider flap in the trunk so you can load things more easily. In the marketing vision, with a flat loading floor, speakers and sockets on the side walls, it becomes a kind of outdoor terrace or, if necessary, even a place to sleep near the fireplace.

This is a great photo opportunity for advertising. Special features such as the large center console, which can be accessed from the front and rear for the first time, offer more everyday use. It is also worth mentioning the front seats borrowed from the fully electric Ioniq models, with folding footrests and a place to rest, or multiple rear seats.

Hyundai always offers the Santa Fe with two retractable seats in the third row and two individual seats or a three-seat bench in the middle. An off-road vehicle, which has grown in length and wheelbase, is a luxury sedan with great capacity and extra comfort for commuting or crew transportation.

With folded seats it can also be a moving truck. Finally, the trunk, which is larger than its predecessor, grows from 725 to almost 2000 liters.

Caught between worlds while driving

Hyundai is taking a big step forward in design as it enters the fifth generation. At least in profile now reminds of Land Rover Defender. The electronics have been completely updated, from the digital rearview mirror to the animated cockpit to the highly assisted driver.

And of course there are also a few software tricks for off-road use in the all-wheel drive versions. But when it comes to driving, the Koreans are caught between worlds: Yes, they have now done away with diesel, at least for Europe, and no longer offer a regular petrol engine. But because there will soon be an electric Ioniq 7 in the same model, the Santa Fe is deprived of a pure electric car.

Instead, it starts as a hybrid and without plugging. The basis of this is a four-cylinder gasoline engine with a displacement of 1.6 liters. This is connected to an electric motor and a buffer battery. Hyundai promises a system output of around 195 kW/265 hp and an electric range of around 60 km for the plug-in.

For the standard hybrid, you can expect 170 kW/230 hp and a maximum of three kilometers of pure electric driving. The sprint from 0 to 100 km/h takes 9.5 seconds and the top speed is around 190 km/h.

A lovely giant

Like the car, the chassis is also of the comfortable kind. The Santa Fe steers with precision, but lacks the required sharpness and doesn’t make you want to take on twisty country roads. Especially if you want to drive the colossus very fast around narrow radii.

The suspension is rather soft. Although it removes all the bumps, it also absorbs a lot of road feel. That’s why you don’t drive this SUV with dedication and passion. It’s less about driving and more about getting there. Competitors like BMW and Audi do this better.

Conclusion: Great, comfortable and for all occasions

With the new Santa Fe, Hyundai isn’t just dealing with another flagship. Above all, the Koreans create a car that is as versatile for family use as a Swiss army knife:

Lots of space for kids and toddlers, good for short and long trips and even off-road if necessary, with lots of smart equipment.

And with two hybrid engines, customers can approach the future with care. It doesn’t hurt that driving becomes trivial. After all, being on the road is almost as good.

Data sheet: Hyundai Santa Fe 1.6 T-GDI HEV

Engine and drive: Four-cylinder petrol hybrid Displacement: 1.6 liters Max. Performance: approx. 170 kW/230 hp Maximum torque: kA Drive: front wheel drive Transmission: Six-speed Dimensions and weight Length: 4830 mm Width: 1900 mm Height: 1720 mm Wheelbase: 2815 mm Empty weight: 2225 kg Load: kA. volume: 725 l Driving data: Top speed: 190 km/h Acceleration 0-100 km/ h: 9.5 s Average consumption: kACO2 emissions: kAFuel: Heavy Pollution Class: EU6 Energy efficiency class: kACosts: Price of the basic Hyundai Santa Fe: approx. Euro 63,000 Type classes: kA Car tax: kA Standard equipment: Safety: Ten airbags, adaptive cruise control, reversing camera Comfort: air conditioning, front row reclining seats, digital infotainment Technology fuel efficient: hybrid car

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