[ad_1]
The present-generation Hyundai Santa Fe is getting in the direction of the tip of its shelf life, with a much bigger and bolder-looking all-new mannequin set to reach by mid-2024.
However that doesn’t imply this model is completely uncompetitive in opposition to myriad massive SUV opponents, as a result of it nonetheless makes a superb case for itself – proof of how good it was when it launched in 2018.
Certainly, this model will not be even that previous. Usually a car era final seven years, so Hyundai is changing it forward of time.
Core opponents embody the Toyota Kluger, Kia Sorento (which shares the Santa Fe’s underpinnings), Mazda CX-8, Mitsubishi Outlander in 5+2 guise, and Skoda Kodiaq.
The variant we’re driving right here is the Santa Fe Energetic, which sits one rung above the eponymous base mannequin (merely referred to as Santa Fe) and under the extra luxurious Santa Fe Elite and Santa Fe Highlander grades that price extra.
Two drivetrains can be found to select from at this spec degree: a front-wheel drive (FWD) V6 petrol or the all-wheel drive (AWD) four-cylinder diesel – the latter of which we have now right here, commanding a $3500 premium however providing higher gas effectivity, extra torque, and four-wheel traction.
How a lot does the Hyundai Santa Fe Energetic price?
The broader Santa Fe vary opens at $46,050 earlier than on-road prices equivalent to rego and insurance coverage, stamp obligation, and supplier prices. Nonetheless, our check Energetic diesel retails for $53,750 earlier than on-roads.
This RRP equates to a drive-away worth of round $59,000, that means you’ll be able to choose up a Santa Fe Energetic 2.2D AWD seven-seater with premium paint ($695) and a few mats for beneath $60k.
On the time of writing Hyundai Australia was providing a $2500 deposit contribution for these opting to make use of its captive finance plan on a mortgage.
Hyundai Santa Fe pricing:
- Santa Fe Petrol FWD: $46,050
- Santa Fe Diesel AWD: $49,550
- Santa Fe Energetic Petrol FWD: $50,250
- Santa Fe Energetic Diesel AWD: $53,750
- Santa Fe Elite Petrol FWD: $56,500
- Santa Fe Elite Diesel AWD: $60,000
- Santa Fe Elite Hybrid AWD: $63,000
- Santa Fe Highlander Petrol FWD: $63,050
- Santa Fe Highlander Diesel AWD: $66,550
- Santa Fe Highlander Hybrid AWD: $69,550
All costs exclude on-road prices
What’s the Hyundai Santa Fe Energetic like on the within?
The Santa Fe Energetic provides a proximity-sensing key fob and power-unfolding aspect mirrors, that are welcome comfort options that we’ve come to count on.
There are some good design components just like the wavy speaker covers, quilted patterns on the higher seat parts, contrasting stitchwork, metal-look plastic trim inserts, light-coloured headlining, and the fashionable means the rounded sprint part mix neatly into the doorways (Jaguar-style) – all of which elevate the vibe it imparts.
It’s all put-together very well, imparting a sense of solidity and sturdiness.
Being a lower-level variant the seats are handbook adjustable, however they provide good breadth of actions and have ample aspect and under-thigh bolstering in addition to two-way lumbar changes, and naturally gives a commanding experience top.
Behind the wheel is an easy analogue instrument cluster with a small (4.2-inch) digital show between the speedometer and tachometer, displaying you capabilities equivalent to journey information, velocity, and the dwell monitoring of the AWD system’s behaviour.
It’s not the form of flashy all-digital show we’re getting used to on most opponents, but it surely does the job. If you would like the added bonus of a much bigger digital cluster or projecting head-up show on the windscreen you’ll have to spend up on the extra premium grades.
The Energetic additionally retains the smaller 8.0-inch centre touchscreen somewhat than the ten.25-inch unit within the Elite and Highlander, with options equivalent to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a reverse-view digital camera. These costlier variants add additional fascinating extras equivalent to sat-nav with dwell visitors updates and DAB digital radio.
There’s a superb quantity of storage together with bottle holders within the doorways, a secondary open part above the glovebox, an honest centre console behind staggered cupholders, and a very well-thought-out vertical wi-fi telephone charging slot that retains your system neatly tucked away.
In immediately’s world of haptic touchpads and touchscreen interfaces galore, the Santa Fe’s use of fine quaint buttons and switches on the decrease parts of the centre sprint strike me as welcome aid and a win for user-friendliness.
To begin with there’s nearly no scratch- and glare-prone shiny black trim items which stay irritatingly in-vogue, and secondly it means a single press or flip prompts most capabilities shortly as a substitute of requiring one to dig by layers of display menus.
In addition to providing buttons and rocker switches for local weather management and audio capabilities, the Energetic comes with a rotary dial to pick completely different driving and terrain modes, and the transfer to a shift-by-wire transmission selector permits using shift buttons – thereby liberating house for some added hidden storage away from prying eyes.
In any potential household SUV, the again seats are simply as necessary as these up entrance. The 60:40-split centre bench with folding centre armrest/cupholders gives properly bolstered and reclining outboard sections for adults with a smaller, extra child-friendly portion between.
Facilities together with air vents behind the centre console, USB ports, exhausting plastic seat backs for simpler cleanups, map pockets, and comparable trims and design prospers to the entrance. In the event you’ve received a pair of lanky youngsters fret not; I’m 194cm tall (6’4) and have loads of head/toe/leg room behind my very own driving place again there.
Whereas the Santa Fe is billed as a seven-seater, the third-row seats (simply stowed into the ground) are greatest reserved for infrequent use, ideally by youngsters. Good to have, however for those who usually ferry seven occupants you’d be higher served upgrading to a Hyundai Palisade or, higher but, Staria people-mover.
Intelligent touches embody the fitment of vents and a 12V socket, and under-floor stowage for the pull-out cargo blind and the usual fitment of a full-size alloy spare wheel – an enormous tick for regional patrons. If you would like the comfort of a powered tailgate although, you’ll have to step up into the Santa Fe Elite.
What’s beneath the bonnet?
Base variations use a 200kW/331Nm 3.5-litre petrol V6 with front-wheel drive, however our automotive runs the torquier 148kW/440Nm 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel.
The Euro 5 diesel is mated to an eight-speed (moist) dual-clutch automated transmission and an lively on-demand all-wheel drive (AWD) that engages the rear wheels when there’s much less floor traction out there.
In addition to providing all-wheel traction, the diesel engine (claimed gas use 6.1 litres per 100km) gives round 40 per cent larger gas effectivity than the thirsty V6 petrol (10.5L/00km) on the mixed cycle.
Sadly, the fuel-sipping petrol-electric Santa Fe Hybrid is simply out there in pricier Elite and Platinum spec grades. You possibly can learn our overview on this electrified possibility right here. In lieu of this, the diesel is the most effective wager.
Santa Fe Energetic diesel
- Engine: 2.2-litre 4cyl turbo-diesel
- Energy: 148kW @ 3800rpm
- Torque: 440Nm @ 1750-2750rpm
- Pushed wheels: AWD
- Transmission: 8-speed DCT
- Towing capability: 2500kg (braked)
- Claimed gas economic system: 6.1L/100km
- Gas tank capability: 67 litres
How does the Hyundai Santa Fe Energetic drive?
There’s some muted diesel clatter evident from exterior the car, but it surely’s pretty hushed from inside. For city commuters that is another excuse why the silent-at-idle hybrid would make a lot sense.
Regardless, there’s ample punch right here providing wonderful rolling response for overtaking, and a well-tuned DCT that gives smoother-than-expected take-offs and really snappy gear adjustments throughout eight slender ratios.
I averaged a real-world 7.7 litres of diesel per 100km, which for a car weighing the most effective a part of 2.0 tonnes is fairly good, promising a driving vary north of 800km between refills.
Whereas each the V6 petrol and this diesel are rated to tow 2500kg, if I had been shopping for a Santa Fe to lug a ship or caravan, the higher-torque and extra environment friendly diesel could be the plain alternative.
In addition to providing numerous driving modes (Consolation, Eco, Sport, Sensible) that alter parameters like throttle mapping and kit shift behaviours, there are additionally Snow/Mud/Sand terrain modes and downhill descent management.
To be clear, if you wish to go correct off-roading you should purchase a Ford Everest or Isuzu MU-X for comparable cash, each of that are miles extra succesful off the crushed path than the extra car-like Santa Fe.
However for a visit to the snow or for some mildly patch trails, the Hyundai is a strong wager. With its lengthy driving vary and full-size spare tyre, it stacks up as a superb companion for lengthy household adventures that keep on tarmac or gravel.
By ‘Australian-ising’ its suspension calibration by native testing, Hyundais additionally are likely to have nice street manners.
The monocoque Santa Fe with all-round impartial suspension and low-resistance electrical energy steering does a commendable job absorbing bumps and potholes, and settles properly after suspension rebound. These smaller wheels with extra tyre sidewall assist right here, placing perform over kind.
It’s additionally fairly refined on ever coarse-chip surfaces, when it comes to the way in which it filters out tyre and wind noise.
With adaptive cruise management and lane-keeping aids with steering inputs, the Santa Fe additionally permits temporary hands-off freeway driving. Secure Exit Help alerts occupants when parked up in the event that they’re at risk of unintentionally opening their door into the trail of an oncoming bike owner.
What do you get?
Santa Fe highlights:
- 17-inch alloy wheels
- Full-size alloy spare wheel
- LED headlights, daytime operating lights
- Rear parking sensors
- Powered and heated aspect mirrors
- Handbook air-con with rear vents
- Fabric seats
- Leather-based-wrapped steering wheel
- 8.0-inch touchscreen
- Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
- Reversing digital camera
- AM, FM, and Bluetooth audio
- 5 x USB and a pair of x 12V ports
- Wi-fi telephone charger
- 6-speaker sound system
Santa Fe Energetic provides:
- 18-inch wheels
- Entrance parking sensors
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Rear privateness glass
- Chrome exterior highlights
- Auto-folding aspect mirrors
- Twin-zone local weather management
- Proximity-sensing key
- Button begin
- Digital gearshift buttons
- Leather-based seats and door trims
- Material headlining and pillar covers
Santa Fe Elite provides:
- 20-inch alloy wheels
- Powered tailgate
- LED rear mixture lights
- Added chrome highlights
- Photo voltaic management glass
- Anti-dazzle rear-view mirror
- Rear occupant intercom
- Powered and heated entrance seats
- Rear sunshades
- 12.3-inch digital cluster
- 10.25-inch touchscreen
- Sat-nav with dwell visitors updates
- Harman Kardon 10-speaker audio
- Digital radio receiver
Santa Fe Highlander provides:
- Acoustic laminated glass
- Panoramic glass sunroof
- Auto-dipping aspect mirror perform
- Driver’s seat reminiscence perform
- Nappa leather-based seat trim
- Ventilated entrance seats
- Heated second-row seats
- Perforated leather-based steering wheel
- Blind-spot digital camera view in devices
- Distant parking support by way of key fob
- 360-degree surround-view digital camera
- Head-up show
Is the Hyundai Santa Fe Energetic protected?
Petrol and diesel variations of the Santa Fe carry a five-star ANCAP security score from 2018, scoring 94 per cent for grownup occupancy safety, 86 per cent for little one occupancy safety, 67 per cent for weak street consumer safety, and 78 per cent for security help options.
Commonplace security options embody:
- Twin entrance airbags
- Twin front-side airbags
- Entrance-centre airbag
- Curtain airbags – rows one and two solely
- 3 x high tethers, 2 x ISOFIX
- Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
- Car to car
- Pedestrian, Bicycle owner detection
- Lane-keep and following help
- Blind-spot avoidance help
- Rear cross-traffic avoidance help
- Automated high-beam
- Adaptive cruise management
- Driver consideration warning
- Rear-seat occupant alert
- Secure Exit Help
- Energy little one locks
- Tyre stress monitor
- Reversing digital camera
How a lot does the Hyundai Santa Fe Energetic price to run?
Hyundai supplies a five-year, limitless kilometre guarantee, and capped-price servicing at 12 months or 15,000km intervals.
Hyundai Santa Fe 2.2D AWD service pricing:
- 12 months or 15,000km: $499
- 24 months or 30,000km: $499
- 36 months or 45,000km: $499
- 48 months or 60,000km: $529
- 60 months or 75,000km: $499
CarExpert’s Tackle the Hyundai Santa Fe Energetic
The nice previous Hyundai Santa Fe diesel stays a superb, versatile household SUV with 5 full-time seats and two bonus ones for infrequent use.
The Energetic grade gives a superb checklist of extras over the bottom mannequin for the added worth, and this engine is a greater wager than the thirsty petrol V6.
Remember that this era Santa Fe will go on runout quickly, so hold an eye fixed out as a result of that issue may make it a fair higher purchase.
Click on the pictures for the total gallery
[ad_2]