Hyundai Santa Fe review, first drive

The one thing about Hyundai that is grabbing my attention is just how rapidly they are transitioning from one design language to another. This leaves little room for what the industry calls a cohesive family look, which is just corporate speak for drab! What Hyundai's vehicle lineup have is called character, and I believe this has its advantages. There are very few bits that are shared, and from the smallest to the largest Hyundai, each has a very distinct appearance. This philosophy is what the Santa Fe subscribes to, and this makes it a head-turner.

New Hyundai Santa Fe: Design and Interior

There are other elements that further enhance the appeal of this 5th generation SUV. One of them is its size. The Santa Fe is huge, from nose tip to tail its 4.83 metres long, between the ends of the wing mirrors its 1.9 metres wide and head to toe its 1.8 metres tall. Massive. That size though is cleverly disguised with some very strong character lines, and stylized elements like the front grille and the H-pattern LED lamps much like what we have seen on the smaller Exter, the half octagonal wheel arches that jut out brazenly, the exposed door handles and a thick blacked out C-pillar. The 21" wheels and Kumho rubber also fill the wheel wells comprehensively.

Step inside the cabin and you immediately confirm the fact that the Santa Fe does draw inspiration from the Land Rover Discovery and Defender. There is no denying that the steering wheel is heavily inspired by what is seen on the LR range of SUVs. Even the dashboard has that narrow band housing the air-con vents, but this is a tastefully appointed and finished cabin. Full marks to Hyundai for upping the luxury quotient to the level that you can easily consider this as an alternative to the Germans.

Being Hyundai however you get lots more that what you bargain for. Take for instance the dual wireless charging pads in the centre console. Yup you heard that right, not one, but two phones can be fast charged wirelessly. And just in case you have more devices, there's two Type-C ports. Its got ample storage bins too, two of them on the dash, one under the armrest, gigantic door pockets that hold full size water bottles. Its all practical and how!

There is another advantage to the Santa Fe, the large size of this SUV allows for three rows of seating where all three rows can fit full size adults! The middle row seats can be adjusted forward and back for more knee rom in the third row, and when not required, the third row folds into the floor for added luggage space. Even when the third row seats are opened up, there is enough space for a long weekends worth of luggage.

New Hyundai Santa Fe: Engine and Performance

Now to get to the part where the Santa Fe isn't standing still. The SUV we drove in South Korea is a hybrid, not the full ICE or the plug-in variety. This is a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol combined with a electric powertrain to deliver 235PS and a decent 265Nm of peak torque. We think it's the configuration that makes the most sense should Hyundai consider bringing this to India.

Its got strong green credentials, decent performance and noise and vibe free refinement. Don't go expecting explosive performance and you wont be disappointed, that is how you approach this SUV. This powertrain is for those times you just want to cruise, enjoy a silky drive to somewhere far away or be chauffeured around in solitude. On the flip side this is not a full time AWD configuration, this comes as optional equipment. So the new Santa Fe does have certain limitations.

Ride comfort is one of the key highlights here. The Santa Fe feels plush and the suspension is setup to enhance comfort over dynamics. Given the tallish stance and the higher centre of gravity you can feel the body roll and tumble through corners, though the steering feels controlled and precise and a slew of traction assistance systems will keep things in check. Level 2 ADAS systems bring in a stronger safety net and you can control the automatic braking response by changing the distance and braking effort.

New Hyundai Santa Fe: Verdict

Overall, then the Santa Fe has all the ingredients to be a strong mover for Hyundai in India. Fantastic size, practicality, features, and premium quality. But it comes with certain riders. One of those is that Hyundai will have to get into an assembly operation at the very least. As a CBU, the price could go north of INR 70 lakh, and that would strangle any growth prospects and dim customer appeal for this very fine SUV. Presently the SUV is under consideration for India, and I do hope the decision makers at Hyundai Korea find enough reason for the Santa Fe to make a comeback in India.