Hyundai has further refined its award-winning Santa Fe SUV range, adding a suite of active safety technologies as standard to a model already praised for its style, practicality and performance.
Known as Hyundai SmartSenseTM, this suite of leading edge, active safety features headline a revised Santa Fe MY18 model range that also arrives with a host of upgraded comfort and convenience features.
Importantly both the Active and Active X models receive SmartSenseTM safety technology without incurring a price increase, further enhancing Santa Fe’s value proposition.
Elite and Highlander also feature a new 8.0-inch multi-media system with satellite navigation. Using a new hardware platform, it offers both Apple CarPlayTM and Android Auto compatibility.
“Santa Fe has been a great example of affordable luxury from the day it made its debut and the MY18 range continues to deliver on this promise,” says Hyundai Motor Company Australia’s Chief Operating Officer, Scott Grant.
“With SmartSense now standard across the range, buyers get the latest advanced safety technology in a practical, full-size seven-seat SUV with a starting price below $42,000.”
Hyundai’s SmartSenseTM package for Santa Fe incorporates Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) with Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Blind Spot Detection (BSD) systems as well as radar-guided Smart Cruise Control (SCC).
For MY18 the Active and Active X models also gain a 4.2-inch colour supervision display in the instrument cluster (previously a 3.5-inch monochromatic display), electronic parking brake, electro-chromatic interior mirror and power-operated folding side mirrors incorporating puddle lights.
Hyundai’s large SUV model range has also been streamlined for MY18 with manual transmission-equipped Active variants no longer in the model mix, making the Santa Fe range an “automatic only” model line-up.
A Higher Standard of Safety
New Hyundai MY18 Santa Fe features a comprehensive suite of safety features that are standard across the range, including:
Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) and Forward Collision Warning (FCW)
Using information from the Smart Cruise Control radar and windscreen-mounted Lane Departure Warning cameras, the Forward Collision Warning (FCW) system operates autonomously and is active between 7km/h and 70km/h for pedestrians and between 8km/h and 180km/h for vehicles.
If a potential crash is detected, the FCW system will provide an audible warning chime and display a visual warning in the supervision display.
Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) works with the FCW, applying the brakes if no driver action is detected after the audio-visual warnings. It will try to bring the vehicle to a complete stop when activated at speeds below 70km/h (for pedestrians) or 80km/h (for other vehicles).
If activated between 80km/h and 180km/h it will slow the vehicle, reducing collision severity while allowing drivers to carry-out avoidance manoeuvres.
Smart Cruise Control (SCC)
A radar sensor at the front of the car measures the speed of and distance to vehicles ahead, operating between 30km/h and 180km/h and automatically regulating the speed set by the driver while keeping a safe distance from any vehicles ahead.
The system also functions smoothly in stop/start traffic, bringing the vehicle to a complete stop when necessary and automatically (within three seconds) accelerating back to the pre-set speed.
If the vehicle is stationary for more than three seconds the driver is prompted to resume the chosen cruising speed using a steering wheel-mounted switch.
Blind Spot Detection (BSD)
At speeds above 30km/h, bumper-mounted, rear-facing radar sensors detect vehicles alongside and diagonally behind Santa Fe. If a vehicle enters the monitored area a visual alert is shown in the appropriate side mirror. If the driver activates the turn indicator, a flashing visual warning is shown, accompanied by an audible alert.
Lane Change Assist (LCA)
Lane Change Assist scans the road behind Santa Fe, looking for faster vehicles approaching from behind, and provides audible and visual alerts to warn of a potentially hazardous situation when the turn signal is initiated by the driver.
Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
Rear Cross Traffic Alert is active when Santa Fe is being driven in reverse at speeds below 10km/h. It uses the Blind Spot detection system’s radar sensors to look for vehicles approaching from both the left and right and is particularly useful for reversing out of perpendicular parking spaces usually found in shopping centre or apartment building carparks.
RCTA detects vehicles travelling between 4km/h and 36km/h and warns the driver with an audible warning and a visual alert courtesy of a flashing light in the appropriate side mirror and a warning message displayed on the instrument panel.
Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS)
The Lane Departure Warning System on Santa Fe uses a windscreen-mounted camera to detect road lane markings and monitor Santa Fe’s position within the lane. It helps prevent accidental lane departures by giving audible and visual warnings if the vehicle strays from its lane without an indicator being activated. It is temporarily deactivated whenever the indicators are used.
Santa Fe MY18 is well connected
Santa Fe MY18’s new 8-inch satellite navigation unit, standard on Elite and Highander, is built around a completely new hardware platform that brings both Apple CarPlayTM and Android Auto compatibility.
Apple CarPlayTM
As well as allowing occupants to play music selected from an Apple iPhoneTM, the multi-media display also highlights a range of applications from the device, allowing users to access navigation through Apple maps, make and take phone calls or send and receive messages.
A steering wheel-mounted Voice Recognition button activates the Siri voice control function, allowing drivers to manage a variety of their iPhone’s functions using vocal commands, letting drivers concentrate on the road and maintain safe vehicle operation.
(Apple CarPlayTM is only compatible with iPhone 5 or later models using a Lightning cable)
Android Auto
Android Auto compatibility, which also features voice activation for full driving focus, allows drivers to make and return phone calls, send and receive text messages, get navigation instructions from Google Maps, play music, access calendar information and add reminders.
Voice control is activated through the steering wheel-mounted Voice Recognition button and Android Auto requires an Android 5.0 (Lollipop) or later operating system.
Engine and Drivetrains
Hyundai’s MY18 Santa Fe gives buyers a wide range of engine choices with two petrol and one diesel variants available, all mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.
2.4 GDi Petrol – AWD (Active only)
The 2.4-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine, a member of the Theta II family, features Gasoline Direct Injection (GDi), double overhead camshafts, Dual Continuously Variable Valve Timing (D-CVVT) and four valves per cylinder. It develops 138kW of power at 6,000rpm and 241Nm of torque at 4,000rpm, delivering a fuel consumption of 9.4L/100km.
3.3 MPI Petrol – FWD (Active X)
The all-aluminium, 3.3-litre V6 features Multi-Point Injection (MPI), double overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder and two-step variable induction, helping it deliver a hefty 199kW at 6400rpm and 318Nm at 5300rpm. Fuel consumption is 10.5L/100km.
2.2 CRDi Diesel – AWD (Active, Elite, Highlander)
Hyundai’s 2.2-litre, four-cylinder, turbocharged diesel features Common Rail Direct Injection (CRDi) and delivers 147kW at 3800rpm and 440Nm of torque from 1,750rpm through to 2,750rpm. Fuel consumption is 7.8/100km.
Suspension tuning specifically for Australia
Santa Fe MY18 continues to feature Hyundai Motor Company Australia’s locally-focussed suspension development program carried-out by the company’s own in-house chassis and suspension tuning team led by Mr Hee Loong (‘Wongy’) Wong, General Manager of Product Engineering.
The local ride and handling development program combines extensive on-road evaluation work with advanced computer modelling to achieve the right balance.
