Hyundai has opened the order books for its all-new Santa Fe, with range-wide pricing landing around $10,000 more than the outgoing models, but the Korean car maker has also announced plans to release a petrol version later this year.
Three trim options are being offered, which include the base Santa Fe (seven seat), Elite (seven seat) and Calligraphy (six or seven seat). The base model is offered in front- or all-wheel drive configurations, while the mid- and top-spec models receive all-wheel drive as standard.
It’s hybrid-only power (at this stage) across the Santa Fe range which utilises a 1.6-litre petrol-hybrid powertrain mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, producing 172kW/367Nm. A 1.49kWh lithium-ion polymer battery runs the 44.2kW electric motor.
The Santa Fe will sip as little as 5.6l/100km, according to Hyundai, besting the outgoing hybrid model’s 6l/100km. Hyundai has not yet specified fuel use for each individual model, so Fleet Auto News suspects this figure may apply to front-wheel drive models.
Hyundai has priced the base-model Santa Fe front-wheel drive model from $55,500 plus on-road costs, with the base all-wheel drive model coming in at a slightly higher $58,500. The Elite starts at $65,000 and the Calligraphy will set buyers back $75,000 plus on-road costs – before any boxes are ticked at the dealer.
While the price is up across the range, the new Santa Fe is larger in every area, other than front overhang, coming in at 44mm longer and 60mm taller, and with increased cargo capacity of up to 1949 litres.
The new model takes a serious step into the future showcasing Hyundai’s ‘Open for More’ design language, which draws on an adventure themes to target millennial and gen-x customers.
“Now in its fifth generation, all-new SANTA FE brings expansive space and extensive equipment to give adventurous families an attractive, rugged and sophisticated three-row SUV,” Hyundai Motor Company Australia Chief Executive Officer, Ted Lee said.
“All-new SANTA FE’s roomy third row, expanded cargo area and wider tailgate give customers the space to escape and enjoy the great outdoors, with an array of convenience and connectivity technology at their fingertips,” he said.
While the longstanding model has traditionally offered a sleek, urban SUV design, the new Santa Fe adopts a boxy, hyper-modern aesthetic and according to early promotional videos Hyundai clearly expects owners will use the model outside of metro centres, too.
A teaser released late last year showed the new Santa Fe being used in the deserts of – you guessed it – Santa Fe, New Mexico, exploring off the beaten track and encouraging prospective buyers to do the same.
In fact, Hyundai even unveiled a more hardcore off-road XRT variant at the Los Angeles Motor show last year, akin to its high performance ‘N’ variants, with beefier all-terrain tyres, an extra 38mm of ground clearance and increased towing capacity. It is unclear as to whether Australia will receive the XRT, though, with no confirmation as of yet.
The ‘Open for More’ concept draws on research that revealed a high level of interest in outdoor activities among Millennial and Generation-X customers, leading to a vehicle with a more spacious interior and large cargo area – made possible by an extended wheelbase and efficient design.
Inside, the Santa Fe boasts a Panoramic Curved Display featuring 12.3-inch digital clusters and infotainment displays, with Bluelink Connected Car Services, Over-The-Air (OTA) remote software updates, and SmartSense suite of safety technology.
The driver assistance and active safety includes Hyundai’s second-generation Highway Driving Assist (HDA2), Forward Collision Assist (FCA2), and Lane Following Assist (LFA2).
Top-spec Calligraphy variants take luxury to another level, with first-row ‘relaxation seating’ with leg rests, power-reclining second-row ‘captain’s chairs’, a digital rear-view mirror, and UV-C Sterilisation Tray to clean items such as phones.
According to Hyundai Australia, a 2.5 turbocharged petrol engine producing 206kW/422Nm will join the hybrid range later this year – offering more power than the V6 used in the old model.
The new petrol option will be available in front-wheel or all-wheel drive configurations, mated to an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission – adding two cogs over the six-speed offered in the hybrid models .
While Hyundai hasn’t released pricing details for its petrol-only models, they will presumably undercut the more sophisticated hybrid powertrain bringing the Santa Fe closer to the circa $50k price tag buyers of the previous generation jumped at.
