By Ian Strachan.
The Santa Fe – one of the most striking off-roaders on the market – has had a restyle – and that’s an understatement!
This capable off-roader, which has been on British roads for more than 20 years, has gone from conservative to posh in a huge move upmarket.
The Santa Fe was always a good looker in an inoffensive way. But now its angular re-style makes it a real head turner. I’d go as far as to say it’s the best looking large SUV on the market, including the much more expensive Range Rover. AND you get seven comfortable seats and a clever H motif in the headlights and tail lights.
Hybrid technology enhances the Santa Fe’s green credentials and gives added economy and range. The 1.6 petrol engine married to a smooth six-speed automatic gearbox is a great combination. I test drove the Santa Fe in Ultimate spec with four wheel drive and a conventional hybrid set up. A PHEV version is also available. My test car came in a distinctive matt Earthy Brass paint finish (£1200 extra).
The impressively large Santa Fe is Hyundai’s biggest offering by some margin, and it is certainly a cut above compared to earlier versions. This is no longer the low-cost option of SUVs, but it has all the refinement, practicality and style of its European competitors.
The Santa Fe is wider and longer than most offerings in the sector, with capacious load space and great towing capability. With seven seats, it’s an obvious choice for families. With the third row of seats folded flat you get an enormous 628 litres of luggage space.
As you’d expect from a Korean-made vehicle, levels of equipment are very high. Even the lowest spec Santa Fe comes with a comprehensive specification.
The Santa Fe Ultimate Hybrid comes with a 215 horsepower 1.6 direct injection engine assisted by an electric motor. The power plant has both guts and refinement.
The six-speed automatic transmission is smooth and stepless. Four wheel drive is permanent, giving a stable and sure footed ride.
The Santa Fe certainly looks the part, with a muscular front end with a huge grille. Inside, the Santa Fe feels as big as it looks, with a comfortable, commanding driving position and excellent all-round visibility. There is plenty of stowage space around the cabin with a large central cubby box accessible from the front and second row of seats. Two central 12.3-inch touchscreens controls most of the car’s functions with a lower 6.6 inch screen for most heating controls.
Safety is a high priority for this vehicle, and it rates highly in the Euro NCAP crash impact tests. Blind spot camera monitor and collision avoidance assist, driver attention alert, lane keeping assist and forward collision assist are all there to keep driver and passengers safe. It also has turning cameras to help safe manoeuvring.
Equipment levels on this specification are high. You get 20 inch alloy wheels, electric heated or ventilated front seats, dual zone climate control, adaptive cruise control, heated steering wheel, Bluetooth connectivity with voice recognition, remote smart parking assist, head up display, dual electric sunroof and roof rails.
You also get heated 60-40 split rear seats, automatic headlights and wipers, front fog lights, front and rear parking sensors with rear camera and surround view monitor, a 10-speaker premium audio system and satellite navigation.
One of the biggest selling points of this vehicle for me is Hyundai’s five year unlimited mileage warranty with five-year annual health checks. The day will surely come when all manufacturers will have to offer a headache-free warranty like this just to stay competitive.
The Hyundai Santa Fe Ultimate 1.6T Hybrid comes in at £53,445 on the road. No longer a cheap option but still less expensive than some of its European competitors, plus it’s a great looker.
