Hyundai Santa Fe – 2022
By Ian Strachan.
The Santa Fe – one of the nicest looking off-roaders on the market – has been on British roads for more than 20 years. The latest version of this purposeful, no nonsense 4×4 from Korean maker Hyundai was originally styled in North America but has a distinctly European feel to it.
And it’s just got better, with plug-in hybrid technology deployed to enhance the Santa Fe’s green credentials
The Santa Fe is Hyundai’s biggest offering, and it has certainly gone upmarket compared to earlier versions. This is no longer the low-cost option of SUVs. It has all the refinement, practicality and style of its European competitors.
The Santa Fe has made a big impact since launch all those years ago. It’s 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, although the third row of seats could be uncomfortable for grown-ups on a long journey.
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.
I test drove the range-topping Santa Fe Ultimate PHEV with four-wheel drive. It comes with a 265 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 an aggressive stance and 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, and luggage space is impressive. The tailgate is powered. A central 10.25-inch touchscreen controls most of the car’s functions.
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.
Equipment levels on this specification are high. You get 19 inch alloy wheels, electric heated or ventilated front seats, dual zone climate control, adaptive cruise control, heated steering wheel, Bluetooth connectivity with voice recognition, head up display, panoramic glass 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. 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 PHEV 4WD comes in at £49,160 on the road. No longer a cheap option but still less expensive than some of its European competitors.
