Automotive & Transport

ROAD TEST – Hyundai Santa Fe

Hyundai Santa Fe – 2018

The Santa Fe – one of the nicest looking off-roaders on the market – has been on British roads for nearly 18 years. The latest version of this purposeful, no nonsense 4×4 from Korean maker Hyundai was originally styled in North America but has a disticntly European feel to it explains Motoring Editor Ian Strachan.

This is the fourth generation of the Santa Fe – 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. It’s wider and longer than most offerings in the sector, with 625 litres of boot space and great towing capability. With seven seats, it’s an obvious choice for families, although the third row of seats would 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 Premium SE. It comes with a 200 horsepower 2.2 direct injection diesel engine which has both guts and refinement. It has a 0-60 time of around nine seconds – impressive for a car of this size. It still manages mixed driving fuel consumption of 44.8 miles to the gallon.

The eight-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 eight-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.

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, blind spot detection 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 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 Premium SE automatic comes in at £43,295. No longer a cheap option but still less expensive than some of its European competitors. The range starts at £33,425.

Spread the good news!