A stocky, rugged-looking SUV has made fresh landfall on our shores – but no, this isn’t a European car you’re looking at, but the latest iteration of a longstanding Korean-American name.
This is the fifth-generation Hyundai Santa Fe. Named after the capital of the US state of New Mexico, the seven-seater SUV will only be available here as a hybrid. Its arrival marks the first full-model change since 2018.
And what a change it has undergone. Riding on 20-inch wheels, the all-new Santa Fe puts miles between itself and its predecessor visually, thanks to its boxy silhouette, high bonnet, chunky arches and “floating roof”.
Most striking, of course, are its H-shaped head and tail-lights, which work together with the car’s squarish front end and wider and taller tailgate respectively to emphasise the car’s physical sense of presence. The tail-lamps, in particular, are quite a sight to behold with their unusually low placement.
But peer a bit closer and you’ll notice an interesting element on the car’s C-pillars (on the more premium Calligraphy trim): Hidden grab handles, which provide handy anchor points for those who want to climb up and retrieve items stowed on the roof.
Those who’ve specified a roof rack will also need these grab handles to stow and retrieve their belongings.
BIG CHANGES WITHIN
It’s not just the car’s exterior that has undergone a huge overhaul, but the car’s cabin, too, where the H-motif continues to present itself in areas including the dashboard, air-conditioning vents, and seat stitching.
Immediately, the Santa Fe’s interior should feel both more expensive and upmarket than before. Soft-touch materials – largely made from eco-friendly materials – are plentiful throughout the car, while the doors and dashboard feature a light woodgrain trim.
The all-new Santa Fe also promises to deliver better on its claim of being a full-sized seven-seater SUV.
While retaining its predecessor’s 2-3-2 seating layout, the car has a longer 2815mm wheelbase that gives rear passengers extra space to stretch out. The third row seats are now higher, while legroom and headroom have been improved by 15mm and 69mm respectively.
Boot capacity in the Santa Fe has also been improved. The boot offers 628 litres with the last row folded away and 1949 litres with all the seats down.
Coming back to the front, however, what immediately stands out is the Panoramic Curved Display that features twin 12.3-inch screens for the instrument cluster and touch-operated infotainment display. (A 4.2-inch digital instrument cluster is fitted as standard.)
Still, Hyundai’s re-imagination of the Santa Fe’s front quarters includes a handful of innovative world-first features.
The first is a UV-C Sterilisation Tray right beneath the dashboard – apparently the first of its kind – that gives the front passenger the convenience of storing their items away, along with the ability to sterilise them.
Additionally, the Santa Fe gets a “Bilateral Multi-Console” storage space – a central cubby that can be opened from both the front and rear passengers for added convenience. On the ‘Calligraphy’ trim, dual wireless charging trays ensure that both the driver and front passenger can charge their phones simultaneously.
Finally, the Santa Fe now also offers a Relaxation Driver Seat with an extendable leg rest.
ELECTRIFIED POWERTRAIN
Unlike its predecessors, the fifth-generation Santa Fe is offered purely as a full-hybrid. Drivers will find a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine under the bonnet that’s mated to a 47.7kW (64bhp) electric motor, providing a combined output of 213bhp and 367Nm of torque.
You’d expect the Santa Fe to be all-wheel driven, given its rugged styling, but this power is sent solely to the front wheels via a 6-speed automatic transmission. Hyundai Singapore claims a fuel consumption figure of 14.5km/L, which is far from shabby for a seven-seater SUV.
As we referred to earlier, the Santa Fe will go on sale in Singapore in two trims: The Santa Fe TurboHybrid and the more premium Santa Fe TurboHybrid Calligraphy, although only the latter is available at launch.
As standard, the car’s equipment list is arguably rather generous. It includes a remote folding second row, rear door sun shades, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus full LED headlights and tail-lights.
Said list also has a 10-airbag system, and numerous driver assists, including Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Forward Collision Avoidance Assist, and Lane Keeping Assist.
Tech gets even better in the Calligraphy variant with the inclusion of Remote Smart Parking Assist (allowing the car to move forward/reverse on its own in a lot), an Around View Monitor, and Blind Spot View Monitor.
The Calligraphy also gets Nappa leather upholstery, two sunroofs, a heads-up display, and ventilated front seats. Splashing the extra cash also grants you those Assist Handles on the C-Pillars and dual wireless charging trays.
Finally, the Santa Fe will be available in at least five new exterior colours for customers to choose from, including Terracotta Orange Solid, Cyber Sage Pearl, and the Earthy Brass Matte you see in these pictures.
This story was first published on Sgcarmart.
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