Hyundai Santa Fe 2019 - The redesigned comfortable and well-equipped 2 row SUV

Andi offers more and more very high quality cars, one of them is this fourth generation Santa Fe, the brand's largest SUV this time. It offers a more spacious and better quality cabin, with seven standard seats and under the hood is the main power source. a 2.2-liter diesel that is one of the strong points of its offer in the SUV segment d. This sleeker brand for model design has a much sharper sense of style and also a look that hints at the kind of adventure the brand claims it will be able to experience. explode through a

redesigned

optional all-wheel drive system is an SUV for people who probably never thought they would drive an SUV a Hyundai for people who probably never thought they would drive a high-end e In short, a car Grains to surprise you So far this century, Hyundai has done quite

well

with SUVs and the Santa Fe model line is what first established the brand in this part of the market.

Here we have the fourth generation version of that design and it also happens to be the largest. and the most sophisticated SUV that Korean manufacturers have ever brought us, it is a far cry from the first generation of the Santa Fe of 2001, which was the size of what the industry today calls the C segment of SUVs and that is a category that you will know better with the Qashqai. Class cars are so into it, mid-size models to some of Hulan Di are campaigning in that sector these days by launching the Santa Fe to be a little bigger, big enough in fact to accommodate three rows of seats, now many rival D-segment SUVs also have room for seven. but normally they offer a third row of seats only suitable for children, as was also the case with the second and third generation Santa Fe models, but this time this one has subtly grown in size to the point where he and I consider it can offer a significant improvement.

In familiar practicality, like older designs in this model line, this one shares much of its engineering with its Korean cousin Kia Sorento but at the same time incorporates a heavy dose of Hyundai's latest technology. This generation's version has a completely new platform and the option of a new eight. -Four-wheel drive, a much higher quality cabin and the latest safety and media features from the Korean conglomerates, plus, tell us that the driving dynamics are now much more in tune with the sort of thing that European bars They wait and like you. You can see that the exterior styling is now sharper and much more attractive;

In short, it's the kind of thing you'd expect from a company that now produces very impressive cars and a brand that has sold more than 1.6 million SUVs in Europe since the original version of this one. The model began at the beginning of the century. Smart Design, although ambitiously priced, can it really deliver on its promises and justify a slightly more premium level of market positioning? It's hard to realize that you might need your SUV to be a big seven. -Family wagon with seats, but there is no reason why it has to drive like a bus, better D-segment models.

Isn't that right? This is one of them, even on fairly narrow roads you don't really feel this Santa Claus face, it's actually quite prodigious in size. Saying this Hyundai feels sporty in some sense, but what SUV of this size is it? I mean, the competing brands in this segment realized better than the motoring magazines that the handling of a car of this type is usually quite low on the list of priorities after how it behaves. Look at what it costs and how much space there is inside, ultimately, although this contender manages to ride and handle exactly how most would want a large family vehicle to do and that's not an easy thing to achieve in something this tall. and voluminous, although there were limits.

As far as human purchasing development engineers were willing to go to improve the vehicle dynamics ease of this SUV, a fundamental change in Santa Fe's philosophy would have been necessary for this fourth-generation model to live up to the models that are capable of leading this class. In that sense, and that is not what has been foreseen in the deep global evolutionary approach that has been applied here, the South Korean company has to consider its more conservative markets of the US and Asia and, in any case, that brand is

well

aware that many potential buyers still want to tow and enjoy at least occasional light off-road adventures;

In other words, they still need this car to be quite strong and that means that the fairly heavy top variants can tip the scales at over 2 tonnes in weight and that's what you'll get. I'm certainly sorry if you recklessly start trying to throw this away. To be fair, there is nothing wrong with cornering grip and traction by the standards of this type of SUV and the additional torsional rigidity of these fourth generation models, completely new and much stiffer platform. It has helped reduce body roll when cornering and that is a change that would normally be expected to have an adverse effect on ride quality oil bills.

It did it with the first Korean market versions of this Mart for Santa Fay, but the Asian engineers must have put a lot of work into the global market product because the suspension balance of the car we are testing here is very good, In fact, in some large SUVs, the sight of that jagged scar left on the road by a cable TV crew would result in that kind of behavior. What you expect from a bulk hauler in a Biscay Gale, you'll know, though he'll clean up asphalt tears like that without breaking a sweat while maintaining the same composure over urban speed bumps and potholes; there is no adaptive damping option that you would do.

They allow you to vary the feel of the suspension, but there are other systems available on this fourth-generation model that will allow you to change certain aspects of the driving behavior, which ones you get will depend on the type of Santa Fe package you now select with a gearbox. manual, for example, the brand supplies its Flex level system and that allows you to alter the steering weighting, but frankly, this is one of those features that you are very likely to try once and then forget about. Much better is the company's driving mode system. Although you only get one of those if you decide not to choose one of the two-wheel drive models, front-wheel drive is an option with all trim levels available, if you choose a Santa Fe with two-wheel drive you will obviously improve your fuel economy. fuel and If you put on a good set of winter tires, you'll probably be able to handle just about anything the colder months throw at you, like most buyers of this, you and I think we'd probably want to pay more. for one of the 4x4 versions, the all-wheel drive setup has now improved, we have the brand's H Trac technology and almost all SUVs in this class use on-demand four-wheel drive systems that primarily drive the front wheels and that The rear axle comes into play only when the lack of traction demands it.

The exact amount of torque that is transmitted to the front or rear is usually controlled automatically, and that gives a very one-dimensional feel to the way crossovers of that type tend to handle each track. -demand system, but the concept here is to give the driver some say over that aspect of things with four different settings accessible via this button next to the gear lever; There's an eco option that sets the front-to-rear ratio at 80/20. Switching to comfort diverts more power to the rear by 35 percent, while sport mode offers an equal 50/50 split between front and rear. the rear and that makes this Hyundai feel a little more agile most of the time, although you'll probably keep this car in the fourth Auto. intelligent setup and that makes all the decisions for you, each track has been designed to work with another new feature added to this fourth generation model, the brand's latest 8-speed automatic gearbox, now costing a lot more to add on this automatic shifter and Because this gearbox doesn't feature the industry's latest dual-clutch technology, its ratio changes aren't as smooth as they could be, it's a package that really suits this car and works well with the old track setup compared to the previous generation models 6 speed automatic, this one the points are higher, downshift point when braking, improving the engine response, oh yes, now the engine response we should get to that and now that the introduction of this power generation model, he and I refer to his intention to add hybrid and plug-in hybrid gasoline electric power plants in this car from launch, although only one option was offered under the hood and is a slightly updated R-spec version of the 2.2-litre CRDi diesel used in the previous design. more power and conversation than before, 200 HP and 440 Newton meters, this last figure is enough to facilitate a brake turning capacity set at 2.5 tons for manual models or two tons if you opt for an automatic version, Some obvious rivals in this segment seemed to offer significantly lower asking prices, but those figures generally apply to lower-powered diesel brains that simply can't offer the mid-range level or performance of the Santur phase, as you'll learn on the market in the Ranger model section in this movie once I specify it.

Rival SUVs with engines that are adequately comparable to this Hyundai crdi engine. The price of the Sante phase is starting to look a lot more realistic. Hyundai has improved the efficiency technology this gives to a unit, but it still feels a little flat at lower revs and if you try to replicate it. the quoted nine and a half seconds rest at 62 miles per hour and push you past 2000 rpm, it's also a little rough at higher revs, you can also feel a certain amount of vibration through the pedals and steering wheel too at a cruise, although the engine quiets down quite a bit and what you're most likely to hear is the wind noise generated around the large door mirrors.

Now the quoted top speed is 127 miles per hour, as we suggested above, like most large SUVs, this SantaFe is much more

comfortable

in this type of environment than when driving on winding back roads. The new rack-mounted electric steering system, while more formidable than before, is still a little too remote for any real degree of driving enjoyment. However, in that kind of scenario it's now straightforward enough to allow you to put a car pretty much wherever you'd like at speed in faster corners, which isn't the case with all of these models, direct rivals and off-road capability, that depends on your expectations Hyundai says that by developing the fourth generation in Santa Fe it is thought that it will continue with its off-road capabilities that characterized the previous models, the reality is that the approach and departure angles of this brand by design are not up to par.

The terrain is really rough and ground clearance remains modest at 185 millimeters, but that will probably be all you'll need to stay mobile in the next snowfall or take to the nearest forest trail, those brave or foolhardy enough to want to make a little more than That will be ensured with the provision of a manually selectable four-wheel drive lock mode that splits the conversation 50/50 from front to rear to facilitate you in particularly slippery situations at speeds up to 25 miles now, as we just said , this Hyundai is relatively close to the ground means it shouldn't be too extreme, but hill start assist control and an 18-point, 5-degree approach angle should help you overcome these steep inclines, while there is an angle 21 point two degree exit to help you when Now you reach the bottom on the other side, for some reason the possible break angle of the ramp that makes this stretch of Bulacan is less sharp this time, it is now rated fifty point seven degrees, it's hard to imagine any buyer of this you and I will ever drive.

To those extremes, users who want serious off-road capability from a model like this in this segment would be more likely to buy an SUV like the Toyota Land Cruiser, a Mitsubishi Shogun or something with a Land Rover badge, perhaps even a Santa Fe homeowner wouldn't need it. venture into the Serengeti to get any benefit from the eight track four wheel drive setup and when we do, after all we live in the countryside where, on average, it rains over a hundred and forty days a year andOn wet asphalt, this car certainly offers a reassuring sense of traction when the weather takes a turn for the worse, it's reassuring in many other ways, which, if you're sold on the Santa Fe proposition, will probably be one of the main reasons why.

Over four generations, the Santa Fe typifies an impressive evolution in tone. The design of the first generation version was strange and typically Asian in design. The brand to the model was functional. The Mark 3 version was quite smart and this Mark 4 could actually be described. It's quite elegant. It is also slightly larger than its direct predecessor as a purchase of the previous model. From this profile perspective, it can be noted that the 70 millimeter increase in length may not seem like much, but it is enough to mean that Hugh and I this time have no need to offer the larger Grande the Santa Fe body shape that we used to sell in other markets.

It also ensures that this car now occupies a parking space approximately four point seven meters long, which in terms of size is not that far from a large luxury SUV, say a Range Rover Sport of the next class, although the silhouettes here they are a little less. slimmer than you'd get with such a 4x4 mainly because the rear side windows now slope more deeply into the waist of the car to improve visibility for passengers traveling in the rear. Hugh and I say that change was requested by families who bought the previous model, many of them in South Korea and the US, where most Santa Fe models are sold.

Other things you may notice in this Side views include the sleeker, longer roofline, a full-length character crease that runs from the headlights to the taillights. these more sculpted door panels and the adoption of darker moldings around the wheel arches, now these house wheels with a size between 17 and 19 inches, here we have the 19 inches, the front is certainly very different from anything Santa Fe buyers have seen before developing a so-called composite styling approach first used on the brand's smallest SUV, the Kona, now as part of what look like headlights, these are strips Thin LEDs on each corner of the hood, they are actually daytime running lights.

The main lamp, sir, is located in these recesses just below each side of this huge cascading grill and that is a modern tone and characteristic touch that is supposed to be inspired by the flow of molten steel. The rear is less flashy but just as confidently executed with a more striking bulge design that includes this gray finished panel that is supposed to offer the required crossover behavior and that incorporates this really quite powerful looking dual exhaust outlet, thinking that these fog and reversing lights with built-in lower corner indicator would be quite vulnerable in a similar collision, although the upper rear lights now feature LED lighting, while smarter finishing touches include this stylish roof spoiler and Beyond of that, this shark fin roof antenna, as usual, although the most important thing is the things that can't be seen now.

This fourth-generation Santa Fe rides on a completely new and much more rigid platform, 57% of which is now made of high-quality materials. level have been done recently at motor shows around the world where they want to see how much Hyundai is now able to do in this their flagship SUV, when the door opens wide for easy entry, once you are inside you will find that It's all very different to what it was before the unusually angular dashboard styling of the previous third-generation model was replaced by a design that is likely to be more universally appealing, the central infotainment screen no longer as integrated into the dashboard. as before, but Hyundai says its higher position will make it easier to see now that cabin quality is not yet at a brand's premium levels. but it's been a long time coming and will take a step forward in a way that will be particularly evident if you're in a top-spec vehicle like this one, with its hand-tufted leather seats and textured door speakers.

What has not changed is the imposing control. High SUV seating position offering impressive all-round visibility from the bright bodywork. More key improvements relate to the driving instruments, they eschew the entry-level trim and the instrument binnacle features this 7-inch central color TFT display which in this car model changes. color depending on the driving mode selection, so it is blue in the comfort and intelligent configuration, it is green in eco and red in sport. It also has a configurable section in the center of the virtual dial screen that, among other things, offers digital speed. Oh, a fuel compass. trip computer data from the economy meter and on 4x4 models there are display options that show real-time operation of the H track all-wheel drive system.

Another thing Santa Fe buyers haven't seen before is the front display that's fitted to this top-spec round and this one has a particularly large projected image size of 8 inches. We mentioned the central infotainment screen earlier and it has a size of 7 inches or in this case 8 inches and that depends on the specification you choose now we have no problems with the functionality or display of this tablet style monitor, but we can't think that Shin has missed a trick by not reaching for some kind of lower controller, which is the kind of functionality that major European brands favor and that makes it easier to access specific functions. functions without taking your eyes off the road Now, here in this Santa Fe, you have to attack to get the functions you want, either that or try to mask the voice control functionality which, as with all systems of this type , it can sometimes be a little bad in all variants, the central screen allows you to access a da B audio settings, also Bluetooth phone functionality and phone projection mirroring Apple Carplay or Android Auto now, if you have This larger 8-inch monitor also has Wi-Fi 3D navigation, a higher quality 10-speaker Krell premium audio system, and a Hyun Dyes live services package that alerts you to speed cameras, updates you in addition to the climate and provides accurate information about traffic jams and road works with the usual adjustment for the seat and steering wheel, it is certainly easy to achieve.

comfortable

in this cabin and feels even more spacious than it actually is The seat design is supportive and in this top model you get an electrically extendable seat cushion that offers ten different positions, everything is very close at hand, ergonomically placed The switchboard is very hard to fault and the switches are large enough to be used with gloved hands.

For practicality, there's a large center console between the seats, although there's no media port inside to let you charge your phone away from prying eyes. Twin USBs and oxygen socket and 12 volt point like the ones we found in this open storage area in front of the gastic and I will also include a smartphone charging mat if you avoid the entry level now while we are in storage we will tell you . that our twin cup holders are made here next to the gear shift and that it has a curved area just behind it, you'll get ticket clips in the visors, little storage cubbies in the door handles and an overhead sunglasses compartment, they are cheap, the feeling that the glove box is a reasonable size and can be cooled to keep things like chocolate and drinks cold and there is a storage shelf just above here, whose door pockets are not particularly large, they incorporate bottle holders, but they will only allow the spores access to the middle row.

The seats are good again, the doors open wide and that makes it easy for parents to lean over and put things like child seats and child cushions in. Once they get comfortable in the second row, there is a much greater sense of space than was the case with the previous generation. version of this model and that is not an illusion either. Hyundai says legroom in this part of the car has been increased by 38 millimeters this time around, although the actual amount of space you get will depend on how you position this slide. The seat base can now be moved forward and backward in a range of 300 millimeters, i.e. 30 millimeters more than before.

However, the extent to which you will be able to do this will of course depend on whether you are ahead of third place. People in the row traveling behind the base of the seat have now been positioned 18 millimeters higher, and that gives people in the second row a slightly better view. There is a noticeably low center transmission tunnel which will make it easier to transport 1/3 of the adults in this rather narrow center seating position if necessary. Headroom isn't overly generous, especially with this large panoramic glass roof installed, but taller people will be more comfortable if they can make use of the reclining backrests now that the glass roof is worth having, although it offers to this rather darkly furnished cabin a brighter area, you feel what else, interestingly there is a 220 volt European socket back here, but the children were pleased to discover that two USB ports are provided so that phones can be charged while the play equipment rings. and beeps and annoys parents in the front, skip the entry-level trim and this rear bench will be heated and this top variant also provides blinds on the side windows as storage space, while you get the usual twin cupholders in this folding center armrest, the door bins there are reasonably sized and incorporate bottle holders, there are pockets in the seat backs and there is a small central storage area under the cufflinks, events sent, ok, time to check the third row, now you have to have it with this fourth generation Santa Fe in our market in At least Hyundai says that hardly anyone bought the five-seat variants that were offered with the previous generation range anyway.

As before, it's a shame that the third row can only be accessed from the curb of a car, but at least it can be moved with electric operation. the second row seat forward in a way that will allow you to access the rear of the vehicle, simply press this button on the shoulder of the seat, unfortunately doing so does not flip the seat, it simply slides it forward and in fact neither It doesn't even do that much, unless the front passenger seat is pushed quite a bit towards the windshield, once you're in, as advertised, there's more room than you normally have in the back, most views of a typical D-segment 17.

SUV and that's thanks to the additional body length adjustment we referred to earlier, enough space has been freed up to more comfortably accommodate the couple of full-size adults who would have been significantly tighter in the previous generation version of this car or at least that one. This will be the case if the people in the second row in front of you have pushed their seat bases forward by a reasonable amount; otherwise you will really feel a bit claustrophobic. The additional sliding range of the second row seats we referred to above should help everyone find a viable care compromise for the people in the back.

It should be a big help to Lee that there is 42 millimeters more headroom for third-row passengers than in the old Mark 3 Santa Fe and the lower window line we mentioned earlier. That may play a role in alleviating car sickness for younger ones, don't get us wrong, they won't be as comfortable back here as they would be in the background of a galaxy or Chiron as a large minivan, there still isn't enough room to that, but by SUV standards it's actually quite spacious, here you'd be noticeably more restricted in the back of a Land Rover Discovery sport or even an Audi q7 costing up to £20,000 more wouldn't be noticeably more spacious in this regard, the third row.

People have their own air conditioning vents and there is even a fan controller for the right occupant. They also have a couple of cup holders. There is a storage compartment for the left passenger here, of course, with the rear seats in place, it won. There is not much space for luggage, but of course that applies toany 7 seater that is not directly based on a van. Lift the tailgate, which works above the entry level, and you'll find it with all three rows in place. You will only have enough space for a few bean bags. Still, there's a little more room in this underfloor compartment that includes a pair of elastic straps and can also neatly incorporate the tonneau cover when you're not using it.

Hooks are provided in addition to the usual tie-down points and you get adequate space over the spare wheel underneath instead of one of those complicated tie-down repair kits, of course, most of the time you'll probably use your SantaFe with these safety seats. the third row. folded flat to the floor, at which point you free up five hundred and forty-seven liters of space, thirteen meters more than the previous generation design could offer and you can gain a little more if you are prepared to bother the passengers in the second row . By making the seat backs a little more upright or sliding the seat bases forward, the trunk opening is nice and wide and has a low loading lip, so orchid-colored items such as Strollers and bicycles should enter easily.

The cargo area itself is a decent shape. Tooth loading is somewhat inhibited by these wheel arches which protrude slightly towards the rear of the trunk. If you need to carry a long, narrow load, you'll be pleased to know that the second-row backrest is split 40/20/40, so longer items can be pushed like skis between a pair of middle-row occupants, flattened completely the central bank using these wall-mounted charging buttons and 1,662 liters of fresh air can be released. The cargo area lies flat until the center row of seats, at which point it rises slightly to give it a classy outlook.

The total capacity figure I just quoted is quite a bit less than that of a Skoda Kodiak, but it is similar to what you might expect from, say, a Land Rover Discovery sport; There's no option for a flat front passenger seat, but what's provided here should be sufficient for the needs of most likely buyers. An inevitable consequence of the SantaFe being better finished, better

equipped

and better engineered is that prices have risen and are now mainly in the mid-thirties to mid-forties. This time, all variants come with seven seats and since the launch of this model in mid-2018 there was only a single engine option: that is the latest version of the brand that forces the 2.2-liter CRDi diesel to have the option of two-wheel drive, although in fact that's what you should have if you're going for one of the entry-level trimmed variants and you'll need one of those if you're going to get a version of this car that's priced under £35,000 with the premium trim levels too strict and this premium derived all-wheel drive is a £1800 option and that means the most affordable all-wheel drive Santa Fe model will cost the better part of £40k and that It is the A figure that could make some potential buyers think about the entire range.

Whether you choose a two- or four-wheel drive model, your dealer offers you the option of the brand's latest 8-speed automatic gearbox for an extra £2k. Now we'll have to put that kind of overall price into context for you and as always there are different ways to look at it, you might point out that this SUV's cousin Key is mechanically similar to the Sorento which only comes with all-wheel drive and seven seats. The shape is much less expensive, priced at no more than thirty thousand pounds, but that figure applies to an entry-level Sorento model that offers very different specifications to those you get in the less 4-wheel drive Santa Fe. expensive, so in Considering these two Korean contenders, we'll need to compare apples to apples, a more comparable mid-level kx3-spec Sorento would actually sell for only around a thousand pounds less than a premium all-wheel drive model of Santa Fe and that doesn't sound too bad considering that at the time of the The launch of this Mark 4 version of this Hyundai was a generation ahead of its Keir cousin and therefore incorporates more researched technology now beyond the Sorento.

We think it's most likely that a potential SantaFe buyer is also looking at these four other D Sigma SUVs. The models that, in terms of price and specifications, theoretically point most directly to what it has to offer those contenders are, in order of price, the Nissan x-trail SCOTUS Kodiak, Land Rovers Discovery sport and Volkswagen Tiguan, all the space, so let's take a look at them now. I'm making a comparison, you'll have to take into account the size of this human engine: it's a 2.2 liter 200 hp diesel with 440 Newton meters of pulling power and that means that none of the four rivals mentioned are directly comparable to This Pro model in its weaker entry-level diesel forms and once it extends further into the respective ranges, the price difference with this Santa Fe may not be terribly significant once the levels have been taken into account. generally higher specification of this Hyundai.

To show you what we mean, let's start with the x-trail. The closest engine Nissan can offer to what's available here is a 177bhp 2-litre diesel unit with a Technol of comparable spec to the Santa Fe, a premium 4-wheel drive derivative. the x-trail wouldn't save you more than around £2000 and offers a less stylish cabin and around 20% less pulling power, which isn't particularly tempting, so we'd be more inclined to consider the SCOTUS kodiak as a indirectly comparable alternative. The 190PS 1-litre SEL TDI automatic version would save you around £4,000 compared to an equivalent four-wheel drive Santa Fe, but the third-row seats aren't as spacious and, again, the engine offers a slightly less pulling power and might also be worth noting. that with the 190 HP version of that SCOTUS diesel engine you cannot have two-wheel drive or a manual transmission and that is a comment that is equally applicable to the Volkswagen Tiguan across the board, which uses exactly the same engine, mind you. step, in comparable form the VW costs about the same as this Hugh and I, that's a comment that would also apply to the Land Rover Discovery Sport if you choose it in TV for 180 people and equip it to a level equivalent to the Skoda , the third row of seats in both the Tiguan and the Discovery Sport are less accommodating than in this Santa Fe.

Other options in the SUV D segment are not directly comparable to what you and I offer here. Honda CR-V and Mitsubishi Outlander cannot be purchased with a diesel engine. Toyota The scoliosis of the rav4 Renault and the Ford Edge cannot be achieved with seven seats. The Peugeot 5008 cannot be had with four-wheel drive and in its closest equivalent, the blue two-wheel drive diesel HDI 180 Auto costs only around a thousand pounds less than a comparable front-wheel drive Santa Fe, the only other potential rival of the segment that we can think of. Sang Young's Rexton would save you around five grand in equivalent form, but it's considerably less stylish and much more complicated to drive.

Now, hopefully, that brief review of your other options. in this segment has saved you some data analysis and we think this pretty confirmed statement from Hyundai that if you do your homework and can play with the likes in this segment, you will find that the value proposition of this Santa Fe can stack up now If you've come to that conclusion yourself, then you'll be interested to know how generous Hyundai has been with the standard specification of this car, so let's take a look at now even the entry-level trim will net you quite a bit. we're talking 17-inch alloy wheels roof rails ripped sea glass self-leveling suspension to compensate for heavy loads our automatic headlights and wipers front and rear parking sensors a faction category one alarm heated power folding mirrors LED taillights front fog lights and intelligent high headlights that automatically dip at night inside, there is a leather-covered multifunction steering wheel and air conditioning with climate control, plus there is a reversing camera, an auto-dimming rearview mirror with integrated compass and a package of SCC response intelligent adaptive cruise control that automatically regulates your speed towards another vehicle on the highway in the trunk there is a luggage net and a spare wheel instead of one of those complicated tera packages and the entertainment is handled by a system touchscreen audio with voice recognition and a 7-inch center screen that will give you access to a six-vessel DA B audio setup, Bluetooth and Apple Carplay connectivity, automatic Android smartphone mirroring, manual transmission models they get the Flex-level variable steering setup, while the automatic branch comes with a drive mode select setup that offers selectable smart sport comfort. and the eco-friendly options cost a lot more, at least around £3,500, to extend the range to one of the premium spectrum tiers, but you and I tell us that the vast majority of Santa Fe customers tend to want to find the money extra if you need to get the four-wheel drive option, the mid-level premium spec gives you larger 18-inch wheels, full LED headlights, LED front fog lights, puddle lights in door mirrors, zero entry key start system and a power tailgate inside, at this level there is Leather upholstery Electrically adjustable front seats A dashboard wrapped in synthetic leather An adaptive instrument cluster with a 7-inch color TFT central display Select customers of Santa Fe Premium also gets heated seats in the front and center rows, a wireless phone charging pad, a heated steering wheel and a powerful 10-speaker Krell premium audio system, there's satellite navigation, courtesy of a larger central screen. 8 inches and comes complete with a 7-year subscription to Hyundai's Live Services package, now gives you real-time weather information, traffic directions and speed cameras.

Locations and live data on fuel price and parking availability. The navigation system includes 3D maps that will be automatically updated annually and there are also European maps and traffic messages. If just the best-

equipped

Santa Fe model is enough, you'll head for the premium version. This specification level we are testing here and this also gives you 19-inch wheels, a panoramic glass roof with a tilt and slide function called ventilated front seats with memory settings, head-up display, rear door blinds and with the automatic transmission models and a round-view camera system, etc., two options, aesthetic accessories include silver trim for the door side mirrors and the cabin tailgate;

You can add blue or white footwell lighting and LED door projectors that shine the Hyundai logo on the ground at night. a fender kit Practical additions to the cabin could include grab-and-go hook and mats or perhaps an accessory so you can fix tablets to the back of the front seat headrests and entertain the kids in the back, such as Alternatively, you can choose to fit a special clothes hanger on each headrest for the cargo area, you can add several rear bumper protectors and a boot liner to protect the boot floor, although we would be more likely to opt for the reversible folding mat for the trunk, as is usual on a large SUV, which you can add on a tow bar and doing so will allow you to add a trailer-mounted bike rack, roof boxes (also available) and roof rack rails for bikes, skis and snowboards.

Otherwise, as is typical with a Hyundai, the brand prefers buyers who want more features to simply upgrade. At a higher trim level, you'll probably have to pay your dealer more for your paint color choice. This horizon red pearl finish is the only one that comes as standard. There are several other pearl or metallic shades in this top premium model. variant, you can also pay more to upgrade the cabin with an optional burgundy package and that will get you burgundy leather seat covers and a stylish suede headliner, so let's finally finish this section with a review of the safety level of this car here andice enthusiasts.

Notably, the stiffer structure of this fourth-generation model incorporates 15% more high-strength steel than the previous generation model, meaning the chassis will better withstand high-energy impacts and distort less, resulting in less distortion. which improves passive safety. The bars, of course, have all the usual features, such as anti-British headrests, pedestrian-friendly active bonnet in the pressure control system and, I'm talking, child sleep fasts, they are double in the front and airbags curtain too, although the brand does not yet offer a bag for the driver's knees, there is a driver attention warning system that checks their reactions for drowsiness, monitors their attention levels and records in the bar an instrument log for how long has passed since your last break you also get speed sign recognition which displays the speed signs you pass and then displays them on the dashboard.

Electronic features carried over from the previous generation model include electronic stability control (ESC) and vehicle stability management (VSM). This last feature helps if, for example, you find yourself in a situation where one side of the car has more grip. than the other, when you drive near a grass edge, in addition, the antelope brakes have a brake assist function to assist in emergency stops and will be announced to following drivers by an emergency stop signaling function that makes the taillights flash when suddenly turned on. anchors there is also a useful trailer stability assist system to make towing easier, although we were hoping that this time Hyundai would have added some of the latest camera-driven safety technology in the industry, this sort of thing you can't have In most versions of the third generation Kia Sorento, indeed, this car is much more sophisticated in this sense and that is thanks to a package of what the brand calls Smart Sense active safety features.

We mentioned earlier that smart headlights and smart adaptive cruise control have been standardized. Also now included across the range is the brand's autonomous emergency braking package with pedestrian recognition, now as usual with setups like this, this uses front-facing radar and camera sensors to scan the road while driving if a possible collision and you may receive a warning if you do not or are unable to respond, the brakes will be applied automatically to lessen the severity of any resulting accident; That system activates when a vehicle or pedestrian is detected in front of the car at speeds of five miles per hour and more.

Also standard is lane keep assist and a front-view camera that detects lane markers and road edges and Helps prevent unintentional lane departures. Now, if you deviate from the lane separating lines, they will be a visual and audible warning and subtle direction. A fix will be applied to make it easier to get the car back to where it should be if you want more than that you will have to have extended up to one of the levels of the premium spectrum. Now the Premium trim gives you two additional features: There is a blind spot detection system that stops. that prevents you from pulling out too hard to pass, and a rear cross-traffic alert system that warns you of approaching vehicles when you're reversing out of a parking space.

Now, if you can extend further into this premium se model, you'll also get what Hyundai claims is an industry-first feature that is real acupuncture when the rear seat passengers are still inside. This feature uses an ultrasonic sensor in the headliner to detect occupant movement and will sound the horn and flash lights to alert you now that it might be tempting to dismiss this feature. But the sad reality is that more than eight hundred children have died from heat-related illnesses in vehicles since 1994, and in fifty-five percent of those cases the parents apparently did not know the child was in the vehicle.

The system is also activated if children accidentally close it. In automobiles, Jinda is becoming known for its pioneering powertrain technology and has indeed developed hybrid and plug-in hybrid engines for this car. This time, the focus of European sales, although the timing will still be the 2.2 liter CRDi diesel engine that we are testing here, at first glance, this engine looks very similar to the one that was installed in the generation version previous on this model, but hyung buy claims to have significantly improved what it calls the r-spec version of this unit, equipping it with selective catalysts. Lean trap and reduction technologies to reduce emissions along with a built-in diesel particulate filter, all of this ensures the engine can meet the latest Euro 6d TMP emissions standards and results in slightly better CO2 and economy figures than the best with automatic four-wheel drive.

The version we're testing here achieves 160g/km of CO2 and 4.8 MPG on the combined cycle. For reference, figures for an equivalent version of the previous generation model were quoted at 41.5mpg and 178g per kilometre, so it's a notable improvement but still a bit off what you'd get from a rival Like us, going to Kodiak, although this performance is slightly better than that of an equivalent Land Rover Discovery sport, it is certainly that Land Rover that would be closest to this Santa Fe in terms of everything. -Round endurance and off-piste capability, so in short, the Korean brand is definitely in the game here.

It's going to be quite difficult for Hugh and I to improve this model which is shown in diesel form all the time at the best part of two tonnes, but of course the way you specify the car will have an impact on the performances you actually get. . Opting for the manual transmission in a CRDi all-wheel drive model, for example, improves readings to 158 grams per kilometer and forty 7.1 mpg if you do. for a front engine only two-wheel drive SantaFe The saving of 65 kilos of curb weight that you will obtain will inevitably have an additional effect: an automatic two-wheel drive model returns 150 three g/km of CO2 and forty-eight point seven Combined MPG for a two-wheel drive model. manual version, their respective figures are forty-nine point six mpg and one hundred and fifty grams per kilometer, what else will the waste be important?

Those are numbers that have gradually improved as he and I improve our position in the markets after the industry standard three-year 60,000 miles. Ownership experts predict that a premium-spec variant will retain 37% of its original asking price. Used values ​​will continue to be backed by the brand's excellent five-year unlimited mileage warranty deal, as unlike other programs it is fully transferable to second owners. It is backed by breakdown cover lasting the same period of time and free annual vehicle health checks during that period. Now, the real rival brand care claims that they are bettering this package by offering a similar seven-year deal, but there it is limited to one hundred thousand miles with this promise of trouble-free driving may be enough to tip the scales for many potential customers. .

The insurance ratings are quite a bit higher than those applied to this Kia Sorento Primo model, despite this, it has a high level of Safety Provision that really doesn't make much sense. The two-wheel drive diesel model is classified in group 36 c 39 e or 40 e, depending on your choice of generation level for a four-wheel drive bearing. In this case, the respective ratings are The 39 or 40e service intervals are every 20,000 miles or 12 months, whichever comes first, and if you want to budget ahead for routine maintenance, there are several Hyundai scent packages that offer fixed price service for two three or five year terms and you can pay for the plan monthly and can add more to the three or five year plans for an additional fee.

The fourth generation created by Santa Fe has improved significantly. Its predecessor was a compelling contender that now looks very well used by this car. It's had an extra layer of polish added, it looks stylish, it's very well built, it rides and handles exactly as it should and it's cleverly thought out inside, as a result it's almost impossible not to like even the F SUVs, really. They're not your thing, now that I think about it. Additionally, this Korean contender is probably a very good option for a family buyer who has never considered an SUV before. It is neither flashy nor pretentious, but rather combines the best of models of this type, that is, its space, its versatility and ease of ownership. the refreshing lack of drama of a normal large family car and it's big.

Do you really need a bigger SUV than this one? Although it's true that you can probably find one in this segment as agile to drive as a Santa Fe. Other rivals are perhaps more luxurious. too, and some may also be a little better off-road, but neither of these things tend to be a top priority for family buyers who need seven seats in such an SUV. This Hyundai knows its market and in this way it can target more. than ever, although there are a couple of caveats we want to mention: the need to pay between thirty-five and forty thousand pounds for the sort of reasonably specified four-wheel drive version of this car that you would probably ideally want. one of them and that reflects the fact that prices have risen more than we would like with most rivals offering a wider range of engines;

Ultimately, we have concluded that this model is good enough to justify its market positioning, meaning that if you have a growing family, you have room in your life for just one car, and you need one that be stylish, practical and go distances more discreetly without a hitch, but then it's worth trying one of these, do that and who knows, you might end up once again. until you believe in Santa