Boxy styling reflects SUV’s billing as a family hauler with off-road ‘lifestyle’ capabilities.
The fifth-gen Hyundai Santa Fe has now made its official debut after the first images of the SUV saw an early online leak. The new Santa Fe is what Hyundai claims to be its most flexible family SUV adopting a boxy design aimed at the off-road ‘lifestyle’ market.
- New Santa Fe gets longer wheelbase than before
- Expected to get multiple powertrain options
- Gets practical yet plush interior
New Hyundai Santa Fe: radically styled exterior
The Santa Fe’s design has been completely overhauled compared to the outgoing model, doing away with its predecessors’ curvaceous lines in favour of clean-cut edges and wide wheel arches. The effect is reminiscent of Land Rover and Jeep 4x4s and clearly communicates the new car’s positioning as a more rugged proposition.
The new look gives the Santa Fe a distinct appearance from the rest of Hyundai’s line-up – an approach to styling established with the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and reinforced by the curvaceous Ioniq 6. Some styling elements on the new Santa Fe, such as the H-pattern signature for the lighting elements, are also common with the Hyundai Exter SUV, which recently launched in India.
The new Santa Fe’s wheelbase is longer now, bringing what the carmaker claims is class-leading interior space. The tailgate has also been enlarged with the intention of providing a “terrace-like” space when the second and third rows of seats are folded down, with room for a small workstation or lounge area.
Nonetheless, the SUV’s length is unlikely to increase too significantly, because the front overhang has been shortened. However, Hyundai has yet to officially disclose the exact dimensions of the new model.
New Hyundai Santa Fe: plush yet practical interior
Inside, a focus on usability and practicality is evident, with physical buttons and dials provided for critical functions such as the climate, radio and drive mode controls. USB ports and wireless pads abound for charging mobile devices and there is also an abundance of storage cubbies and cupholders throughout the interior.
Infotainment is provided by a curved 12.3-inch touchscreen, mounted in parallel with a digital instrument display of the same size. Hyundai has highlighted the use of sustainable materials inside the new Santa Fe, with the suede-like headliner, mats, and second- and third-row seatbacks being made from recycled plastics.
New Hyundai Santa Fe: powertrain details
While Hyundai has not announced powertrain details for the new Santa Fe, sources tell us that it will be available with the outgoing model’s turbocharged 2.5-litre petrol engine and a 1.6-litre gasoline direct injection turbo, depending on the market. There will be FWD, AWD options as well as a plug-in hybrid powertrain on offer too.
Although the Santa Fe was offered here in India in its second and third-generation guise, there’s no news of the fifth-gen model making it to India. The Tucson continues to be the brand’s flagship model in India.
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