The Hyundai Santa Fe has proven itself to be a very popular model in New Zealand, particularly in the last year of the last model – can the new one continue the sales success?We go on a stunning drive from Queenstown to Aoraki Mount Cook and back to find out…
What is it?
Pretty much the star of the Hyundai range here in New Zealand. We are, after all, an active bunch of people (or at least, we like to think we are… same thing, really) and SUVs like the Santa Fe are the perfect vehicle for active lifestyles. Or something like that, I do tend to vague out when talk turns to marketing blurbs…
Anyway, all obvious marketing aside, the Santa Fe DOES pretty much do everything we Kiwis expect from our vehicle, hence we have taken to them in a rather enthusiastic way.
And the Santa Fe has been one of the darlings of the big SUV segment since it started packing the muscular R Series four-cylinder Diesel engine in 2009
Now an all-new Santa Fe has landed, although Hyundai are reticent about making huge claims for the new model coming, as they, are off the back of a massive year for the old model that saw it sell 1730 units.
Hyundai NZ boss, Andy Sinclair, puts that number (more than 700 up on the previous year) down to a particularly aggressive marketing push and is reluctant to claim that the new model will sell in quite the same numbers.
The new Santa Fe range kicks off with the entry level car in a choice of five or seven seat configurations as well as a choice of an improved 141kW/242Nm 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine of the still impressive 145kW/436Nm 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel R Series engine, both hooked up to Hyundai’s slick six-speed automatic transmission.
The entry level car comes standard with 17-inch alloy wheels, seven airbags, rear parking sensors, Bluetooth connectivity, a leather steering wheel with audio and phone controls, roof rails, electric lumbar adjustment, a trip computer, electric heated mirrors, cruise control, fog lamps and rear air con in the seven seat models.
The petrol 2.4 five-seater kicks things off at $57,990, while the diesel drops in at $63,990. Seven seat versions add $2,000 to the prices.
The Elite models are only available in seven-seat guise and add 18-inch alloys, a premium audio system and satellite navigation with live traffic updates, leather interior trim, electric heated seats (rear also heated), climate control air con, keyless entry with push button start, a rear view camera, an electric park brake, static front cornering lamps, a chrome grille, automatic headlights, rain-sensing wipers and electric folding mirrors.
The Elite starts at $67,990 for either the 2.4-litre petrol or the only 2WD model in the Santa Fe range – the FWD V6 Elite, that boasts the 199kW/318Nm 3.3-litre V6 engine. The diesel Elite rounds things out at $73,990.
Finally topping out the range comes the Elite Limited that lands at a rather hefty $79,990. Only available with the diesel engine, the Elite Limited adds 19-inch alloys, a panoramic glass sunroof, xenon headlights, headlight washers, LED taillights, auto-dipping side mirrors, rear door window curtains, a windscreen deicer and self-levelling rear suspension.
What is it like?
Impressive, although whether the top model is impressive enough to command it’s $80k price tag is open to interpretation…
Disappointingly we didn’t get to drive the 2.4-litre petrol engined version – as none had arrived in time! – but the FWD V6 Elite was massively powerful and impressively smooth. The chassis and associated electronics are good enough that you would be pushed to know that it wasn’t actually 4WD under anything other that most extreme on-road situations.
The 4WD R Series diesel models are the obvious pick so far though, with a thick chunk of torque across the important areas of the rev range and a nice, progressive power delivery.
Equipment levels are impressively high across the spec range and the interior has a nice, quality feel to the majority of the materials in use. This is where the question about the Elite Limited diesel’s $80k price tag comes in though, as it is still an obvious step or two below the quality of materials used in even the lower-price Euros in the price range. As to whether the Hyundai badge has the cred to carry the price tag against the Euro competition, that is something that only the potential buyer can answer.
On the road, the Santa Fe has an effortless, easily toss-able feel to it, despite its size, and punting it along your average New Zealand road is a simple and enjoyable affair. The nose turns in nicely, with the rear happy to follow with no obvious complaints, despite the Santa Fe’s not inconsiderable size.
What’s good about it?
As far as large SUVs go, the Santa Fe is remarkably car-like. It is spacious, comfortable and deceptively quick.
It is enjoyable to drive, displaying none of your traditional SUV downsides and encompassing all of your traditional SUV upsides.
It is also well-equipped and attractive, rounding out the package nicely really.
What’s not so good?
The price increases, while easily absorbed by the extra equipment, are still rather large, and the $80k Elite Limited diesel is rather a lot to get your head around.
First impressions?
While the ideas of whether Hyundai is ready to be accepted as a more upmarket brand is something for the buyers to decide, the majority of the ingredients for it to happen are in place with the Santa Fe.
Quality, equipment levels and driving pleasure are all up, while the Santa Fe’s good looks are undeniable. It is comfortable, spacious, well equipped and well bolted together, so the value for money equation of the lower-priced models is a solid one.
Even as you creep up in the range, the amount of car you get for your money is impressive. It will only come down to whether the Hyundai badge has enough driveway-cred to pull it off.
Specifications
Models/prices
2.4 petrol 5-seater – $57,990
2.4 petrol 7-seater – $59,990
2.2R diesel 5-seater – $63,990
2.2R diesel 7-seater – $65,990
2.4 petrol Elite 7-seater – $67,990
3.3 petrol V6 2WD Elite 7-seater – $67,990
2.2R diesel Elite 7-seater – $73,990
2.2R diesel Elite Ltd 7-seater – $79,990
Powertrain
2.4-litre inline four-cylinder petrol producing 141kW/242Nm; six-speed automatic transmission; four-wheel drive, 2.2-litre inline four-cylinder diesel producing 145kW/436Nm; six-speed automatic transmission; four-wheel drive, 3.3-litre V6 petrol producing 199kW/318Nm; six-speed automatic transmission; front-wheel drive
Fuel consumption: 9.0l/100km (2.4), 7.3l/100km (2.2R), 9.6l/100km
CO2 emissions: N/a
Safety
ANCAP/EuroNCAP rating: 5 star
Air bags: 7
Stability control: yes
Lap/diagonal belts: 5
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