Future-proofing is a tough job in a market that is ever-evolving in terms of design and technology. In this venture, your best bet is value, that is ostensibly present and retained even when faced by the challenge of ‘more’ with every passing year. Hyundai Santa Fe can count on the value it established at least five years ago, with a bundle that set a benchmark for what to expect in a midsize Crossover. Driving it again after five years, the Santa Fe seems to have retained much of its value and, therefore, interest.
THE SPECS: 3.3 MPI V6 engine: 270 hp at 6,400 rpm, 318 Nm torque at 5200 rpm / 2.4L GDi: 185 hp @ 6000 rpm and 178 Nm torque @ 4000 rpm / 6 speed automatic, 4×2 and 4×4, 7-seater
THE HIGHLIGHTS: Rear Parking sensors with camera, 18” alloy wheels, Daytime Running Lights, Panoramic Sunroof, Driver Assistance Package
UPSIDE: Balanced family SUV, Ample storage and practicality, Premium features on offer
FLIPSIDE: Design stretching its time, Some controls could be more intuitive
The design
Uplifted thoroughly and impressively over five years ago, the changes since have been barely noticeable. The Santa Fe 2018 still hold its stead in a parking lot. The grille isn’t yet a boring face to greet, though waiting to be worn out at the entrance of the next generation.
Cabin and Controls
One of the reasons the Santa Fe has remained current is the clean approach in console design, with half as many buttons as it has features. One of the ‘major’ changes in the whole car is the radio tuning buttons on the control console – the single power button has recently given way to two small tuners on either side for volume control and station tuning.
Practicality makes itself felt in the storage options in the Santa Fe – sunglass pocket on the roof console, a reasonably deep armrest storage, cup holders and even a convenient stowaway niche for your mobile or keys at the console junction, where the Auxiliary and USB slots are placed. As for reading and setting the trip parameters on the instrument cluster panel, there is only an up button on the steering so one has to go all the way round if a line is missed.
The Santa Fe hasn’t yet introduced the App based connectivity options but one can’t ignore how self-sufficient this cabin is – of the quirks carried over from half a generation ago, the CD player is convenient for those like me who still keep a stack of discs for all they are worth!
The plastic inside doesn’t look cheap on the dashboard or door side trims, except perhaps the covers for the speakers and the thin plastic half next to the leather on the door armrest. But where things get impressively premium are in the headlining and the A-pillar drapes – the suede-styled finish in black is like what is found in RS class premium Italian or German cars! Resorting to a more classic test, the Santa Fe doors make the right ‘thud’ – not the clink of cost-saving kind but the soft yet reassuring kind.
The drive
The GDI engine releases power gradually in the first quarter of the tachometer but makes it available across the mid and high rpms. The V6 and the 6-speed is well combined in delivering and sustaining the power. This slows down initial pick up and stretches the zero to 100 to a lazy 9 and a half seconds, but that’s what Sport modes are for. The ride is comfortable and the low-flung design keeps the body roll in check too. However, the car isn’t a sharp shooter when it comes to steering – don’t expect German precision and European steadiness.
The car does have a 4 x 4 lock, traction control off button, downhill brake control (hill descent control), and also eco and sport driving modes. A front wheel drive for most part, the 4WD system slips into place automatically when needed. Once the 4WD lock is engaged, power is distributed in a 50:50 ratio, and automatically switches to ‘Auto’ at 40 kph and above. However, it doesn’t take a long glance to see that Santa Fe is not designed for the desert or tough off-roading. It doesn’t leave enough space between its platform and the ground, has convenient sideboards and 19” wheels (the latter two as I was driving the Executive edition).
The Santa Fe flaunts a 360-degree camera with a top view and excellent guidelines – the simulation might be rough on the edges, nevertheless it is useful. The driver assistance bundle includes attractive navigation graphics, blind spot monitor, rear cross traffic alert, and smart cruise control, with the option to set the distance to maintain from the car in front. On a drive with a mix of high speed highway driving and urban crawl, I achieved just above 7.0 km per litre, which doesn’t make this 3.3 L V6 engine a choice of the future.
Family Drive
The Santa Fe feels amazingly premium for the price you pay for it, even though new pricing lends it less value-appeal than when I was introduced to this Santa Fe. However, the perforated leather seats with heating and cooling or the large panoramic sunroof haven’t lost their charm.
The rear seat has impressive legroom but it is the surprising boot space that lists the 7-seater Santa Fe among the most practical of urban SUVs. Despite the fact that the raking angle of the rear offers less space on the extended floor, it is useful to shove in longer things. The boot comes with a power tailgate option.
The large mirrors on the side make Blind Spot Monitors unnecessary (it is there though) combined with the wide coverage of the rear windows; even though the window line is ascending, it is cut with a tilt that makes for a larger viewing space. This makes up for the rest of the rear that is actually covered up on the sides.
The essential 2018 Santa Fe
The Santa Fe looks like a car that was designed with a market-surveyed checklist at hand to tick, the biggest of which is the price. Currently the 2.4 L model higher trims is not available in the showroom, but the 3.3 L is the one to go for and is worth paying the premium for. The regular versions start at AED 85,000 and AED 104,000 for the 2.4 L and 3.3 L respectively. The Grand Santa Fe is a more spacious 7-seater and costs AED 151,000. With the new sparkle waiting round the corner, this is a good time to fish for a great bargain on a vehicle that already offers good value.
