Hyundai Santa Fe 2019: All you need to know

Hyundai is currently in the process of revamping its entire SUV lineup. By 2021, they aim to bring out new versions of all their existing SUVs along with some entirely new entries. The 4th generation of the Santa Fe is the newest in this series of launches. Hyundai very recently opened bookings for the new SUV here in Malaysia and by the looks of it, it appears to be very promising.

Variants galore

At least for now, this new Santa Fe is a two-row model. The longer Santa Fe, the 7-seater is not yet released. And apparently won’t be for at least another year. Hyundai has confirmed that there are going to be two variants on sale for now. The first is powered by a 2.4-litre petrol engine naturally aspirated MPI engine producing 172 PS and 225 Nm of torque which is mated to a 6-speed automatic with front wheel drive. The other engine option is a 2.2-litre turbodiesel making 193 PS and 440 Nm of torque, mated to an 8-speed automatic and AWD.

Modern new design

The new Santa Fe has a thoroughly revised design. The new design makes it unrecognizable from the outgoing car. The car is longer with a prolonged wheelbase but looks tighter thanks to shorter front and rear overhangs. The styling itself takes a lot of inspiration from the Kona. This has given the Santa Fe the same sort of front end as many other contemporary SUVs.

The cascading main grille is gaping and itself is now polygonal. The front end is heavily sculpted especially around the main headlamps. Above them are the slim LED DRLs, giving it a smouldering expression. The chrome bar bordering the top of the hood looks very much inspired from the new Mazda cars, however. The rear is now more conventional with a straighter glass back. The rear also sports a new rear lamp design that lights up with a 3D effect. With muscular side profile, it cuts a distinct picture without straying too far from convention.

Feature packed interior

The polygonal design echoes in the interior and appears inspired by the Hyundai Kona. The interior is also more spacious and better appointed. Materials - that any rider is likely to come in contact with - are nice to touch. The other major attraction on the dashboard is, of course, the free-standing, 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system. This sits above the air con vents and controls.

The infotainment supports smartphone connectivity with Android Auto and while your phone charges wirelessly thanks to Qi-standard wireless unit. The driver also gets to feast upon the optional 7-inch “virtual cluster” in the instrument display that switches colors depending on the driving mode. With three different driving modes – Normal, Sport and Eco – the Santa Fe become even more versatile, as it also changes the transmission and throttle response.

Hands-on safety

Like any modern SUV, the Santa Fe can now be had with a whole range of safety equipment that ensures the safety of the people inside and also outside. Along with the usual six airbags and automatic high-beams, there are a plethora of pedestrian-focused electronic warning systems. Forward-collision warning with automated emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, driver-attention warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and blind-spot monitoring with avoidance assist can all be equipped.

Hyundai’s new Safe Exit Assist and Rear Occupants Alert are the newest additions. Safe exit warning ensures that no one can step outside in moving traffic. The Rear Occupants Alert allows the driver to keep an eye on the rear seat for any unexpected movement.

The new Hyundai Santa Fe has been thoroughly revised for the new age. It looks modern from the outside and feels nicer and luxurious on the inside. It can also be equipped with some of the most modern and advanced safety techs. The engine options are very well suited for the job. Then there is the 5 year/300000 km warranty and 3 year/50000 km free service that comes included with the RM 188000 tag price for the base model.

With so much to offer, the Santa Fe is not just a huge improvement on the outgoing car, but a very competitive SUV in every way.