Hyundai Santa Fe PROS and CONS
Pros
- Luxurious interior
- Spacious cabin
- Excellent control and stability
Cons
- Just one engine option
- Exterior styling may not be for everyone
- Safety features could be more
Hyundai has been making automobiles for the past 50 years!
The Hyundai Motor Company is a multinational South Korean organization that has been in the business of manufacturing automobiles for more than 50 years. It is part of the larger Hyundai Motor Group, along with 32.8%-owned subsidiary Kia Motors and 100%-owned Genesis Motor. Also known as Hyundai Motors, the organization is one of the biggest automotive manufacturers in the world with a reach of more than 200 countries.
The Hyundai Santa Fe is one of the organization's offerings in the sports utility vehicle (SUV) space. It was launched in 2001 as the company's first SUV and quickly became a bestselling car for Hyundai. The 2019 model, which was launched in early 2018, marks the lineup's fifth generation.
Attention-grabbing exterior, spacious and luxurious cabin
The all-new Santa Fe was launched in the Philippine market not long after its debut in South Korea, largely targeting the mid-sized SUV segment.
The 2019 iteration has a rather divisive styling – some like its bold and aggressive design; others may find it as trying too hard. Regardless, the model's looks is a standout.
The car looks strong and tall, thanks to an upright front and rear ends. The fascia gets a wide, cascading grille in black and chrome, topped with slim daytime running lights on each side. The LED headlights, which is equipped with active bending function, and the signal lights which come split from the headlights, are positioned at the bottom edge of the grille. Additionally, the fascia gets LED front foglamps.
Lines and creases are sprawled all over the car's sides. The back view looks rather simple compared to the front, but it mimics the layout of the front lighting system, with the brake lights found on top while the signal and reverse lights are pushed to the bottom.
Measuring 4,770mm in length, 1,890mm in width, and 1,680mm in height, the all-new Santa Fe stands taller, longer, and wider than the previous version. The 2019 model runs on 19-inch alloy wheels.
Looking inside, one will find an attractive interior made of premium materials with many soft touch points. The two-tone leather theme of the cabin exudes a classy air and is a refreshing change from the common all-black affair. Meanwhile, wide glass areas help keep the cabin well-lit and make it look roomier that it already is.
The 2019 Santa Fe gets three rows of leather-clad seats that can comfortably accommodate up to seven passengers. The 60/40 and 50/50 split design of the second and third rows, respectively, provides flexibility in fitting in passengers and cargos. The driver and passenger get power seats for added convenience.
Thanks to a longer wheelbase of 2,765mm, the all-new Santa Fe boasts of a roomy interior – 3.1 cubic meters of passenger space and 1.02 cubic meters of cargo volume, which be increased to 2.02 cubic meters with the second row folded down. It also comes with cargo screen as well as cargo net and hook.
While the 2019 Santa Fe offers more headroom than its predecessor, it does away with the ceiling-mounted air vents. Instead, air-conditioning outlets are placed at the center console for the second row and the side panels for the third row.
New owners will be pleased to know that the all-new Santa Fe has an infotainment system that offers a seven-inch display interface, Apple CarPlay, USB, Aux-in, Bluetooth with voice recognition, four speakers and two tweeters. Another bonus is a 360-degree camera that provides an around view to assist the driver especially in tight parking spaces.
The 2019 iteration of the model is available in just one engine variant – a 2.2-liter Crude e-VGT engine. Mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, this powertrain generates a maximum of 200 horsepower at 3,800 revolutions per minute (rpm) and 325 pound-feet of peak torque at 1,750-2,750 rpm. This front-wheel drive uses Common Rail Direct Injection fuel system and has a Euro 4 emission rating.
For its suspensions, this model uses MacPherson struts at the front and multi-link suspension at the rear, both with stabilizer. This setup allows for a comfortable ride even on rough surfaces. As for the braking system, the all-new Santa Fe uses a ventilated disc on the front and a solid disc at the back.
Being a large vehicle, this car might not be as agile as its sedan counterparts. Nevertheless, it remains stable even when moving at a high speed.
The Santa Fe offers basic safety features such as front airbags for driver and passenger with side and curtain airbags, anti-lock brake system (ABS), dynamic brake control, stability control with Hill Start Assist, and forward and reverse parking assist.
The 2019 Santa Fe carries a PhP2,338,000 tag price., competing with the likes of Ford Explorer EcoBoost Limited and Mazda CX-9 Sport Touring.
