This new Santa Fe will be the fourth of its kind from Hyundai with the very first version of the Santa Fe going on sale, back in 2001. Since then Hyundai has established itself as a major brand in the SUV market with 1.5 million sold in Europe alone. Of the total sold the Santa Fe has managed 400,000 units over the past 17 years.
The new 4th generation Santa Fe will continue to gain extra customers with it’s new premium design, extra space and the latest technology. The new design cues are certainly in line with the recently released Hyundai Kona, with the large hexagonal grille and slim line LED headlights.
With a new model comes a new enhanced four-wheel drive system, HTRAC. The new model Santa Fe will feature an advanced four-wheel drive system that enhances torque application depending on wheel grip and the vehicle speed called HTRAC. This next generation torque distribution will also brake the front and rear wheels based on grip and is constantly monitoring grip levels, so the driver can be confident in the wet, snow or gravel.
The Engine range will consist of 1 diesel and a petrol, recently modified to meet the new Euro 6C emission standards, resulting in improved fuel efficiency. The 2.2 CRDi diesel comes with 197PS that benefits from even more fuel efficiency, 3-4 percent extra when combined with the newly developed 8-speed automatic transmission. The petrol engine will be a 2.4 litre delivering 185PS and mated to a six-speed manual transmission.
Expect the very latest safety equipment available with Hyundai’s new Smart Sense technology, including active safety and driving assistance. Part of the Smart Sense is the new innovative rear occupant alert monitors the rear seats to detect passengers and alerts the driver when leaving the car. Rear cross Traffic Alert Avoidance is a first for Hyundai too.
The latest connectivity features will be present on the next-gen Santa Fe, an optional 8-inch touchscreen will integrate the navigation, media, Bluetooth, also the latest mobile phone systems such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
To keep the drivers attention on the road Hyundai have developed a new full head-up display that will project relevant driving and safety information directly onto the windscreen. It’s one of the brightest available for visibility and the image can be enlarged up to eight inches.
Expect to see the new Santa Fe later this year when global production starts ramping up.
“The fourth-generation Santa Fe continues the model's global success story. The first Santa Fe was launched in 2001 and is the foundation of Hyundai Motor's SUV credibility. Hyundai truly cares about the customer's well-being. We offer innovative and unique active safety features and class-leading roominess for extra comfort.”
Thomas A. Schmid Chief Operating Officer at Hyundai Motor Europe
