Santa delivers the goods

For some motor manufacturers, 2018 has been a quiet year when it comes to bringing new products to market. On the other hand, some have been particularly active, with Hyundai being one of them. Hardly a month has gone past without an invitation arriving in our in-box announcing a launch of sorts. From the excellent new Grand i10 early in the year to a facelift for the Tucson, Creta and i20. From the all-new Kona to a revamp of people-carrier, the H1. Keeping its model range fresh and relevant has resulted in the brand today finding itself sitting in third position when it comes to local passenger car sales for the year — behind Volkswagen and Toyota. Not bad at all for a manufacturer that only arrived in SA in 1993 with just three models, the Sonata, Elantra and Accent, followed by some rather rocky times. Yet, Hyundai isn’t finished with the year just yet, as last week saw the introduction of the fourth generation Santa Fe. This particular vehicle has never achieved the heights of its more popular siblings and this is perhaps reflected in rather sluggish sales compared to direct competitors like the dominant Toyota Fortuner, Ford Everest and Land Rover Discovery Sport. With the introduction of the new generation seven-seater Santa Fe, they will be hoping to rectify that. Some of the changes to the vehicle are quite significant, others less so. Under the bonnet is the same 2.2-litre

e-VGT diesel engine you will find in the outgoing model but this time instead of being hooked up to a six-speed auto gearbox, there is now an eight-speed box. The increase in gears has resulted in better acceleration from standstill, coupled with less revving at highway speeds and reducing noise intrusion. This tried-and-tested engine, taking into consideration that this is a fairly large vehicle, returns extremely good fuel consumption figures (7.8l/100km) and pushes out a respectable 142kW and 440Nm. The Santa Fe is offered with a three-model line-up: Premium, Executive and Elite — all with the same above-mentioned engine and gearbox and the top-end Elite having the benefit of all-wheel drive (called the H Trac). The difference in the models obviously comes down to specification levels with regard to comfort and safety. Across the range, though, the Santa Fe is pretty inclusive. Even the entry-level Premium model gets six airbags, ABS (anti-lock braking system), ESP (electronic stability programme), DBC (downhill brake control) and hill assist. Climate control, a 7-inch infotainment system with Bluetooth, cruise control, leather seats, multifunction steering wheel, and park assist with a rear camera ensure that many drivers’ needs are taken care of. If you require that extra level of refinement and step into the Executive and Elite models, thrown into the mix are features such as 19-inch wheels, blind spot detection, the valuable cross traffic alert, smart key with push button start and a power tailgate which is speed and height adjustable. The top-end Elite offers levels of indulgence such as a panoramic roof, heated/ventilated seats, paddle shifts and LED taillights. The exterior of the Santa Fe has also had some changes. Perhaps this can be partly attributed with a new head of design at Hyundai — Luc Donckerwolke. Taking over from the legendary Peter Schreyer, who is now chief designer at Hyundai/Kia, Donckerwolke has spoken about giving the Santa Fe “its own personality with a more robust look, rather than being just a crossover”. There is a certain boldness about the new Santa Fe with small touches like the double exhaust, lowered hood height, LED tail lights and pronounced rear spoiler. The vehicle is also 10mm wider, which gives it more presence. The interior has also undergone a makeover with more leg and headroom thanks to a longer wheelbase (70mm). The increase in space particularly benefits those in the third row of seats where the comfort level is extended by 127mm. If all seven seats are utilised, boot size is a miniscule 130 litres. Used as a five-seater this figure increases to 547 litres and if both second and third rows of seats are flat, the cargo space balloons to an impressive 1,625 litres. Accessing the rear seats has also been made easier with the addition of ingress and egress handles and the addition of a simple button that folds the seats forward. A handy feature in the rear is the inclusion of two USB ports which should help avoid arguments about whose turn it is to charge their phone. Last week saw us taking a leisurely drive to the historic mining town of Cullinan and the Santa Fe purred along just as we had expected. Though overtaking is perhaps not as quick as one would like, it is acceptable for a large vehicle. The familiarity of the dashboard layout is also a welcome feature and very quickly you know exactly where everything is which enhances the pleasure of driving the vehicle. There is no doubt that the new Santa Fe is a departure from the past and the level of refinement has risen a notch or two. Up against the more established brands it’s a tough segment to make an impression, but Hyundai continues to offer a vehicle packed with features backed up by an extremely good warranty and after-sales plan. Pricing: Hyundai Santa Fe 2.2 Premium AT — R599,900 Executive AT — R659,900 Elite AT H Trac — R749,900