Hyundai Santa Fe

Verdict on new seven-seat SUV with Uk-bound 2.2-litre diesel

HYUNDAI seems to be in almost every big-selling segment at the moment, while also championing both fuel cell and battery electric technology.

It even boasts an expanding range of full-blown performance cars under the new N badge, and makes no secret of its desire to move further upmarket and be seen in a more aspirational light, too.

Step forward Hyundai’s latest flagship: the new Santa Fe. The fourth generation of the seven-seat SUV goes on sale in Britain this September, aiming to woo potential Skoda Kodiaq and Land Rover Discovery Sport customers.

As such, the new car’s emphasis is very much on its position as Hyundai’s largest, most luxurious SUV, and it wears all the hallmarks of the brand’s latest design language. We’ve already tried it in Korean specification (Issue 1,514), but that was powered by a not-for-uk 2.0-litre diesel. Driven here is the car you’ll see on the road later this year, boasting an updated 2.2-litre CRDI diesel from the outgoing model.

A plug-in hybrid version has been confirmed, too, but that won’t arrive until late in 2019. Updates to the diesel target reduced emissions, so selective catalytic reduction, a particulate filter and a NOX trap system have been added.

Performance doesn’t change, however. It’s a flexible engine, with the torque placed low and accessible in the rev range, meaning that the Santa Fe doesn’t feel sluggish. The new eightspeed automatic gearbox could be more responsive, though; it can be slow to kick down, but there are paddles if you want to speed things up. Four driving modes are available, but in reality there’s little point in playing with them.

Noise levels in the cabin are relatively hushed, although as before, the motor still has a rougher edge when stretched out. Yet it’s no great offender, and road and wind noise are what you’ll hear most on the motorway. The steering is a little slack around the centre, leading to a touch of inconsistency as you turn the wheel. Still, body control is decent and overall the quality of the ride is good.

Open the door and you’ll find a roomy and well-finished interior, with plenty of soft-touch plastics. The Santa Fe uses Hyundai’s latest centre console and floating touchscreen set-up; it’s functional, but lacks the wow factor of the Peugeot 5008’s cabin.

As ever, the firm’s infotainment is easy to use, although possibly a little dated in appearance and resolution. High-spec cars such as our Premium SE model also get a set of seveninch digital dials that is integrated neatly into the instrument panel.

The new Santa Fe is longer than before. Room for passengers in the back seats is very good as a result, while the third row sizes up nicely, too. Children should be pretty comfortable and adults won’t be too cramped; there’s room to slip your feet under the seat in front.

Keep the third row flat and the 547litre boot is competitive. One-touch buttons and pulls make folding and moving the seats straightforward.

Hyundai has been bold with pricing. The line-up starts at more than £30,000, and range-topping cars cost over £40k – several thousand pounds more than top-spec Kodiaqs and putting the SUV into high-spec Disco Sport territory.

All cars get a leather steering wheel and seven seats, however. Adaptive cruise, a rear parking camera, Apple Carplay and Android Auto also feature.

“The emphasis is on its position as Hyundai’s largest, most luxurious SUV”