New Hyundai Santa Fe goes green

MORE details of the new Hyundai Santa Fe have been revealed as the company gears up for its launch later in the year.

The Korean brand’s new large SUV is due for release in September and will be available with hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains.

It is the third generation of the model that was first launched in 2001 and sees a shift upmarket, with new design cues including a bold mesh grille and T-shaped daytime running lights.

At the rear, the new tail-light design with horizontally stretched graphics visually reinforces the width of the body.

For the first time in a Hyundai vehicle, the new Santa Fe also offers an optional Luxury Package and the trim’s exterior includes a dedicated 20in wheel design as well as lower bumpers and side cladding that match the body paint colour, rather than being matt black. Inside, the car has premium soft-touch materials, a new lower dashboard design, a redesigned centre console and a new 10.25in touchscreen.

The “floating” centre console features shiftby-wire buttons and the Santa Fe now comes with a Terrain Mode selector operated by a control knob located in the central cluster to switch between drive modes. There is also a new 12.3in fully digital instrument panel.

The new Santa Fe is the first car from the marque in Europe to go on sale with the new Smartstream hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrain. Performance details have yet to be released.

It will also be the first Hyundai in Europe to utilise the company’s all-new third-generation vehicle platform, resulting in improved performance, fuel efficiency and safety.