A bargain of bells and whistles
SAN DIEGO, CALIF.— Having never met an automotive segment it didn’t like, Hyundai is beefing up its lineup with the 2013 extended-wheelbase, three-row Hyundai Santa Fe XL. This V6-powered crossover, which seats six or seven depending on second-row configuration, joins the four-cylinder, five-seat Santa Fe Sport, and is poised to do battle with top-seller Ford Explorer, Nissan Pathfinder, Mazda CX-9, Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot.
That’s not to say Hyundai hasn’t offered a capacious crossover before. The three-row Veracruz, launched in 2007, has just been deep-sixed to make way for the Santa Fe XL. The Vera-what?
Exactly. That pricey offering didn’t resonate with Canadian buyers, and with so few takers, Hyundai never put much into marketing.
This won’t be the case with the Santa Fe XL, with a starting price of $29,999. Rest assured, Hyundai will be pushing this puppy hard, leveraging the Santa Fe nameplate to horn in on the ever-expanding intermediate crossover market.
So what is it? Simply, take a Santa Fe Sport, stretch the wheelbase 100 mm, add 215 mm overall, put a vestigial third row in the back, a 290 hp 252 lb.-ft. direct-injection 3.3 L Lambda II V6 in the front, and there you have it.
Of course, the XL follows the Korean playbook to the letter — make the competition look wanting by offering more power and more features for less money.
The XL is a handsome rig, and the interior is equally fetching, showing good build quality with large, logical controls and clear gauges. The rear seat? Passable for occasional use but best suited for kids. Legroom is decent but the seat cushions are thin, low, and access is difficult, as the second-row seats don’t slide forward very far.
By comparison, the Nissan Pathfinder, with its clever accordionlike second-row seats and cushy rear perches, makes the three-row crossover experience considerably more palatable.
The base, front-drive, seven-passenger XL is no stripper. You get Bluetooth connectivity, fog lights, 18-inch alloy wheels, heated power mirrors, remote keyless entry and heated front seats. The comparably equipped second-tier Ford Explorer XLT lists at $35,099. The Nissan Pathfinder starts at $29,998, but you have to move up to get heated seats. The three other Santa Fe XL trim levels — $34,999 Premium, $39,199 Luxury and $42,899 Limited — include all-wheel drive, power liftgate, heated steering wheel, heated rear seats, rear park assist, rear sun shades, automatic climate control and headlights, 115-volt outlet, third-row HVAC control, power driver’s seat and upgraded audio with colour touchscreen. The Luxury model adds leather, a power passenger seat, a rearview camera, a panoramic sunroof and exterior mirrors with integrated turn signals. Moving up to the Limited adds navigation, 19-inch alloys, premium audio, proximity key, HID head- lights, LED tail lights and a “SuperVision” gauge cluster. A handy option is the 40/20/40 second-row bench seat, which lets you carry long items while still accommodating two passengers. Tug a couple of straps and the two third-row seats flip forward to open up a capacious cargo area. The second row does the same, creating a nearly flat 2,265-litre load space — about on par with the Pathfinder and Explorer, less than the CX-9, Pilot and Highlander. All 2013 Santa Fe XLs come with a flush-mounted tow hitch and are rated to haul 2,268 kg (5,000 lb.). On a drive over twisty mountain switchbacks, sweeping secondary roads and some freeway miles, the XL proved quiet, competent and compliant on the 18-inch wheels. The ride quality deteriorated in the Limited with its 19-inchers.
This is the lightest vehicle in the segment and, with its 290 hp V6, it brags the best power-to-weight ratio. Passing power is plentiful and the six-speed auto shifts smoothly, if having a tendency to “hunt” around the upper gears.
Like the Santa Fe Sport, the steering has three settings: comfort, normal and sport. They give you three versions of an essentially artificial helm. Hardly a deal breaker, but if you want a smoother and more flowing driving experience, check out the Nissan Pathfinder and Mazda CX-9. The Honda Pilot is the handler of the bunch but it’s old and looks it.
What you can’t argue with is the XL’s style, general functionality and traditional Korean bang-for-thebuck. Hyundai expects Santa Fe XL sales to be five times that of the Veracruz. I wouldn’t bet against it. Travel for freelance writer Peter Bleakney was provided by the manufacturer. Email: wheels@thestar.ca.