Hyundai SantaFe
GOODBYE £ 43,295/£44,485 as tested/£528pcm WHY IT’ S HERE It’s a ‘premium SUV’ from a value brand. Still need a Disco? DRIVER Andy Franklin
AFTER MORE THAN 11,000 HARD FAMILY MILES, IT’S TIME TO SAY A SAD farewell to TG’s Sante Fe. We set out to see if Hyundai had moved the Santa Fe on enough to mix it with the premium end of the SUV market. In a school car park littered with Audis, Land Rovers and Mercs, it’s been noticed. I was asked only the other day what it was like. For £40k the space inside is vast, and given all the tech included, this car is premium quality at a good price. OK, some tech has been annoying – lane departure, I’m looking at you.
If you are looking for a family car that’s exciting to drive, this isn’t it and you’re better off with a Kodiaq or a Discovery Sport. But are you really buying a car like this for performance? No, it’s what’s inside that counts (and a little bit of outside too) and Hyundai knows that. A Kodiaq feels more basic (and not as big) but better to drive and a Discovery Sport just isn’t big enough inside nor as comfy, but is far superior off-road.
My only real complaint is the engine and the getaway, or lack of it. The delay getting off the line is embarrassing and hard to predict. I’ve eventually managed to adjust my driving style to it, but it really shouldn’t be that bad. Economy has been disappointing too, hardly nudging above 32mpg, and even playing with the modes didn’t make a huge difference. But it’s been the space in the boot, the headroom, the distance between the adjustable middle seats and the front for all the kids to have space, the seven seats, the panoramic roof, the ease of the infotainment and those little extras that just make family motoring that little bit better.
Before it went, I took it up to Great Orme to support the shoot you see on p106 for the Supra group test. And it was on this journey that I realised just how comfortable this car is and how you waft along in style, comfort and ease. Look out, competition – Hyundai has arrived at the premium table and it’s giving you a run for your money.