Fifth-generation Hyundai Santa Fe now available

HYUNDAI Motor Philippines Inc. (HMPH) has released the fifth-generation, all-new Hyundai Santa Fe. It is the first full-model change of the South Korean brand’s midsize SUV since 2018, and its radical exterior transformation enhances its signature adventure-meets-city appeal.

Hyundai used the “Open for More” concept for this fifth-generation Santa Fe, as seen in its wider tailgate opening, which happens to be the starting point of its design rebirth. It was purposely designed with a terrace-like living space to provide plenty of room and a seamless transition between urban life and the great outdoors.

Bigger and bolder

The all-new Santa Fe is bigger, boxier and bolder than its predecessors. It is 45-mm longer, 95-mm higher, and features a shorter overhang. These adjustments enable an extended wheelbase by 50 mm and a tailgate that’s 145-mm wider. These little additions help maximize the interior space for both passengers and cargo. Cargo space goes from 296 liters with all the seats up to 1,156 liters with the second and third rows folded.

Its bridge-type roof rail can carry up to 100 kilograms (kg) and offers greater versatility when mounting items despite having dual sunroofs. For easier access, a C-pillar assist handle was incorporated into the design, and it comes with a built-in glass cover that can be locked when not in use, is generously sized and has a 200kg load capability for user safety. Its angled side mirrors, active air flaps, skid plates, and rear spoiler were strategically placed to limit the drag coefficient to improve driving comfort and fuel efficiency. The top trim Calligraphy comes with 21-inch black ink wheels with Continental tires, while the other variants come with 20-inch alloy wheels.

Similar to other modern Hyundai vehicles, the H-shaped elements are evident throughout the Santa Fe. On the exterior, they can be found on the LED horizontal lamp with daytime running lights (DRL), the front bumper garnish and radiator grille, as well as the rear taillights. Similarly, inside the cabin, they can be seen on the front dashboard’s mood lights, aircon vents, and the stitching of the seats. This motif is a reinterpretation of Hyundai’s “H” emblem made to complement the all-new Santa Fe’s new design identity.

‘Plus Alpha’ space experience

The all-new Santa Fe has a refined and upscale interior in contrast to its rugged exterior. This reflects the philosophy Hyundai calls the “Plus Alpha” space experience that connects outdoor and indoor, highlighting its versatility.

On its dash, the Santa Fe has a 12.3-inch panoramic curved display for its instrument cluster and infotainment screen. It has a fingerprint recognition system that supports seat memory customizing and access to a personalized infotainment system, and a UV-C sterilization tray on top of the glove box — a feature brought about by the recent pandemic. Under the panel is a full-touch climate control panel and a wireless charging pad that can accommodate two phones for the top trim (one phone for GLS trims), as well as six USB-C ports and a 12-volt socket scattered in the cabin.

It also has thoughtful storage spaces including bottom space in between the front row seats and a bi-directional console box with a lower sliding tray and a removable divider. Its fully foldable second and third-row seats repurpose the cabin into a flatbed that almost quadruples the usable space.

Power on demand

The top trim Santa Fe is powered by a 2.5-liter turbocharged mill, mated to an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission. This setup produces a maximum output of 281 PS and torque of 422 Nm. Similar to the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6, it employs a column-type shift-by-wire system. It also has a total of eight drive and terrain settings (Normal, Eco, Sport, Smart, Auto, Sand, Mud and Snow) that can be tweaked based on user preference on the engine power map, transmission patterns, stability control, and braking. It also comes with Hyundai Traction (HTRAC), the brand’s all-wheel drive (AWD) system, and downhill brake control, which supports sudden changes in weather or challenging terrain.

Driver, passenger, side and curtain airbags are standard, as well as Hyundai SmartSense — the brand’s suite of safety features. Its advanced driver-assist functions include smart cruise control with stop and go, forward collision avoidance, lane following and keeping, blindspot view monitor, reverse parking collision avoidance, parking distance warning, manual speed limit, rear occupant alert, and surround view monitor.

The all-new Hyundai Santa Fe comes with a 5-year or 200,000-kilometer vehicle warranty (whichever comes first) and is available in three trims: 2.5T Calligraphy 8DCT AWD (P3.1 million); 2.5 GLS 8AT AWD (P2.54 million); and 2.5 GLS 8AT 2WD or two-wheel drive (P2.41 million). A hybrid trim will be added by the second half of this year.