HYUNDAI will position its new Santa Fe SUV to complete with the European-style premium SUV segment.

The new version is slightly larger than its predecessor, 175mm longer, 45mm wider, and 65mm higher with the wheelbase extended by 80mm and comes with a seven-seat option.

There is a choice of two upgraded engines, a 2.2-litre CRDi and a 2.7-litre V6 petrol. Both automatic and manual transmissions are completely new.

The Santa Fe has a ‘torque on demand’ 4WD system with ESP which uses sensors to monitor road and driving conditions. This allows it to sense when and where more torque is needed and automatically engage 4WD mode.

Safety features include an on/off switch for passenger side airbag, active headrests for driver and front passenger and repositioned 3-point rear safety belts.

A launch date and prices will be announced in the near future. It will make an appearance at this week’s Geneva Motor Show along with the Genus crossover concept.


Hyundai’s new Santa Fe will take on models like Audi’s Q7, BMW’s X5, Volkswagen’s Touareg, Volvo’s XC90 and Lexus’ RX