Hyundai has produced a high-end SUV without the premium price, writes James Stinson
The pace of change in the motor industry is frightening. Who’d have thought 10 years ago that Hyundai would be making high-end SUVs to rival the likes of Volvo, Audi, Land Rover and others?
The previous Hyundai Santa Fe had been an acceptable but unremarkable seven-seater SUV. A sensible rather than a desirable buy.
The latest model couldn’t be more different. It’s big and boxy but in a good way. Big means space, comfort and practicality while the boxy styling, mixed with a number of striking colours, gives the Santa Fe an imposing, upmarket feel.
It feels closer to a seven-seater Discovery or XC90 but remarkably undercuts those two by as much as £20,000.
The Santa Fe comes as a self-charging or plug-in hybrid. At its core is the same 1.6 litre turbocharged petrol motor. That looks a bit small for a car of this size but the Santa Fe feels plenty quick enough with the standard 252 bhp hybrid version reaching 62mph from a standing start in under 10 seconds. We managed around 40mpg on our test run.
The hybrid, from £47,000, also comes with the option of all-wheel drive while the more powerful plug-in version with 253bhp, from £53,000, features all-wheel drive as standard. Fitted with a small 13.8kWh battery it offers a pure electric range of around 34 miles.
Whether this is an option depends on your driving and how you finance the purchase. Charge at home or work and use it for mostly short journeys and you’ll rarely have to visit a petrol station. It’s also a more sensible company car option, thanks to the favourable benefit-in-kind tax benefits though these aren’t as striking as say, a Skoda Kodiaq.
Private buyers who frequently do longer journeys should opt for the simpler and cheaper hybrid.
On the road, it feels smooth and capable, despite the modestly-sized engine. There’s plenty of grip in the corners and the body doesn’t lean too much. The steering is light and easy.
It’s a big car and some may find it a bit of a handful in and around town and in tight spaces. On the upside, all-round visibility is pretty good and all cars get a reversing camera and the mid-spec ‘Ultimate’ model gets a full surround-view camera as well as a digital rear-view mirror.
Inside, the Santa Fe feels big and luxurious. The boxy, squared off lines means there’s lots of head and shoulder room throughout while the second and third rows of seats have plenty of legroom.
The middle row bench slides while the seats also recline and split 60:40. Access into the third row is good, you just have to press a button on the shoulder of a middle-row seat and it folds forward electronically. Even with all the seats in place there’s still a reasonable boot.
Storage space, meanwhile, is virtually unparalleled with an amazing 18 cup/bottle holders in total.
Cabin materials have a high-end feel and equipment levels are generous. Even entry-level models come with dual 12.3-inch displays, a powered tailgate, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless smartphone charging pad, keyless entry, electrically adjustable heated front seats and a suite of driver assistance tech.
Upgrading to Ultimate costs around £3,500, and adds a Bose premium sound system, a glass sunroof, head-up display, heated rear seats and ventilated front seats, plus dual charging pads. It’s also available with the optional Pecan Brown and Supersonic Grey interior themes.
Range-topping Calligraphy cars start from nearly £53,000 in hybrid guise, and feature Nappa leather upholstery. There are ‘Premium Relaxation’ front seats, plus gloss black exterior trim and wheels, while a UV-C sterilisation tray that can sanitise small items such as phones and keys with ultra-violet rays is added to the upper glovebox – the Santa Fe is the first production car to feature such a system.
The styling, presence, space, tech and comfort are all top-notch. It looks a surefire winner.