Hyundai Santa Fe

Hyundai India Motor Ltd. is having a successful run with its small cars in India. Also it has worked wonders with its executive sedan segment through Accent. And even more than that the i-cars – the i10 and the i20 which have been a real sucess for this South Korean automobile giant in India. However the larger and more expensive automobiles from the Hyundai like the Sonata and Elantra did not perform as much as it was expected.

The Hyundai range of SUVs had only limited success, with its large and slightly old-fashioned Terracan, or the Tucson which was a great soft-roader with its all-wheel drive capability. The Hyundai Santa Fe, has been brought to change Hyundai’s SUV fortunes in the Indian marketplace. Hyundai call the Santa Fe their global luxury SUV for India. Utter the word SantaFe to most non-car people, and they will immediately bring up the picture of the beautiful and history-packed capital city in New Mexico. Interestingly enough the name SantaFe literally translates to ‘holy faith’ in Spanish and there’s quite a possibility that the name has really worked this SUV wonders in the North American market.

The Hyundai SantaFe can be best described as a mid-size crossover SUV based and is based on the Hyundai Sonata platform. The first-generation SantaFe (SM) was launched in 2001 in the North American market and was Hyundai’s first major foray into this segment. It was criticized as being slightly obscure looking with its very Korean styling (think of a larger Tucson), but surprisingly caught the consumer’s fancy for it was well priced and was reliable. The Santa Fe quickly became Hyundai’s best seller and contributed to Hyundai’s success in the United States and over two millions units have been sold globally.

Features

Folding side mirrors, sunroof, sports side rails, bodycolor rear spoiler and no visible exhaust pipe are just a few of the design features that set the Santa Fe apart in this crowded SUV segment.

Exterior

SE AND LIMITED

For the SE there are 18-inch alloy wheels, front fog lights, sporty roof crossrails, bodycolor mirrors and center-mounted LED brake lights that not only look good, but illuminate faster than conventional bulbs. The Limited adds heated leather seating surfaces, a one touch sunroof and an Infinity  premium audio system

A TAILGATE FOR TAILGATING

The tailgate handle is large and intuitively placed on the right. The rear bumper itself features a textured covering to guard against paint damage when loading and unloading heavy objects like a bar-b-que grill, chairs or ridiculously large tubs of potato salad.

DESIGN AND ENGINEERING

The Santa Fe was the first Hyundai vehicle to roll out of our new design center in California. The model makers, technicians, and designers at our $30 million facility gave the Santa Fe clean, timeless lines that are aerodynamic but not anonymous, and space-efficient but not boxy.

Interior

STYLISH AND SAFE

The radio and temperature controls are placed high on the dashboard for easy visibility, while buttons and knobs are generously sized and clearly marked. The gear shifter and steering-wheel-mounted cruise and audio controls are conveniently located so you can operate them by touch alone. Even the cupholders are illuminated in a soft blue glow at night to highlight their location. Each feature is designed to be visually appealing, but not visually distracting.

DETAILS, DETAILS

Bluetooth hands-free phone system, steering wheel audio controls and a one-touch power tilt & slide sunroof with sliding sunshade. Santa Fe designers even added small conveniences like a sunglass holder the in overhead console and trip computer meant to make your experience as comfortable and clutter-free as possible.

CARGO SPACE

Though the Hyundai Santa Fe has more passenger volume than the RAV4 and CX-7, it’s not always how much cargo space you have, but what you do with it. Inside you’ll find plenty of cubbies for storing smaller items, there’s additional storage under the cargo floor, and even 115-volt power outlets that’ll power standard household appliances like laptops and radios.

POWER TILT-AND-SLIDE SUNROOF

Get your daily dose of fresh air and Vitamin D with the one-touch power tilt-and-slide sunroof with sliding sunshade.

DUAL AUTOMATIC TEMPERATURE CONTROL

Temperature autonomy makes for happier passengers. The Santa Fe Limited has dual automatic temperature controls with a Clean Air Ionizer and eight fan speeds so you can dial in the perfect temp. And unlike most competitors, the Santa Fe also features B-pillar-mounted adjustable vents that direct the air throughout the cabin rather than just at the center passenger’s legs.

NAVIGATION SYSTEM

The Santa Fe navigation system has a large, high resolution 6.5-inch touchscreen that’s simple, intuitive and features a rearview camera for tight parking spaces. XM NavTraffic® lets you search from over five million points of interest, get real-time traffic updates, and search the address book for most recently visited locations, marked points and favorites.

Safety

UNIBODY STRUCTURE

The Santa Fe’s top-level crash test ratings and surefooted handling are largely the result of its rugged unibody construction. Over 7,000 welds, strategically placed crumple zones, side-impact door beams and high-strength steel create an insulating structure to help protect you in case of any collision.

ESC AND TCS

Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and Traction Control System (TCS) work in tandem to prevent skids, maintain traction and keep the vehicle under control even in difficult steering conditions. In fact, ESC has led to a reduction in fatal accidents, and has been so effective the government has mandated ESC be standard on all vehicles by 2012.

Hyundai, however, holds itself to a more rigorous benchmark. ESC has been standard on every Santa Fe for years.

ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM

Emergency braking can cause a vehicle’s wheels to lock up and skid, resulting in a loss of steering control exactly when you need it most. ABS helps prevent the possibility of wheel lockup under hard braking, and rapidly pulses the brakes to help you retain steering control as you come to a stop.

AIRBAGS ALL AROUND

Six standard airbags protect front-seat passengers from front and side impacts, while side-curtain airbags with rollover sensors extend to help protect all passengers. An intelligent Occupant Classification System detects the size of the front-seat passengers and adjusts inflation accordingly. In fact, the OCS is so smart that if no passenger is detected, the passenger-side airbag won’t inflate, reducing repair costs.

Specifications

Engine

Suspension

Steering

Brakes