The present-generation Hyundai Santa Fe is getting in the direction of the top of its shelf life, with an even bigger and bolder-looking all-new mannequin set to reach by mid-2024.
However that doesn’t imply this model is fully uncompetitive in opposition to myriad giant SUV rivals, as a result of it nonetheless makes a superb case for itself – proof of how good it was when it launched in 2018.
Certainly, this model will not be even that previous. Sometimes a car era final seven years, so Hyundai is changing it forward of time.
Core rivals embody the Toyota Kluger, Kia Sorento (which shares the Santa Fe’s underpinnings), Mazda CX-8, Mitsubishi Outlander in 5+2 guise, and Skoda Kodiaq.
The variant we’re driving right here is the Santa Fe Lively, which sits one rung above the eponymous base mannequin (merely known as Santa Fe) and beneath the extra luxurious Santa Fe Elite and Santa Fe Highlander grades that price extra.
Two drivetrains can be found to select from at this spec stage: a front-wheel drive (FWD) V6 petrol or the all-wheel drive (AWD) four-cylinder diesel – the latter of which we’ve right here, commanding a $3500 premium however providing higher gas effectivity, extra torque, and four-wheel traction.
How a lot does the Hyundai Santa Fe Lively price?
The broader Santa Fe vary opens at $46,050 earlier than on-road prices reminiscent of rego and insurance coverage, stamp responsibility, and vendor prices. Nonetheless, our take a look at Lively diesel retails for $53,750 earlier than on-roads.
This RRP equates to a drive-away value of round $59,000, which means you’ll be able to choose up a Santa Fe Lively 2.2D AWD seven-seater with premium paint ($695) and a few mats for below $60k.
On the time of writing Hyundai Australia was providing a $2500 deposit contribution for these opting to make use of its captive finance plan on a mortgage.
Hyundai Santa Fe pricing:
Santa Fe Petrol FWD: $46,050Santa Fe Diesel AWD: $49,550Santa Fe Lively Petrol FWD: $50,250Santa Fe Lively Diesel AWD: $53,750Santa Fe Elite Petrol FWD: $56,500Santa Fe Elite Diesel AWD: $60,000Santa Fe Elite Hybrid AWD: $63,000 Santa Fe Highlander Petrol FWD: $63,050Santa Fe Highlander Diesel AWD: $66,550Santa Fe Highlander Hybrid AWD: $69,550
All costs exclude on-road prices
What’s the Hyundai Santa Fe Lively like on the within?
The Santa Fe Lively provides a proximity-sensing key fob and power-unfolding aspect mirrors, that are welcome comfort options that we’ve come to anticipate.
There are some good design parts just like the wavy speaker covers, quilted patterns on the higher seat parts, contrasting stitchwork, metal-look plastic trim inserts, light-coloured headlining, and the fashionable method the rounded sprint part mix neatly into the doorways (Jaguar-style) – all of which elevate the vibe it imparts.
It’s all put-together very well, imparting a sense of solidity and sturdiness.
Being a lower-level variant the seats are handbook adjustable, however they provide good breadth of actions and have ample aspect and under-thigh bolstering in addition to two-way lumbar changes, and naturally presents a commanding trip top.
Behind the wheel is an easy analogue instrument cluster with a small (4.2-inch) digital show between the speedometer and tachometer, displaying you capabilities reminiscent of journey knowledge, pace, and the reside monitoring of the AWD system’s behaviour.
It’s not the form of flashy all-digital show we’re getting used to on most rivals, nevertheless it does the job. If you’d like the added bonus of an even bigger digital cluster or projecting head-up show on the windscreen you’ll have to spend up on the extra premium grades.
The Lively additionally retains the smaller 8.0-inch centre touchscreen fairly than the ten.25-inch unit within the Elite and Highlander, with options reminiscent of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a reverse-view digicam. These costlier variants add additional fascinating extras reminiscent of sat-nav with reside visitors updates and DAB digital radio.
There’s a superb quantity of storage together with bottle holders within the doorways, a secondary open part above the glovebox, a good centre console behind staggered cupholders, and a very well-thought-out vertical wi-fi telephone charging slot that retains your system neatly tucked away.
In at present’s world of haptic touchpads and touchscreen interfaces galore, the Santa Fe’s use of fine quaint buttons and switches on the decrease parts of the centre sprint strike me as welcome reduction and a win for user-friendliness.
Initially there’s virtually no scratch- and glare-prone shiny black trim items which stay irritatingly in-vogue, and secondly it means a single press or flip prompts most capabilities rapidly as a substitute of requiring one to dig via layers of display menus.
In addition to providing buttons and rocker switches for local weather management and audio capabilities, the Lively comes with a rotary dial to pick completely different driving and terrain modes, and the transfer to a shift-by-wire transmission selector permits using shift buttons – thereby liberating house for some added hidden storage away from prying eyes.
In any potential household SUV, the again seats are simply as vital as these up entrance. The 60:40-split centre bench with folding centre armrest/cupholders presents properly bolstered and reclining outboard sections for adults with a smaller, extra child-friendly portion between.
Facilities together with air vents behind the centre console, USB ports, laborious plastic seat backs for simpler cleanups, map pockets, and comparable trims and design thrives to the entrance. In the event you’ve bought a pair of lanky youngsters fret not; I’m 194cm tall (6’4) and have loads of head/toe/leg room behind my very own driving place again there.
Whereas the Santa Fe is billed as a seven-seater, the third-row seats (simply stowed into the ground) are greatest reserved for infrequent use, ideally by children. Good to have, however for those who recurrently ferry seven occupants you’d be higher served upgrading to a Hyundai Palisade or, higher but, Staria people-mover.
Intelligent touches embody the fitment of vents and a 12V socket, and under-floor stowage for the pull-out cargo blind and the usual fitment of a full-size alloy spare wheel – an enormous tick for regional consumers. If you’d like the comfort of a powered tailgate although, you’ll have to step up into the Santa Fe Elite.
What’s below the bonnet?
Base variations use a 200kW/331Nm 3.5-litre petrol V6 with front-wheel drive, however our automotive runs the torquier 148kW/440Nm 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel.
The Euro 5 diesel is mated to an eight-speed (moist) dual-clutch automated transmission and an energetic on-demand all-wheel drive (AWD) that engages the rear wheels when there’s much less floor traction out there.
In addition to providing all-wheel traction, the diesel engine (claimed gas use 6.1 litres per 100km) presents round 40 per cent better gas effectivity than the thirsty V6 petrol (10.5L/00km) on the mixed cycle.
Sadly, the fuel-sipping petrol-electric Santa Fe Hybrid is simply out there in pricier Elite and Platinum spec grades. You’ll be able to learn our overview on this electrified possibility right here. In lieu of this, the diesel is the very best wager.
Santa Fe Lively diesel
Engine: 2.2-litre 4cyl turbo-dieselPower: 148kW @ 3800rpmTorque: 440Nm @ 1750-2750rpmDriven wheels: AWDTransmission: 8-speed DCTTowing capability: 2500kg (braked)Claimed gas financial system: 6.1L/100kmFuel tank capability: 67 litres
How does the Hyundai Santa Fe Lively drive?
There’s some muted diesel clatter evident from outdoors the car, nevertheless it’s pretty hushed from inside. For city commuters that is one more reason why the silent-at-idle hybrid would make a lot sense.
Regardless, there’s ample punch right here providing wonderful rolling response for overtaking, and a well-tuned DCT that gives smoother-than-expected take-offs and really snappy gear modifications throughout eight slim ratios.
I averaged a real-world 7.7 litres of diesel per 100km, which for a car weighing the very best a part of 2.0 tonnes is fairly good, promising a driving vary north of 800km between refills.
Whereas each the V6 petrol and this diesel are rated to tow 2500kg, if I have been shopping for a Santa Fe to lug a ship or caravan, the higher-torque and extra environment friendly diesel could be the plain selection.
In addition to providing varied driving modes (Consolation, Eco, Sport, Good) that alter parameters like throttle mapping and kit shift behaviours, there are additionally Snow/Mud/Sand terrain modes and downhill descent management.
To be clear, if you wish to go correct off-roading you can purchase a Ford Everest or Isuzu MU-X for comparable cash, each of that are miles extra succesful off the overwhelmed path than the extra car-like Santa Fe.
However for a visit to the snow or for some mildly patch trails, the Hyundai is a stable wager. With its lengthy driving vary and full-size spare tyre, it stacks up as companion for lengthy household adventures that keep on tarmac or gravel.
By ‘Australian-ising’ its suspension calibration via native testing, Hyundais additionally are likely to have nice street manners.
The monocoque Santa Fe with all-round unbiased suspension and low-resistance electrical energy steering does a commendable job absorbing bumps and potholes, and settles properly after suspension rebound. These smaller wheels with extra tyre sidewall assist right here, placing operate over kind.
It’s additionally fairly refined on ever coarse-chip surfaces, by way of the way in which it filters out tyre and wind noise.
With adaptive cruise management and lane-keeping aids with steering inputs, the Santa Fe additionally permits temporary hands-off freeway driving. Secure Exit Help alerts occupants when parked up in the event that they’re in peril of unintentionally opening their door into the trail of an oncoming bicycle owner.
What do you get?
Santa Fe highlights:
17-inch alloy wheelsFull-size alloy spare wheelLED headlights, daytime working lightsRear parking sensorsPowered and heated aspect mirrors Handbook air-con with rear ventsCloth seatsLeather-wrapped steering wheel8.0-inch touchscreenApple CarPlay, Android AutoReversing digicam AM, FM, and Bluetooth audio5 x USB and a pair of x 12V ports Wi-fi telephone charger 6-speaker sound system
Santa Fe Lively provides:
18-inch wheelsFront parking sensors Rain-sensing wipersRear privateness glass Chrome exterior highlightsAuto-folding aspect mirrors Twin-zone local weather management Proximity-sensing keyButton begin Digital gearshift buttons Leather-based seats and door trimsFabric headlining and pillar covers
Santa Fe Elite provides:
20-inch alloy wheelsPowered tailgate LED rear mixture lights Added chrome highlights Photo voltaic management glassAnti-dazzle rear-view mirrorRear occupant intercomPowered and heated entrance seatsRear sunshades12.3-inch digital cluster 10.25-inch touchscreenSat-nav with reside visitors updatesHarman Kardon 10-speaker audio Digital radio receiver
Santa Fe Highlander provides:
Acoustic laminated glassPanoramic glass sunroof Auto-dipping aspect mirror functionDriver’s seat reminiscence operate Nappa leather-based seat trimVentilated entrance seats Heated second-row seats Perforated leather-based steering wheelBlind-spot digicam view in devices Distant parking support by way of key fob360-degree surround-view digicam Head-up show
Is the Hyundai Santa Fe Lively protected?
Petrol and diesel variations of the Santa Fe carry a five-star ANCAP security score from 2018, scoring 94 per cent for grownup occupancy safety, 86 per cent for youngster occupancy safety, 67 per cent for susceptible street consumer safety, and 78 per cent for security help options.
Commonplace security options embody:
Twin entrance airbagsDual front-side airbagsFront-centre airbagCurtain airbags – rows one and two only3 x prime tethers, 2 x ISOFIXAutonomous emergency braking (AEB)Car to vehiclePedestrian, Bike owner detectionLane-keep and following assistBlind-spot avoidance assistRear cross-traffic avoidance assistAutomatic high-beamAdaptive cruise controlDriver consideration warningRear-seat occupant alertSafe Exit Help Energy youngster locksTyre stress monitorReversing digicam
How a lot does the Hyundai Santa Fe Lively price to run?
Hyundai offers a five-year, limitless kilometre guarantee, and capped-price servicing at 12 months or 15,000km intervals.
Hyundai Santa Fe 2.2D AWD service pricing:
12 months or 15,000km: $49924 months or 30,000km: $49936 months or 45,000km: $49948 months or 60,000km: $52960 months or 75,000km: $499
CarExpert’s Tackle the Hyundai Santa Fe Lively
The nice previous Hyundai Santa Fe diesel stays a superb, versatile household SUV with 5 full-time seats and two bonus ones for infrequent use.
The Lively grade presents record of extras over the bottom mannequin for the added value, and this engine is a greater wager than the thirsty petrol V6.
Understand that this era Santa Fe will go on runout quickly, so maintain an eye fixed out as a result of that issue would possibly make it a fair higher purchase.
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