New enhanced Santa Fe – refined and innovative

Hyundai Motor’s SUV pioneer, the Santa Fe, has been revamped with some new design refinements and an advanced range of new active safety, comfort and convenience features.

The upgraded Santa Fe, available in two derivatives with an extensive Elite standard features package for South Africa, adopts the most recent Hyundai design features, with the signature hexagonal front grille and sharper profile visually uniting the range.

The Santa Fe R2.2 five-seater Elite uses a front-wheel drive system, while the R2.2 seven-seater Elite is equipped with an All-Wheel Drive system that can be locked when needed.

Advanced safety and comfort features includes smart cruise control and blind spot detection which further enhances the Santa Fe’s appeal to SUV customers looking for assured quality with the latest technology. Subtle interior design touches and new materials emphasise its status as the brand’s flagship SUV.

At the front, a new layout for the xenon projector headlamps has been applied, while the rear lamps feature a fresh LED graphic design. The modern and bold exterior appearance comes with newly designed 19-inch alloy wheels that highlight the model’s refined lines.

Inside the Santa Fe has received updates to the console cluster and the navigation system. The relationship between design and functionality continues throughout the cockpit where new material and exterior colours further enhance the image of Hyundai’s flagship model.

Building on Santa Fe’s high safety specification, the new Santa Fe introduces several new active safety and comfort features. In line with changing customer perceptions of the Hyundai Motor brand, enhancements boost the premium feel and sophisticated appearance of the new model.

Adding further driver convenience and enhancing safety, Blind Spot Detection (BSD) technology is introduced to New Santa Fe. Using radar technology, BSD monitors the rear corners and, if another vehicle is detected, a visual alert appears on the exterior mirrors. If the driver then activates the indicators, an audible signal is emitted.

Using the BSD sensors, the Rear-Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) system reduces the risk of collision with approaching traffic when reversing out of narrow areas with low visibility. Using a radar to scan a 180-degree area behind the vehicle for approaching cross-traffic, RCTA alerts the driver visually and acoustically.

A new Smart Cruise Control function maintains a set distance from vehicles ahead, automatically decreasing the speed, or accelerating to a pre-set cruise in line with prevailing traffic conditions.

Hyundai Motor’s navigation system combines with premium sound to provide occupants with a high-quality interface, including the latest in-car audio technology.

Alongside these upgrades, passengers sitting in the new car’s second row of sliding seats will benefit from greater space as an extra 15 mm has been added to the travel, boosting the adjustment to 270 mm.

Another new feature is the Smart Power Tailgate that opens at the push of a button, either on the tailgate door itself or on the keyless entry fob, with an audible warning to anyone in the vicinity. This is particularly useful when loading shopping bags in the spacious luggage area.

Hyundai’s powerful 2.2-litre CRDi diesel engine, developing 145 kW and 436 Nm of torque, is used in both the front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive Elite variants, coupled to a six-speed automatic gearbox with the option of manual gearshift.

This engine delivers CO2 emissions and fuel consumption of 198 g per km and 8 litres per 100 km, respectively in the 2WD five-seater Elite variant, and 206 g per km and 8,3 litres per 100 km in the all-wheel drive seven-seater Elite derivative.

The prices of the two derivatives in the enhanced Santa Fe range are:

• Santa Fe R2.2 2WD five-seater Elite – R659 900

• Santa Fe R2.2 4WD seven-seater Elite – R699 900.

The prices of the enhanced Santa Fe range include a five-year or 90 000 km service plan, and a five-year or 150 000 km warranty and roadside assistance.