Hyundai SANTA FE RANGE
Do you love the Hyundai Santa Fe? Do you even know what it is? Despite, or perhaps because of, some of the most unusual styling in the whole compact 4x4 sector, the Santa Fe hasnt been a huge success in this country. It has shifted in modest numbers but the launch of the cheaper Tucson 4x4 means that it once again has to establish a niche for itself. With a series of tweaks, Hyundai hope to breathe fresh life into the Santa Fe.
The introduction of the Tucson means that the 2.4-litre petrol Santa Fe bites the bullet and the rest of the range has been made easier to understand. Basically, there are three options. For £17,995 you can buy a 2.
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The selection of alloy wheels available look that little bit sportier and the interior has come in for a fettling with leather trim standard across the range and a revised instrument panel giving the fascia a classier look. Hyundai claim the Santa Fe diesel features an additional £2,250 of extras, which goes some way to justifying the £1,000 price rise visited upon each model. As well as the leather, theres cruise control, side airbags a front windscreen de-icer, heated door mirrors and heated seats. The Santa Fes winter credentials have just been given a big boost.
On top of this gear, the V6 also gets a reversing sensor and a dimming rear view mirror with inbuilt electronic compass.
"Badge snobs look away. Those interested in a screaming 4x4 deal, carry on reading"
For the comparatively modest asking price, the Santa Fe offers a 115bhp direct injection common-rail turbodiesel engine that develops exactly the same 192lb/ft torque figure as the Land Rover Freelander TD4. Its a relatively modern engine, developed in house at the Namyang RandD facility in South Korea and its introduction in the Santa Fe marks Hyundais first diesel passenger car for sale in the UK. As a first stab you have to take your hat off to the Koreans, as the engine is reasonably smooth, notably torquey and admirably economical, returning an average fuel consumption of 37mpg. Hyundai plan an entire family of four, six and eight-cylinder common-rail diesel engines and if this 2.
0-litre baby is anything to go by, the larger engines should deliver some serious shove. If you want more power and refinement than the diesel can offer, Hyundai will sell you a 2.7-litre 168bhp V6 engine. This comes only with a Porsche-developed four-speed automatic gearbox called H-Matic, featuring one of those Tiptronic-style manual-style shifts.
Not that youll be using it too much, thanks to a kickdown swift enough to reach sixty in 11.6s on the way to 109mph. The penalty at the pumps is an average of 25mpg. The Santa Fe wont appeal to all tastes and falls just shy of the Freelander in a number of dynamic areas, but certainly not as far shy as its price differential would suggest, making it appear conspicuously good value.
The specification also includes air conditioning, ABS, CD stereo, electric sunroof, alloy wheels, metallic/mica paint and six airbags. Theres no three-door option, but Hyundai compensates by providing a chunky five-door body thats bigger than all its rivals in the Land Rover Freelander/Toyota RAV4 sector. The chunky looks were penned by Hyundais Californian design studio but dont let them fool you into thinking this to be a real mud plugger. Full time four-wheel drive with a 60/40 split bias front to back is good enough to cope with ploughed fields and rutted roads but without either a tough ladder-framed chassis or a low ratio gearbox, the Santa Fe cant hope to cope on anything much more demanding.
It says much for the modest standards of the class that it nonetheless still manages to better most rivals off the beaten track. Step inside and its rather surprising to find that a car just 205mm shorter than a Land Rover Discovery hasnt got more interior space. Still, since the Koreans are pitching this car into the class below, that shouldnt matter. Hyundai says that three adults can be seated in reasonable comfort at the back though that may be pushing things a little since the bench is a little narrow.
Two people should be quite comfortable however, and only those over six feet tall will feel cramped below the standard sunroof. Getting in and out is slightly more difficult for rear seat occupants since the rear wheelarch intrudes into the door aperture. Still, there a large boot. This can be accessed in the conventional manner through lifting the rear hatch or, if youve just a small item to stow away, by lifting the separately opening rear window.
A neat touch, especially useful in crowded supermarket carparks. The changes made to the Santa Fe arent about to lift it onto the top step of the compact 4x4 podium. It will continue to be ignored by those who place badge equity over talent on-road at least. If, on the other hand, youre self assured and know a bargain when you spot one, a Santa Fe deserves serious consideration.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Hyundai Santa Fe range
PRICE: £17,995-£18,995 on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 11-13
CO2 EMISSIONS: 202-274g/km
PERFORMANCE: [2.7] 0-60mph 11.6s / Max Speed 109mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [2.7} (Urban) 19mpg / (Extra Urban) 30mpg / (Combined) 25mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front and side airbags, ABS
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Heightmm 4500/1820/1730mm
