THE new look, fourth generation, Hyundai Santa Fe has hit the market with a bang, with the 2019 model featuring progressive, elegant styling, superb comfort and driver appeal, and advanced safety and infotainment technology.
It’s more stable than ever before with the introduction of the advanced HTRAC all-wheel drive system, and the SmartSense suite of active safety features. It still comes in the three feature levels we know from previous models too, the Active, Elite and Highlander.
Everything is bigger too, with a longer body, more luggage space, more leg and head room, and more glass, with bigger windows offering a better view. Third row seats fold at the push of a button and the Elite and Highlander get a powered tailgate.
Safety includes forward collision avoidance, smart cruise control with stop and go, blind spot collision avoidance, rear cross traffic collision avoidance and driver attention warnings. It also comes with high beam and lane keep assist.
Buyers who choose the Elite or Highlander model variants will also get rear occupant alert, which prevents passengers being locked in the car, and safety exit alert, designed to prevent doors being opened when a vehicle is approaching from behind.
All models also get electronic stability control, traction control, ABS, EBD, brake assist, downhill brake control and hill start assist. There are six airbags, LED daytime running lights, a 360-degree camera and a brand new park assist system.
There’s two drive trains in the Active – a 138kW/241Nm 2.4-litre naturally-aspirated petrol engine with a six-speed automatic transmission, or a high-torque 2.2-litre turbocharged diesel engine matched to a new, eight-speed automatic transmission.
The Santa Fe Elite and Highlander come standard with the 147kW/440Nm 2.2-litre turbo diesel engine and eight-speed automatic transmission. Fuel economy on the petrol Active is 9.3-litres/100km, while the diesel enjoys 7.5-litres/100km.
Inside you’ll find the latest infotainment and connectivity functionality, with some different options across the range, with all models getting a radio data system, Bluetooth connectivity, voice recognition, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe Elite and Highlander models feature a satellite navigation system with an 8.0-inch infotainment display. The navigation system presents 3D map views and live traffic data, and comes with a lifetime map care update plan.
There’s now also a heads-up display, LED lights everywhere, and in the Highlander, wireless phone charging. Additionally all Santa Fe’s come standard with USB and AUX inputs, as well as an additional USB charging port.
The 2019 edition of the Hyundai Santa Fe also features Auto Link, a cool system that links the car’s computer to your mobile via Bluetooth and lets you track vehicle data such as tyre pressures, servicing and even accessing road side assistance.
The Highlander though goes next level with Auto Link Premium, which lets you start and stop the car, lock and unlock the doors, set temperatures, turn on your hazard lights and defrost the windscreen, all from your phone app.
On the outside, it’s got a styling new grille, that’s different depending on the variant you choose, and an improved colour range including White Cream Mica, Stormy Sea Mica, Typhoon Silver, Wild Explorer, Magnetic Force, and Earthly Bronze.
But we’re not done yet, there’s also Rain Forest, Horizon Red Mica and Phantom Black Mica. There’s also a host of alloy wheel choices and a bunch of interior customisation that can be made to give your new Santa Fe the look you want.
Luggage space is a generous 130 litres behind the third row seats, expanding to 547 litres behind the second row and to an impressive 1,625 litres with both rear rows folded. It comes with a 5-year unlimited kilometre warranty and capped price servicing.
But the one thing we know you’re waiting for, how much does it cost, well the Active starts at $43,000 for the petrol and $46,000 for the diesel, with the Elite on sale from $54,000 and the Highlander starting at $60,500. Prices are plus on-roads.
