Video Summary
The new Hyundai Santa Fe has a real luxury vibe and a lot of nice tech. The design is reminiscent of the old Land Rover Defender, offering space for seven people.It is priced between mainstream and premium SUVs.
The 0-60 mph acceleration is impressive at 8.15 seconds.
The engine is a 1.6L four-cylinder. The plug-in hybrid version has 253 hp, and the self-charging hybrid has 215 hp.
The Hyundai is quicker in 0-60 acceleration than the Ford Fiesta Mark 2 XR2 and the Peugeot 205 GTI.
One could buy a Hyundai for good old-fashioned value for money.
The Santa Fe range starts at around £46,775, rising to £50,275 for the trim level shown. It’s more expensive than the equivalent Skoda Kodiaq or Nissan X-Trail, but cheaper than the Audi Q7 or Land Rover Discovery.
Saving £4,000 is possible through Carwow.
The reviewer especially loves the H daytime running lights.
Standard features include 20-inch alloy wheels, and roof bars are on all versions.
The rear design is not the greatest.
The interior feels special and expensive and definitely rivals premium brands. The climate control buttons are separate from the infotainment screen, unlike on a BMW.
It has very quiet electric windows, on par with Lexus.
The materials feel lovely.
Downsides are: cheaper materials on the door, and gear selector which looks like a razor.
In the middle row, the seats can slide and recline, with plenty of legroom.
However, climate controls are only for the last row.
It can maneuver well in town. The turning circle is 11.6m.
The surround-view cameras and sensors make navigation easy.
The reviewer appreciates how this car drives in town; it reminds him of a Land Rover Discovery with a flat bonnet.
The hybrid system is fairly smooth and doesn’t feel sluggish off the mark.
This particular car is averaging 36.9 MPG.
The lane departure and speed limit safety systems can be annoying and default on every time the car is started.
There is no washer for the rear camera, which must be cleaned manually.
Maximum towing capacity for all versions is 1.1 tons.
There are Isofix anchor points on the two outer middle seats and the rear seats.
For £2,000 extra it’s possible to have 4WD, which adds settings for snow, mud, and sand.
It is equipped with two USB-C chargers in the front and two wireless phone chargers that require the car door to be closed to work. There is one power socket there.
The car is rated as a "Buy."
