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Santa Fe comes to town

Santa Fe comes to town

Ronald Rey M. de los Reyes

A KOREAN SPORT-UTES’ OVERHAUL BEGINS A NEW ERA OF DESIGN AND INNOVATION

Photos by Tope Crisostomo

The word “Santa Fe” may have derived its origins from Spain, which means, “Holy Faith.” It is likewise the oldest city in the United States which was founded in the 1600s in New Mexico, and is famous for its world-class art pieces and historical sites.

Hence, it’s only fitting that Hyundai’s first-ever sport utility vehicle was named after it when it was first introduced in 2001.

For more than two decades, it has put its faith on the vehicle that would go head-on against more established brands at that time and carve out its own unique market for sport-ute fans.

Now in its fifth-generation, the Hyundai Santa Fe has undergone a complete overhaul in its design and features. With an “Open for more” concept, the Korean carmaker’s iconic SUV begins its rebirth in its aesthetic ideologies.

“This model holds a special place in Hyundai’s history books as it is actually our first-ever in-house SUV,” Hyundai Motor Philippines president, Mr. Dongwook Lee said.

“It has been serving as the centerpiece of the brand’s growing SUV portfolio and has sold over million units, as well as gained a loyal following globally.”

He continued, “Over the course of 23 years, the Santa Fe has always progressed with the times by incorporating modern design philosophies and trends. And this 5th generation is no different as it embodies our commitment to continuously innovate how we can cater to our new era of customers and their lifestyles.”

In a recent test drive at the makeshift track in R33 Drift Track in San Simon, Pampanga, we got to have first dibs of this vehicle.

Compared to its predecessor, the all-new Hyundai Santa Fe features a boxier and bolder body that instantly makes it stand out from the rest of the crowd. Now, it’s 45-mm longer and 95mm higher. It has, however, a shorter overhang, making its wheelbase longer by 50mm and its tailgate 145-mm wider.

Despite its size, engineers have found a way to make sure its performance is kept top-notch. This includes strategically placing specific parts, such as: its side mirrors, active air flaps, skid plates and spoilers for optimal aerodynamics.

Upfront, it’s distinguished by a H-shaped LED horizontal lamp with daytime running lights (DRL), front bumper garnish and radiator grille. As add-on, a bridge-type roof rail has also been placed, alongside the dual sunroof, not to mention a C-Pillar Assist Handle, capable of up to 200kg, for users to get on and alighting its sides. These will prove to be useful for weekend warriors and off-road enthusiasts looking for a quick escape from the busy metro.

Complementing these are the vehicle’s sharply defined wheel arches, capped by its 21-inch black ink wheels with Continental tires.

Inside, a more refined and premium interior cabin greets you. It’s softer and more delicate compared to the tough and rugged persona it presents from the outside. Hyundai calls this the “Plus Alpha” experience philosophy wherein it jives the outdoor-indoor living lifestyle. It starts with fully foldable second and third row seats, making it possible to repurpose the vehicle in whatever way you like.

Meanwhile, front and center is its 12.3-inch panoramic curved display for the instrument cluster and infotainment screen. This goes along with a fingerprint recognition system for added security, which is a first for the brand. Furthermore, this is coupled with seat memory customizing and access to a personalized infotainment system. Other creature comforts include the full-touch climate control panel, a dual wireless charging pad, six USB-C ports, and a 12-volt socket.

A bi-directional console box with a lower sliding tray, on the other hand, is touted as the “world’s first,” which specifically enables a variety of uses since it can be opened from both ends and also features a removable divider.

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Also, to further brandish the vehicle with Hyundai’s new design identity, H-shaped elements were spread throughout the interiors, like mood lights, aircon vents, and stitching on its seats.

Powering this behemoth is a powerful 2.5-liter turbocharged engine, mated to an 8-speed dual clutch transmission – producing a maximum output of 280hp and 422N-m of torque, for the top variant. This is coupled with drive and terrain settings that can be adjusted based on user preference on the engine power map, transmission patterns, stability control, and braking. Here, eight modes can be selected from Normal, Eco, Sport, Smart, Auto, Sand, all the way to Mud and Snow.

Moreover, it comes with Hyundai Traction (HTRAC), the carmaker’s own brand of All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system.

Safety-wise, it has a slew of features, such as: downhill brake control, driver, passenger, side, and curtain airbags. Likewise, it has Advanced driver-assist functions, such as: the Smart Cruise Control with Stop and Go, Forward Collision Avoidance, Lane Following and Keeping, Blind spot View Monitor, Reverse Parking Collision Avoidance, Parking Distance Warning, Manual Speed Limit, Rear Occupant Alert, and Surround View Monitor.

A hybrid trim will also be made available by the second half of the year.

For now, these are the all-new Hyundai Santa Fe’s variants and colors: