Bold move for Santa Fe

1 December 2024 | Paul Gover

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The new Hyundai Santa Fe is a genuine seven-seater. Photo: Supplied.

There is no mistaking the new Hyundai Santa Fe on Australian roads.

The full-sized family wagon has taken on the hard-edged toughness now so popular, especially in the world of pick-up trucks.

But the Santa Fe is different and a big contrast.

It looks angular, blocky and tough on the outside, but the cabin has taken a step up in class and quality to make it one of the most enjoyable in the class.

The newbie is the sixth-generation of Hyundai’s big wagon and reflects the biggest change since the beginning.

Hyundai Australia is pitching it now as an ‘escape machine’, pointing to the all-wheel drive system on some models, but that is a big stretch.

And it won’t even match a Subaru for versatility.

Even so, it is a genuine seven-seater – not just a five-plus-two like many other SUVs – and there are a range of engine and driveline combinations.

The starter has a 1.6-litre turbo with front-drive and a ‘mild’ hybrid, which improves economy slightly but does not mean it can be driven as an electric car.

It’s a worthwhile step and common across many newcomers in 2024, even including the latest Suzuki Swift.

Getting back to the Santa Fe, the blocky body means lots of space inside. The second-row seating is particularly good and even the third row can handle – for short trips – adults.

The Santa Fe can be thirsty on fuel. Photo: Supplied.

The styling inside is more like the upscale Genesis models from the Hyundai-Kia family, with classy materials and quality finishing.

The inevitable screens across the dash are moulded into a single piece which is nicely integrated, not just the ’stuck-on iPad’ look of many others.

The Santa Fe is big and heavy, even if it is only rated to tow 1650 kilograms, which means it sits nicely on the road. The downside, obviously, can be a thirst which does not remotely match the 5.6 litres/100 km claim by the brand.

Even the basic model gets along well enough; it has a comfortable ride in all conditions, and it is good for long highway runs.

But …

Once again, Hyundai has gone overboard on the electronic driver aids – Hyundai Australia is trying to get some remission from the standards set for Europe – which means endless bings and bongs and a steering wheel which often fights against the driver.