2019 Hyundai Santa Fe: First impression

Hyundai’s Santa Fe has always been a wonderful crossover in its class, right since its introduction in the Middle East. However, the new generation 2019 model has adopted a lot of pleasant things to like, besides just the new set of engines.

The moment you look at this new fourth-generation model, you will notice that it is well equipped to fulfil your daily and weekend camping trips too. It is extremely dynamic and can easily take on the uneven roads with this AWD system and the highly responsive drive modes.

Having given the perfect buildup to the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe here, let’s talk about the car in details and see how it could fare among the current breed of crossovers in the country.

Styling

Undoubtedly, the styling of this new Santa Fe has to be a highlighting element. The front section of the car is very much like the edgy Kona crossover that was revealed recently. The cascading front grille and the butch bonnet makes for a very muscular appearance.

Moreover, the front fascia is decorated with a unique illumination setup. The headlamps are no longer places on the conventions spot adjacent to the top grille but are moved lower down on the bumper. The sleek profile beside the grille now just houses the LED DRLs.

The side profile is very sculpted right from the fenders to the D-pillars. The body is well-contoured to impart bulkiness. At the rear, there are sleek and split tail lights, a shark fin antenna, and roof spoiler. The rear skid plate is very prominent and has a dual-tip exhaust.

Interior cabin

The 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe is a lot roomier inside than it ever was. The second row and the boot area is now spacier than the outgoing model. Also, Hyundai claims that the cabin and the seats are designed to offer better visibility as well.

The settings on the interior are plush and very attractive. The dashboard is very detailed and there are a lot of control buttons everywhere. There is a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system that sits on top of the dashboard like a head-up display. It supports both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well and there is also a wireless charger for your smartphones.

You will notice that the fourth generation model has grown in its wheelbase, which automatically makes for a more comfortable cabin.

Engine & transmission

Speaking about the mechanism under the hood, the Hyundai Santa Fe specs are just as wonderful as you can think off, looking at the exterior. There are two tunings of the 2.4-litre petrol engine with 172 PS of power and 225 Nm of torque on one and 188 PS of power and 241 Nm of torque on the other.

The biggest petrol engine is a 3.3-litre 6-cylinder V-aligned motor making a whopping 270 PS of power and 318 Nm of torque. However, the crossover is also offered in a diesel guise as well, which is a 2.2-litre CRDi motor making 193 PS of power and a humongous 441 Nm of highest torque.

As for the transmission, there is a 6-speed unit given as standard in all the engine trims.

Braking & ride quality

The Hyundai Santa Fe has ventilated disc brakes with floating callipers up front and solid discs at the rear. ABS is given in all the wheels along with electronic brakeforce distribution.

The crossover is extremely powerful from all fronts. The throttle response is amazing, thanks to the tremendous pulling power. The ride quality is quite smooth as the MacPherson Strut front suspension and multi-link rear manages to keep super calm within the cabin, absorbing most of the bumps.

Summary

The 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe price is on the affordable side, considering the wonderful features that it dons. It is much more powerful than most of its competitors and looks very pleasing to the eyes. Step inside and you will be greeted with a very techno-savvy cabin with a lot of information and buttons everywhere on the dash.

And yes, the new set of engines is so very powerful that it will be good enough to offer the thrills of an adventure on any roads, be it the normal city roads or the off-beaten tracks.