THE Past 18 months have been beyond compare for Hyundai with model improvement matched all the way by rising sales figures.
At the heart of this success has been the ‘i’ range of cars, matching European design influences with proven Korean reliability.
But you have to check back in time to 2006 to see what really got Hyundai off the ground in the UK – the arrival of the Santa Fe – a premium quality SUV.
So the industry waited with plenty of interest to see the latest Santa Fe to hit our roads this year taking its competitiveness to new levels with a new power-train providing new levels of both power and performance.
Hyundai claim this is not just a nip and tuck exercise and has moved the Santa Fe to compare favourably on price and emissions with MPVs and estate cars, while powering ahead of SUV rivals.
A bold claim but when you consider that Hyundai has actually managed to make the list price even more competitive there are obvious benefits for private buyers and company car drivers alike.
There’s a new engine and more equipment while revisions to the design are concentrated on the finer detail.
At the heart of the rejuvenated Santa Fe is a new 2.2-litre direct injection ‘R’ diesel engine that demonstrates major improvements over the already-impressive outgoing version.
This Euro V compliant, all-aluminium 2199cc powerplant offers up a class-leading, backed by a mighty 311lb.ft of torque (322lb.ft in the automatic version on test) which amounts to improvements of 26% and 27% respectively on the previous engine.
With the six-speed automatic transmission fitted, the Santa Fe gets to 62mph from rest in 10.2. And Hyundai make lots of their claim that it is the fastest seven-seat SUV you can buy for under £35,000. In fact the test model retailed at £25,705.
Performance doesn’t come at the expense of economy however, as the combined cycle figure is 38.2mpg and emissions have fallen significantly to 197g/km – that’s impressive for a vehicle in this sector.
A crucial element to the Santa Fe’s impressive on and off-road performance is the combination of a finely tuned suspension set up alongside a comprehensive range of electronic aids.
In addition, all seven-seat versions are fitted with self-levelling rear suspension as standard, maintaining predictable handling and ride regardless of the load. The new Santa Fe has increased its towing capacity still further, with a maximum braked towing weight of 2,500kg, up 300kg on the outgoing model.
A strong passenger safety cell is the core of the Santa Fe, hence the strong 4-star EuroNCAP rating for both adult and child occupants.
The Santa Fe now has a rollover sensor which detects any possible inversion and automatically deploys side airbags and seat belt pre-tensioners. There are twin front, side and full length curtain airbags, while active head restraints are now standard across the range.
Alongside the on-demand four wheel drive system fitted across the range, all Santa Fes now come with ESP in addition to traction control and ABS with electronic brakeforce distribution. In normal conditions the “torque on demand” system runs in two-wheel drive mode, unless sensors detect a loss of grip.
Drive is then automatically split between the front and rear axles to maximise traction, and the system can be locked into four-wheel drive mode with the simple push of a button.
The range has been simplified, with the two-model range now comprising of entry-level Style and higher spec Premium. Style models are packed with standard equipment: 17-inch alloy wheels, reversing sensors, ESP and air conditioning are among the standard features.
Moving up to Premium adds 18-inch wheels, dual climate control, heated leather seats with electric adjustment for the driver and automated lights and wipers amongst others.
The Santa Fe retains its outstanding MPV-rivalling practicality, with the even more versatile seven-seat option available for a modest £750 on both Style and Premium models.
Seven-seat versions are also fitted with a self-levelling rear suspension set up and rear privacy glass as standard, while five-seat versions get a substantial under-floor storage area that is ideal for keeping wet or dirty items away from the main boot area.