So I recently got to try out the All-New 2019 4th generation Hyundai Santa Fe recently. The try out happened during the recent media drive of the 7 seater SUV which took a bunch of media type folks from Batu 3 in Shah Alam and into the Malaysian countryside where we did a spot of off-roading in both the 2.4liter Petrol and 2.2liter CDRi turbodiesel variants. The Santa Fe performed quite admirably for what is essentially a 'soft-roader' as I would call it. Do note that this time I only drove both the 2.4 Petrol and the 2.2 Diesel Executive variants and not the more Premium variants. The time factor was also in play here as it was quite a short trip to Negeri Sembilan and back this time.
VIDEO REVIEW - HYUNDAI SANTA FE 2.4 & 2.2 EXECUTIVE
This is one of those test drive articles that feature our video review of it. You can see it above and it does show you the capabilities of the Hyundai Santa Fe to an extent. In terms of what the Santa Fe is, the car is essentially a large sized 7 seater SUV. The third row can easily fit a grown adult of regular size and there are many practical aspects of this what is basicaly an urban crossover vehicle.
In terms of driving dynamics, it is quiet on road on the tyres fitted to the cars. Even the OEM Kumho tyres fitted to some of the Santa Fe cars on the drive were quite okay.No one actually made any complaints on its performance on-road (or even off-road even thought they were not knobbies or had deep threads). As for the off-road capabilities, it handled basic muddy tracks and even small streams with ease. This is both the front wheel drive 2.4liter petrol and the more capable 2.2liter all-wheel drive equipped turbodiesel variant. That variant you can actually tackle inclines and loss of traction as it also has a lockable centre differential which will allow 50:50 torque split. Impressive for a soft-roader.
I must say that in terms of overall driving dynamics, the 2.2liter turbodiesel is the better car. It somehow rides better with better roadholding and better refinement when it came to going over rough terrain. It is more sorted than the lighter front wheel drive petrol version. Maybe the added weight from the rear axle, propshaft and driveshafts make it more planted at the rear. It isn't that the front wheel drive variant is bad (it does feel like it rides stiffly sometimes with some resonance coming into the cabin which can be felt by the rear passengers over big bumps and undulations - fronts are fine - most likely due to the suspension bounce-rebound settings), it is actually quite refined when taken overall. But it is just that the Santa Fe 2.2 turbodiesel is so much more sorted in the ride and handling department. No issues on the suspension whatsoever.
When you push the front wheel drive, it will have the usual stabilising understeer which is also found in the awd variant. But push it hard and the AWD system comes into play as it transfers power to the rear - up to 30% more in Sports mode and 20% during Comfort mode (with little or none in ECO mode). So it is more FUN in the turbodiesel especially when it also has more power and torque - 172hp /225Nm vs 193hp / 440Nm makes it quite one sided, especially if you like the mid-range thrust of a turbodiesel. In any situation, the 440Nm torque of the 2.2 makes driving a breeze over the 225Nm in the 2.4Petrol. Not that it is slow, it is merely adequate and feels like any other 2.4 liter SUV or sedan out there today.
So yes, the 2.2 turbodiesel drives a lot better than the 2.4 Petrol. I would get that if I had a choice.
All of the driving experience was stated in the video which you can see embedded above.
As for other details like the equipment levels in the 2019 Santa Fe, or the styling, let me state in here.
I think the new Santa Fe looks quite nice. It isn't a total change from the previous one in terms of how its styled. It comes up as an evolution of the same design concept. It has been refreshed to have a more integrated and streamlined look overall but more of the character of this car comes from that front end, with its unique main lights which look very squinty-eyed compared to most other SUVs on sale today. It is the bumper that has most of the DRLs, driving lights and indicators rather than the very slim headlights. What it does is endow the new Santa Fe with more character.
As for the rear styling, it makes the car look quite tall and upright. The indicator and secondary lights are in the light clusters located at the bumper, so the indicators seem to bring the SUV's waistline lower than it actually is. Maybe this is the purpose of the styling but it does make the rear look narrower than a 7 seater actually is.
The interior has quite a nice looking dashboard and the overall cabin ambiance is good. Ergonomics and cabin layout is good and it is very practical overall. The sense of premium-ness is there especially because of the leather trim used - the quilted leather pattern on the seatbacks add a sense of luxury there. Now some may compare this with its cheaper Korean counterpart, the Kia Sorento in terms of what you pay for. It may be similar in terms of engines but in terms of the materials used inside, I feel the Santa Fe uses a little bit better materials inside. The extra handiwork gone into the seat trimming is one example of that.
Equipment levels are quite good, but I would have liked to see more Active safety equipment in the base Executive models I had a go in - The Executive variants do not come with Rear Occupant Alert; Blind-Spot Collision Warning; Rear Cross Traffic Collision Warning, Bi-function LED Projection, Dynamic Bending Light. Only the more expensive, by about RM20K more, Premium variant has the items mentioned above.
That being said, there is the usual 6 Airbag system, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) system, Hillstart Assist Control (HAC), Downhill Brake Control (DBC), Antilock Braking System (ABS), Brake Assist System (BAS), Traction Control System (TCS) and an Immobiliser. Other standard convenient features across all variants include a 12-way Driver Power Seat, Smart One Touch Walk-in, Floating Type 7-inch display, Auxiliary and USB ports as well as Bluetooth connectivity with Voice Recognition, Safety Power Window, Back Warning Camera, Parking Distance Warning (front & rear), Auto Light Control, Auto Cruise Control and a Roof Rack. So the Santa Fe Executive variants are actually well equipped.
Actually the only thing I would have liked in from the Premium variant is the Blind-Spot Collision Warning as I feel blind spot sensors actually make real world difference in terms of driving, especially in the city. Other than that one item, I would buy the Executive and save me a lot of money.
So is the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe worth it? Watch the video and see, but I have to say that the Santa Fe, especially in 2.2 turbodiesel form is a potent and practical vehicle over most terrains. The only issue about it is the price. The 2.2 Executive comes in at RM198K and the 2.4 Petrol Executive at RM169K. It will face some price competition with its competitors but that said, I was not disappointed when I drove both the petrol and diesel Santa Fe.
The 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe is a competent, solid albeit a little bit pricey urban full sized SUVs is the verdict here.
Oh, in case yo didn't catch this, here is the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe 2.2 Premium at its media preview on video.
OFFICIAL MALAYSIA LAUNCH PRESS RELEASE
The all-new 4 th generation Santa Fe that was previewed at the Kuala Lumpur International Motorshow 2018 has gone on sale with four variants to choose from, at an introductory starting price of *RM169,888. Members of the media were given the opportunity to view all four variants at Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors (HSDM) ‘Buka Puasa’ event recently.
“Since the preview in November last year, we’ve received good responses and a substantial
amount of bookings. Pricing of the Santa Fe has been released and our popular SUV has gone on
sale just recently,” said Mr Low Yuan Lung, Managing Director of HSDM.
The all-new Santa Fe is available in two engine options, namely the Theta II 2.4 MPI Petrol engine
and R 2.2 CRDi Diesel engine. Both engine types are offered with Executive and Premium
variants. The Theta II 2.4 MPI that is mated to a 6-Speed Auto Transmission, produces a
maximum power of 172PS at 6,000rpm and a maximum torque of 225Nm at 4,000rpm. While the R
2.2 CRDi Diesel engine, that is mated to Hyundai’s new 8-Speed Auto Transmission, produces a
maximum power of 193PS at 3,800rpm and a maximum torque of 440Nm at 1,750-2,750rpm.
Hyundai’s newly developed 8-speed Auto Transmission, provides quick and crisp shifts for a more
engaging and efficient driving experience.
With a RM20,000 price difference, the premium variants for both the Theta II 2.4 MPI and R 2.2
CRDi come with the following additional features; Rear Occupant Alert; Blind-Spot Collision
Warning; Rear Cross Traffic Collision Warning, Bi-function LED Projection, Dynamic Bending Light,
8-way power seat for the front passenger & 10-way power seat for the driver, Walk-in Device on
passenger seat, Leather Dashboard Trim; Deluxe Cloth or Suede on the pillar; sun visor and roof
trim; 7-inch Supervision TFT LCD, Floating-typed 7" Display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Power Tailgate, Wireless Phone Charger, Rain Sensor, 19-inch wheels and LED lamps.
The newly developed Rear Occupant Alert is the latest addition to Hyundai’s list of safety features.
It monitors the rear seats using an ultrasonic sensor that helps detect the movement of children. It
is designed to prevent instances of children or pets being left behind and forgotten in the car, as
well as for cases of children accidentally locking themselves in.
The R 2.2 CRDi version is equipped with Hyundai’s HTRAC All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system. The
HTRAC AWD system is a multi-mode system, providing an electronic, variable-toque-split clutch
with active torque control between the front and rear axles. The driver selectable HTRAC Normal,
Sport and Smart modes help provide confident control in all weather conditions. This system also
has a wider range of torque distribution variability than many competitor systems and has been
tuned to conditions such as straight-line acceleration, medium and high-speed cornering and hill
starts.
Standard safety features carried over from the previous generation are the 6 Airbag system,
Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) system, Hillstart Assist
Control (HAC), Downhill Brake Control (DBC), Antilock Braking System (ABS), Brake Assist
System (BAS), Traction Control System (TCS) and an Immobiliser. Other standard convenient
features across all variants include a 12-way Driver Power Seat, Smart One Touch Walk-in,
Floating Type 7-inch display, Auxiliary and USB ports as well as Bluetooth connectivity with Voice
Recognition, Safety Power Window, Back Warning Camera, Parking Distance Warning (front &
rear), Auto Light Control, Auto Cruise Control and a Roof Rack.
Featuring an aerodynamic look that encompasses luxury and toughness, this bold and robust SUV
introduces a wide cascading grille that is iconic to current Hyundai designs with separated type
composite lights, comprising LED Daytime Running Lights positioned on top of the LED headlights,
for the front and rear. The longer wheel base and short overhang completes an elegant profile with
large wheel arch lines for a sturdy ridge. Combined with the wide grille bumper and tasteful chrome
mouldings, the all new Santa Fe takes on a visually original identity with a substantial increase in
interior space as compared to its predecessor.
The interior is also entirely different, with great improvement to ergonomics and modern-day
necessities for an improved driving experience. The stunning relationship between design and
functionality combines premium quality with a roomy horizontal layout and enhanced visibility. The
new one-touch folding seats applied to the second-row seats ease passenger access to third-row
seats, while the electronic switch applied to the luggage side increase convenience for loading.
The introductory prices for the four variants, valid until end of June 2019 are as follows (*Price
excludes road tax and insurance and price shown is applicable only to Peninsula Malaysia):
● Theta II 2.4 MPI Executive – *RM169,888
● Theta II 2.4 MPI Premium – *RM189,888
● R 2.2 CRDi Executive – *RM191,888
● R 2.2 CRDi Premium – *RM211,888
The all-new Santa Fe is entitled to 50,000km free service with 3 years’ validity and a five-year or
300,000km (whichever comes first) warranty. For more information or to place a booking, interested parties can head to the nearest sales outlet or call Hyundai’s Customer Careline at 1-300-13-2000.
Internationally, the all-new Hyundai Santa Fe, together with the Kona and NEXO, has been granted
the Silver Award in the 2018 International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA), held by the Industrial
Designers Society of America. The prestigious recognition was given to recognise Hyundai’s bold
design language and futuristic ideas. All three vehicles met IDEA’s design demands and
showcased its style and determination.
(c) 2019 Motoring Malaysia
This is a Santa Fe Premium with 19in wheels...below is the Santa Fe Executive with its smaller 18inch wheels. Note the different wheel design. Other notable differences between the Executive and Premium are the LED DRL up front , a 2.2 HTRAC badge for AWD variants and twin tailpipes for the Turbodiesel variants and single for the Petrol variants.
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