If imitation actually is the sincerest type of flattery, then there should be a glow of awkward delight seen from area emanating from the Land Rover design studios at current as Hyundai’s Santa Fe takes to the world’s roads.
Aside from taking out billboards that say “We love Land Rovers designers, we predict they’re the very best” it’s laborious to think about Hyundai making a extra devoted effort to flatter the hell out of the parents in Solihull, UK, than throwing away each single design cue for the outdated Santa Fe and changing every part with the look of Land Rover.
And it’s not simply the hulking, squared-off, cumbersome but brutally good-looking exterior of the brand new Santa Fe, both, there’s a definite sense that this huge SUV – now additionally a HEV with no diesel or V6 engine choices accessible thus far – is making an attempt to ape the premium off-roading model within the inside as nicely.
Notably within the up-spec Calligraphy fashions, the Santa Fe reeks of Vary Rover classiness, proper all the way down to the steering wheel boss design, which apes a Vary Rover Sport of outdated.
On the one hand, it’s laborious to not admire the bravery of Hyundai in so completely reinventing its largest car, however on the opposite, it’s laborious to not be just a little vital of them for not arising with a brand new design of their very own. Nonetheless, if you happen to’re going to repeat somebody who builds giant SUVs, they’ve picked a superb model to go after.
They usually can declare that they’ve made it apparent the Santa Fe is a Hyundai by including large, laborious to overlook H-shaped DRL logos within the entrance and back lights, yet one more design characteristic that divides opinion (I’ll grant the critics that it does look terrible from instantly behind).
So, is the brand new Hyundai Santa Fe HEV has good because it seems (and to be honest, some folks actually hate the brand new look, so that may not be laborious), and is the hybrid system, with its four-cylinder engine, as much as the duty of pushing a two-tonne truck round?
PRICE AND FEATURES
I don’t wish to know what vehicles value till I’ve given them again and I used to be genuinely shocked and impressed to be taught that the range-topping Calligraphy seven-seat AWD variant I used to be driving prices simply $75,500, not as a result of that’s small beer, however as a result of it looks like a veritable discount for this a lot SUV. And one so nice inside.
Much more impressively, the entry-level FWD eponymous model begins at simply $55,500 (you may also select between six and seven-seat set ups). All fashions bar that entry discount are correctly AWD, however you may possibility it for $3000 even on that one.
Even at entry stage you get 20-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and DRLs, two lush 12.3-inch screens, dual-zone local weather management, wi-fi charging for one telephone, an electrical tailgate, 10-way powered driver’s seat, a leather-based steering wheel and rear privateness glass.
Security stuff contains AEB, lane-keep help, lane-following help, adaptive cruise management, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and velocity signal recognition. And sure, which means it beeps at you all of the dang time and can drive you bonkers.
Step as much as the mid-range Elite and also you rating a Bose sound system, leather-based trim, twin wi-fi chargers and distant sensible park help. My Calligraphy provides a glass sunroof, head-up show, pretty Nappa leather-based inside and the unusually now obligatory UV-C sterilisation tray, plus a protracted listing of different issues.
Below all that bonnet you’ll discover not the large engine you’d count on however a mere 1.6-litre, turbocharged four-cylinder petrol unit connected to a small electrical motor, and a battery pack, which gives, all up 172kW and 367Nm, which is shipped to the street thorough a correct, old-school and all the higher for not being a CVT six-speed automated.
Nerds may need to know that you simply’re getting 132kW from the petrol engine at a heady 5600rpm (it doesn’t sound thrilling at these revs), plus 44kW from the electrical system which someway provides as much as 172kW.
The electrical motor and battery are extra helpful within the torque division, bringing 264Nm, which, when added to the engine’s 265Nm, equals the 367Nm that’s tasked with pulling all this car, and its weighty inside bits, up hills.
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The bonus of this not fairly highly effective sufficient set-up is gasoline financial system, after all, which is claimed to be 5.6 litres per 100km. I received rather a lot nearer to that than I anticipated, within the low sevens, however then I hardly ever had any passengers or baggage on board.
I additionally selected to not drive it in Eco mode very a lot, as a result of it appears to place the automobile in a tragic temper. Sport is extra fascinating and extra enjoyable, however Sporty it’s not.
DRIVING
As I would have already got hinted, the HEV arrange doesn’t make for sprightly or thrilling efficiency, however then it is a household SUV, and extra Land Rover than Vary Rover Sport.
The gear field works nicely, although, and the entire driving expertise is clean sufficient and solely sometimes, up hills, sounds a bit strained.
On the plus facet, the Santa Fe’s experience, dealing with and skill to cope with bumps actually is superb, and virtually European by way of physique management and cabin quietness. Once more, on the worth, it’s virtually surprising how good it’s.
Stable might be the phrase that finest describes the driving expertise, however what it makes up for in not being thrilling is how spacious, elegant, comfy and spectacular the inside is.
VERDICT
The Santa Fe may very nicely be a sport changer for Hyundai, if they will get sufficient of them to promote. Apparently there may be already a 3 to six-month wait, so feverish is demand, which tends to replicate the truth that folks actually just like the look of this new-look Land Rover with a Hyundai badge on it.
SCORE:
4 out of 5
Hyundai Santa Fe HEV Specs
Value: From $55,500 (plus on-road prices)Fundamentals: SUV HEV, six or seven seats, 5 doorways, FWD or AWDEnergy consumption: 5.6 litres per 100kmEngine 1.6-litre four-cylinder hybrid (172kW/367Nm)