The styling of the latest technology of a automobile can sometimes be summed up in considered one of two phrases: evolutionary or revolutionary. The Porsche 911 is an instance of evolutionary visible modifications. Regardless of advances in aerodynamics and expertise, it at all times appears to be like like a 911. Then there are autos such because the Hyundai Santa Fe. The fourth-generation mannequin that ran from 2019 till 2023 had curvy sheet metallic similar to a lot of its rivals. For the all-new 2024 mannequin, Hyundai threw out the previous design and began contemporary with straight traces and inflexible angles. It was a cold revolution that severed the visible connection between the brand new Santa Fe and its ancestors.
(Little) Room on the High
Hyundai provides the brand new Santa Fe in fuel, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid varieties. I lately had the chance to drive a top-of-the-line fuel Calligraphy mannequin. Given its spot within the trim hierarchy, our Calligraphy tester already got here loaded on the $48,300 base worth listed on the window sticker with HTRAC all-wheel drive, 21-inch wheels, 12.3-inch digital gauge and infotainment screens, wi-fi Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a Bose audio system, Nappa leather-based seats, and twin sunroofs. Choices exterior of the paint and inside colours are the drivetrain setup and equipment, akin to all-season flooring mats and wheel locks. My check automobile’s Earthy Brass Matte paint and carpeted flooring mats introduced its whole worth as much as $50,925.
A Fuel-Solely Hybrid
My first publicity to the 2024 Santa Fe was by way of photographs on-line. Like many different folks, I couldn’t assist however see its resemblance to the fashionable Land Rover Defender 110, a equally boxy, square-jawed SUV. Once I lastly noticed my check automobile in individual, my notion of it modified. It was nonetheless a good-looking rig, however with its H-shaped taillights so low on the widened power-operated rear liftgate, the rear finish seemed block-headed and top-heavy. The black 21-inch wheels and black wheel arch and lower-body trim made the Santa Fe appear decrease to the bottom and fewer like a purpose-built off-roader. It was nearly wagon-like. I likened the Santa Fe to a combination between the Defender and a Ford Flex.
Regulate as Wanted
An identical mixture of disparate traits was current within the cabin. The tall windshield, nice ahead visibility, and excessive windowsills gave me the sensation of being in an expensive hardcore off-roader. However the remainder of the cabin was extra crossover-like – in one of the simplest ways. The step-in peak was comfortably low. The Grey Nappa leather-based seats had been comfy, particularly the primary row, which had heating and air flow and completely padded headrests. I’m 5’10” and after I adjusted the motive force’s seat to my peak and preferences, I discovered I had loads of legroom and headroom behind it within the heated, power-adjustable second row. The third row was compromised by the Santa Fe’s inside structure. The hump between the second-row captain’s chairs led to a raised third row. To maximise my consolation within the very again, I needed to transfer the second-row seat ahead a little bit to depart sufficient house for my knees and toes. Even then, my knees had been up larger and regardless of which rearmost seat I selected, my outboard foot rested on one other hump. The cup holders and side-mounted vents for the third row had been considerate options, however their integration restricted the obtainable arm room.
I didn’t get any complaints from members of my household, although. The second my spouse noticed the Santa Fe, she wished one. Once I went out to dinner with my spouse, mother-in-law, and my spouse’s aunt and cousin, I heard nothing however optimistic issues. My spouse’s aunt is an Audi proprietor and she or he immediately fell in love with the paint coloration. She was additionally drawn to the ambient lighting and the handy bag hooks built-in into the again of the entrance seats. Everybody appeared to benefit from the twin sunroof. My spouse’s cousin was blissful she had her personal local weather controls within the final row. (Too unhealthy I forgot to inform her the seats again there recline.)
Babied Driver
Except for the size of the third row, I didn’t have any points with the Santa Fe’s cabin, both. The main touch-points had been pleasantly comfortable, particularly the supple microfiber that coated the A- and B-pillars, solar visors, and headliner. Keeping track of my pace was simple due to the head-up show (except I used to be carrying polarized sun shades). Hyundai opted for a practical mixture of dials, buttons, switches, and touch-sensitive controls within the middle stack, as an alternative of creating every thing a smooth black “button” only for the sake of flashy tech. I didn’t have to fret about my telephone working out of juice as a result of I had two wi-fi charging pads and a pair of USB-C chargers. Cupboard space was ample; I might throw my soft-sided lunchbox within the space under the middle stack, put my smaller objects within the compartment below the middle armrest, and disinfect my workplace ID badge within the UV-C sanitizer above the glove field. Good or unhealthy, I didn’t know what to anticipate by way of experience high quality, however I used to be nonetheless shocked by how pillow-y the Santa Fe’s suspension was.
Get Up and Go…Finally
Similar to the choices, the engine selections for the gas-only Santa Fe Calligraphy are restricted. Actually, there’s just one and it’s paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch computerized transmission. Luckily, the turbocharged 2.5-liter I4’s 277 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque are well-suited to the Santa Fe. The engine has greater than sufficient punch to get all three rows shifting shortly – it simply has to shake off the noticeable turbo lag first.
Based on the EPA, our check automobile might return 20 mpg within the metropolis, 28 on the freeway, and 23 mixed. After placing 140 miles on the Santa Fe, I hit a median gas economic system of 19.6 miles per gallon.
An Military of __?
The unlucky aspect impact of SUVs being so common is that a lot of them look alike. That’s what makes the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe so engaging – it’s not simply one thing totally different in its phase, it’s one thing utterly totally different from the Santa Fes earlier than it. It’s a revolution. Will you purchase one and be part of the brand new period of Hyundai’s common SUV? Let me know within the feedback under.