Hyundai has facelifted the Euro version of its Santa Fe SUV and now the first photos are out just as it’s debuting at the Frankfurt motor show.
The Santa Fe, Hyundai’s longest-running model in Europe, gets improved design, extra bits of active safety, comfort and convenience features.
These include a sliding second row of seats, that allows for either more passenger or cargo space, and its range of movement has been extended by 15 mm in this facelifted model – it can now be moved 270 mm.
Like all other mainstream names, Hyundai is keen to make the Santa Fe feel premium and its’ now also promising improved interior ambiance. There’s the latest version of the company’s infotainment and sat-nav system, an available 12-speaker Infinity Premium Surround Sound, surround-view cameras or smart cruise control.
Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) is available, along with traffic alert, blind spot monitoring with Lance Change Assist. It’s basically on par in this respect with any rival which doesn’t have these safety gadgets fitted as standard.
Engines and transmissions have been refined, and all Santa Fe variants are now Euro 6 emissions regulations-compliant. Three power plants are available, of which two are diesels.
One oil burner is a 2.0-liter, with 150 PS, 400 Nm, while the other displaces 2.2 liters and has 200 PS, 440 Nm of torque. The petrol engine will not really even matter in Europe, but it is a 2.4-liter naturally aspirated four-pot with 188 PS.
All engines get six-speed manuals as standard, with the two larger engines optionally offering an auto with the same number of gears.
Finally, the styling. The Santa Fe sports the new corporate face of Hyundai, and this does genuinely improve the aesthetic impression it leaves. This translates to the interior which is the same but better and promising a higher quality finish than before.
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