Hyundai Gives 2021 Santa Fe A Thorough Refresh With Daring Face And New Platform

This is the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe and while the car manufacturer has yet to announce all specifications for the SUV, it has showcased the new design in full.

As a recent teaser image indicated, the new Santa Fe does look quite a lot different than the outgoing model, even though this is not an entirely new-generation. The visual alterations start at the front end where there is a new wide grille, pictured below with two different mesh designs. Not only does the grille look quite striking but it integrates the main headlamps. Hyundai has also designed split, T-shaped LED daytime running lights, which do remind of Volvo’s Thor DRLs even if from a different angle.

The 2021 Santa Fe now sits on a set of new 20-inch wheels (pictured) and will be offered with a handful of other wheel designs in smaller sizes. Found at the rear are revised taillights with a subtle light bar. There is also a large reflector running the width of the tweaked rear bumper.

The Korean carmaker says the updated Santa Fe is based on the third-generation Hyundai vehicle platform that promises improvements in performance, handling, fuel efficiency, and safety. Among the changes made include moving the fixed points for the steering arms closed to the middle of the front wheels to provide more agile handling. The company adds that new reinforced sound-absorbing systems in vibration-sensitive parts improve the SUV’s noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) performance.

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This new platform is also said to bring with it “significant improvements in collision safety.” Hyundai says that thanks to the use of a multi-load path structure, hot stamping, and the integration of a super high-tensile steel plate, the platform allows the Santa Fe to better absorb the impact of a collision while also minimizing the deformation of the passenger cell.

The interior of the updated Santa Fe has also been revised. Taking pride of place on the dashboard is a new 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system while directly in front of the driver is a 12.3-inch fully digital instrument cluster. The layout of the center console is also vastly different than before and incorporates a more angled design with large buttons to enable Park, Reverse, Neutral, and Drive, rather than a traditional shifter.

All 2021 Santa Fe models also come with a Terrain Mode selector allowing drivers to shift between drive modes to make the most of the HTRAC All-Wheel Drive system. Among the modes available include sand, snow and mud, eco, sport, comfort, and smart.

One thing the Koreans did not divulge are the available engines for the refreshed model, though in Europe, they did confirm that it will be offered for the first time with both hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains.

It will land on the Old Continent from September and Australia in the second half of the year. It remains unclear when the U.S. will receive the new SUV, but it’s also expected this year.