2019 Santa Fe To Become Hyundai’s First U.S. Diesel Model

Just when you thought diesel is dead on this side of the Atlantic, Hyundai decides to bring the all-new Santa Fe over with a diesel engine.

Set to arrive in the US market in 2019, the diesel version of the new Hyundai Santa Fe will be powered by the company’s 2.2-liter CRDi engine, producing around 200hp and 320lb-ft of peak torque.

Just like the rest of the lineup, the diesel engine will be paired to a new eight-speed automatic transmission. The petrol range in the US will consist of a 2.4-liter four-cylinder GDI unit with an estimated 185hp and a more powerful turbocharged 2.0-liter four cylinder unit pumping out around 232hp.

Hyundai says that the in-house developed eight-speed automatic transmission is lighter than the outgoing six-speed automatic gearbox, while it’s also more responsive and engaging. The company even claims an improvement on fuel economy by more than three percent.

The new Santa Fe features Hyundai’s HTRAC All-Wheel Drive system which comes with three different drive modes: Normal, Sport and Smart. By selecting the Sport mode, the system gives you a more agile feel by sending more torque to the rear wheels. Hyundai claims that the HTRAC system offers a wider range of torque distribution variability than many of its rivals.

The fourth generation of the Hyundai Santa Fe will also change its naming structure: the five-seat version which is currently named Santa Fe Sport will be renamed as Santa Fe while the seven-seat Santa Fe model will be renamed Santa Fe XL for the 2019 model year.

Gasoline-powered models of the new Hyundai Santa Fe are expected to hit the U.S. market this August, with the diesel models to follow later in 2019.