There’s no question that whether you love it or hate it, the new Santa Fe deserves press. Hyundai was, not long ago, a brand known for safe designs that did everything they could to blend in. The new Santa Fe is nothing less than shockingly different from its predecessor. Is it the most radical shift from one generation to another though? That’s up to you to decide today.
Establishing a brand image and beneath that a well-known model is a costly exercise. For example, when we tested the all-new Chevy Trax earlier this year we asked the automaker why it didn’t rename the model as it was such a dramatic improvement over the outgoing generation. Chevrolet specifically said that customer familiarity was the main reason it didn’t change the name.
In an effort to keep models familiar in the mind of buyers, automakers often lean toward evolutionary design changes rather than revolutionary ones between generations. At the same time, there are a number of notable examples from history that might end up in the comment section.
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BMW‘s shift from the timeless E38 7-Series to the Chris Bangle-designed E65 7-Series is worthy of consideration. Gone were the straight lines, the sleek and classic styling elements that called back to older BMWs. Instead, the E65 proudly planted its flag as the new direction for the entire brand.
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It’s not alone though. Another option might be the newest Toyota Prius. Sure, it shares the same general shape but who of us believed that Toyota was capable of creating a beautiful Prius? Not I. Other suggestions include the third-generation or fifth-generation Mitsubishi Eclipse and the latest Acura NSX.
With those examples in mind, we’ll leave the rest to you. What’s the most radical design change from one car’s generation to the next? Keep in mind that answers need to be of the same model. Let us know what you think below and be sure to vote for your favorites.
