Hyundai Santa Fe 2024 launched, highest price 1.365 billion VND

On September 18, Hyundai Thanh Cong introduced the new generation Hyundai Santa Fe in Vietnam. The unibody D-size SUV has no connection with the previous generations in terms of design, equipment or engine.

Santa Fe is sold in 5 versions from low to high, including: Exclusive, Prestige and 3 Calligraphy versions (6 seats, 7 seats and Turbo). The car continues to be assembled at the Korean joint venture factory in Ninh Binh.

Exterior

In the multi-generational product line of Santa Fe, the 5th generation is like a child of different bloodlines. Because of the change in the car's design, it is as if Hyundai has just launched a new product line, with no inheritance from the Santa Fe in the past.

In the past two years, the boxy design trend has become more prominent. Hyundai Santa Fe also follows this style. The soft, neutral curves of the old car design have been replaced by angular, masculine lines.

The squareness is more pronounced in the rear design, where there are controversial debates about the aesthetics of the Korean car because it is too simple, has a lot of space, and resembles a commercial vehicle more than a family car. A representative of Hyundai Motor Korea said that when it was first launched in the international market, there were also 50-50 opinions about whether they liked it or not, but when customers experienced it in reality, they gradually became familiar and accepted it. The square, simple style is to optimize space for the family. At the launch event in Vietnam, representatives of media and press agencies also said that the Santa Fe is an "unphotogenic" car, because it looks more acceptable in reality than in photos or videos.

The Santa Fe's headlights are smart and adaptive in all versions. The positioning strip or taillights are synchronized with each other in a stylized H shape. The grille and front bumper are also designed in the H style. The brand recognition on the new Santa Fe is clearer than the previous generation.

Hyundai offers three wheel options for the first time, 18 inches, 20 inches, 21 inches. The 21-inch option for the Caligraphy version is the largest in the segment.

The car's grille has a smart opening/closing function depending on the operating mode to optimize wind resistance, engine cooling, and brakes, a design usually only found on luxury cars. According to Hyundai, the new Santa Fe's wind resistance coefficient reaches 0.298Cd (the Hyundai Elantra sedan's specification is about 0.28Cd).

The company says the new Santa Fe's front/rear suspension uses improved materials to improve stability and reduce vibration compared to the previous generation. For the first time, the Korean model is equipped with double-glazed glass to reduce noise, which is also the only feature in the segment.

In terms of length x width x height, the new Hyundai Santa Fe measures 4,830 x 1,900 x 1,780 mm. This parameter is 45 mm longer and 50 mm higher than the previous generation. The wheelbase of the car has increased by 50 mm, reaching 2,815 mm. Along with the boxy design, Hyundai's car model gives a sense of spacious interior space than the previous generation.

Interior

The exterior may be controversial, but the interior of the new Santa Fe is neutral and more popular. Hyundai has flattened the interior to optimize the usable space. There are not many mechanical buttons, mostly touch-sensitive. The car's cockpit has a technological feel and is reminiscent of luxury cars.

The steering wheel of the new Hyundai Santa Fe is quite similar to the design of the Range Rover. The small touch screen below the central screen is used to adjust functions such as air conditioning, wind level... similar to the products of the British luxury car company.

The Santa Fe's gearshift is integrated with a lever behind the steering wheel like a Mercedes. Two 12.3-inch screens connected together, one behind the steering wheel, one in the center of the dashboard, are the highlight of the cockpit. In this generation, the Santa Fe has a built-in navigation map specifically for the Vietnamese market.

In the 6-seat Caligraphy version, the two middle-row seats are designed separately in a business-class style, with separate electric adjustment functions. With this approach, Santa Fe wants to attract customers in higher segments such as size E, prioritizing comfort for the boss, while also opening up the need to add features to this row of seats. The 6-seat configuration of Santa Fe is also the first in the segment.

The Caligraphy version comes with the most amenities, such as independent sunroofs in the cockpit and rear, digital rearview mirror (cockpit) that displays the rear image using camera recording.

Like the Ford Everest, the interior of the new Santa Fe also has a variety of interior ambient lighting options. Standard equipment includes wireless charging, three-zone air conditioning, automatic wipers, electronic handbrake, and automatic brake hold. Higher versions have a HUD screen behind the windshield.

Engine and safety technology

The diesel engine option, which was once a popular choice for many Vietnamese customers on the Santa Fe, is no longer available on the new version. The car only offers a 2.5-liter gasoline engine option, either naturally aspirated or turbocharged.

The regular versions are equipped with the same 2.5 Smartstream Theta III petrol engine as the previous generation but have been refined, giving a larger capacity, at 194 horsepower at 6,100 rpm and maximum torque of 246 Nm at 4,000 rpm. The difference is the 8-speed automatic transmission instead of the 6-speed type.

The Caligraphy Turbo version comes with a 2.5 turbocharged engine that produces 281 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and a maximum torque of 422 Nm at 1,700 - 4,000 rpm. It comes with an 8-speed wet dual-clutch automatic transmission (8DCT). This version has the largest capacity in the segment.

Hyundai's car is fully equipped with ADAS driving assistance technology. A long list of features on the car such as electronic balance, adaptive cruise control, tire pressure warning, lane keeping assist, hill start/downhill assist, warning and support to avoid blind spots or when reversing, exiting the car... This amount of technology is on par with the Ford Everest, an SUV with a ladder frame structure.

Selling price

Hyundai Santa Fe is available at dealerships from September 18. The specific prices are as follows:

This price increases by about 40 million VND for the low version, while the high versions increase by nearly 100 million VND. Compared to models in the segment, this price is higher than Sorento, but still lower than Everest in some versions.

The change to a boxy style, larger size, and increased price is Hyundai's way of gradually pushing the Santa Fe to a higher level, at least "half" of the segment. Right above the Santa Fe, Hyundai has the Palisade, so the product pricing for the Santa Fe may entail changes for the Palisade, if the two models do not want to step on each other's toes. With a bulkier, more masculine size, the Santa Fe may also have to trade off a portion of female customers, in the process of upgrading the brand.

A representative of Hyundai Motor Korea said that Santa Fe's current sales in international markets are 30% higher than the company's initial estimate.