All three variants of New Santa-Fe are driven by 3rd Generation CRDi unit equipped with an e-VGT Turbocharger which is a part of Hyundai’s R-Series engine family. It is a four cylinder engine that delivers sufficient power of 197 PS @ 3800 RPM and peak torque of 42.9 Kgm @ 1800 - 2500 RPM on manual transmission and 44.5 Kgm @ 1800 - 2500 RPM on automatic transmission. This raw power is supplied to the wheels through a choice of six speed manual or a six speed automatic gearbox. Our test car was the top-end 4x4 Automatic, which is the only all wheel drive variant available on the Santa-Fe.
Based on the impressions of first few kilometers, getting in and driving a car of this size was as simple as counting 1...2...3. The sensors automatically detect that key fob is in your pocket and unlock the doors. Keep right foot on the brake pedal and press ‘Engine Start Stop’ button. A short tap switches the car into accessories mode in order to be able to use power windows, music system, electrically folding outside rear view mirror etc without turning the engine on. Remember, this is an automatic, so left foot has no business unless one’s looking to engage parking brake. Because unlike conventional hand lever in center console, it’s situated down there. Shift the gearlever to ‘D’ (drive) mode, taking the foot off from pedal and the car quietly moves forward in a truly effortless manner.
The first leg of our drive had a straight stretch including a smooth road and some mismanaged traffic of Kerala. The car, as expected, continued to perform impeccably with support of a responsive automatic transmission and ample power in hand demanded it to be pushed further, how I wish if traffic conditions allowed enough. However, when it did get the opportunity, Santa-Fe scrambled over three digit mark fairly quick and remained stable throughout. It wasn’t too long when we were enjoying cruising in the well-controlled NVH environment on the inside, a hasty truck driver decided to make U-Turn and enter into our lane without bothering about rest of the world; an incident that put brakes to a good test. Santa-Fe may have confidence on itself about its braking ability but as a first time user, I sure didn’t. The brakes although are responsive but pedal did not inspire enough confidence, though the experience was somewhat different on return trip when I got more used to them.
In the second leg, it was time for this suave SUV to prove mettle on twisty Western Ghats and some rough patches. From overall package itself it becomes obvious that Santa-Fe’s prime focus is towards delivering comfort and features rather than to please the enthusiasts. And that’s exactly how it behaves on road. Soft suspension is tuned to maximize comfort levels translating that one would not even observe usual irregularities of the street but drive harder on an uneven patch and the car reciprocates with a noticeable bump in the cabin. Being monocoque, one could be comparatively unkind during cornering but lack of precision from the steering wheel is a letdown despite of the three modes to choose from. By default, steering wheel is set to ‘normal’ mode, Tap the steering mounted button and driver can alter its feel based on driving conditions. Comfort mode makes it lighter and is ideal for cities while ‘Sport’ is best suited for highway driving as it weighs up the steering wheel.
A constant annoyance in Ghats section was the automatic transmission. It simply used to shift up earlier than required, resulting in noticeable lag. No wonder, I found myself mostly driving in the manual mode, as I often do with the automatics.
The variant we were testing was although a four wheel drive but normally it runs in front wheel drive mode. The mechanism automatically detects road conditions to implement rear wheel traction control for full time four wheel drive. The 4WD lock selector on right hand side of dashboard helps in equally distributing power to front and rear wheels only as long as the car is doing less than 40 Kmph. On speed any higher, it switches back to automatic mode and act based on it. That said, Santa-Fe is ideal for subtle off-roading, a condition that’s easily met ‘on road’ in India during monsoons.
On safety front, Hyundai has left nothing to complaint about. Santa-Fe is equipped with an endless list of features than one can possibly ask. Six airbags (front, front side, rear curtain) though only two on base variants, antilock braking system (ABS) with electronic brake force distribution (EBD), silica tyres, impact sensing door unlock system, rollover sensor are among the basic ones. Here’s a quick explanation of some of the major safety features:
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Brake Assist System: Ensures to increase braking pressure in emergency situations.
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Traction Control System: Maintains control during wheel spin, especially on slippery roads.
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Hill Assist Control: Helps in detecting incline and brakes automatically to prevent the car from rolling back.
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Down Hill Brake Control: Maintains vehicle control during steep forward movement to prevent emergency situations.
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Vehicle Stability Management Control: Helps to maintain directional stability during sudden braking or acceleration.
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Electronic Stability Control: Automatically delivers right amount of braking force to each wheel based on engine torque and driving circumstances.
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Advanced Traction Cornering Control: Distributes 4WD driving force and braking power while accelerating and turning frequently on highway interchanges and curves.
In the above scenario, VDC (Vehicle Dynamics Control) assess torque vectoring and controls under steering to prevent the driver from overcompensating.
Judging actual mileage based on mixed driving conditions won’t do justice but Hyundai claims this SUV can deliver 14.74 Kpl (M/T) and 13.01 Kpl (A/T) as per ARAI certification.
Bottom-line is that New Hyundai Santa-Fe comes as a refreshing new alternative in this segment. Things that are going to work in its favor include a reliable and powerful diesel engine, improved quality standards, anticipated lesser maintenance and running costs as well as infinite list of equipments that more or less resonates with the price tag, keeping in mind that it is brought as a CKD (completely knocked down) unit in India. Falling in the ex. showroom range of Rs.26 Lakh onward, forget the Fortuner; Santa-Fe has headed straight to compete a far more premium brand – Audi Q3. The latter despite of not offering the same amount of equipments is bound to sneak the attention of buyers due to its more powerful insignia which is the real challenge for Korean major. For rest, who are willing to look beyond snob value, unquestionably Santa-Fe is worth a look.
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