Filipino car buyers want it all. Always.
They want a car that turns heads. It’s got to be stylish and macho. It’s got to have a commanding road presence.
Filipinos also want it to have lots of comfort, convenience, luxury and safety features. And yes, they want lots of space for family, friends, and all their gear.
But they also want it to have value for money. Filipinos are smart spenders, after all.
So what vehicle should they get if they’re looking for a midsize 7-seater SUV that stylishly stands out, has a ton of features, and is priced just right?
Let’s take a look at the all-new fifth-generation Hyundai Santa Fe.
Gone are the curves and sharp creases of the last two generations’ Fluidic Sculpture design language. For the latest Santa Fe, it’s all smooth and seamless flat surfaces and right angles. And it looks absolutely brilliant, channeling the upscale feel of a Land Rover.
The all-new Santa Fe is 45mm longer and a substantial 95mm taller than its predecessor, making it seem almost a class above its midsize categorization. It has a shorter overhang allowing the wheelbase to be extended by 50mm (without unduly increasing its overall length) while the tailgate is an impressive 145mm wider for greater ease in loading and unloading even bulky cargo.
Impressively, the boxy all-new Santa Fe is more aerodynamic than its curvaceous predecessor, thanks to angled side mirrors, active air flaps on both the top and bottom of the front bumper, skid plates on the front and rear bumpers, and a spoiler at the rear.
A bridge-type roof rail has also been incorporated alongside the dual sunroof to allow greater versatility in mounting accessories or storage boxes. For easier access to this, and other purposes such as car washing, a C-Pillar Assist Handle has been added. It can withstand up to 200kg and is sized generously so the safety of users getting up and down can be guaranteed. The built-in glass cover is both sleek-looking and functional, as it can be locked when not in use. Seen from the side are the Santa Fe’s sharply defined wheel arches coupled with huge 21-inch black wheels with Continental tires.
H-shaped elements abound in the LED horizontal lamp with DRLs, front bumper garnish, and radiator grille, as well as the taillights. Overall, the new Santa Fe cuts a distinctive silhouette on the road, and is guaranteed to turn heads at every intersection.
The aforementioned H-shaped design elements are carried over to the very upscale interior, specifically the front dashboard’s mood lights and AC vents as well as the stitching on the seats. At the heart of the cabin is the philosophy of a “plus alpha” space experience, which connects outdoor-indoor living with the fully foldable second- and third-row seats, enabling the rear of the Santa Fe to be used as a cargo bed for groceries, home projects, sports and recreation, or for camping trips. This is one finely crafted and uniquely designed cabin you won’t see in many other midsize SUVs.
There is a stunning 12.3-inch panoramic curved display for the instrument cluster and infotainment screen. To the left of it is a fingerprint recognition system that is easy to use and enhances security, while also supporting seat memory customization and access to a personalized infotainment system.
Developed during the pandemic, the all-new Santa Fe boasts a UV-C sterilization tray on top of the glove box. Below these is a full-touch climate control panel, dual wireless charging pads for charging two smartphones side by side, plus 6 USB-C ports and a 12-volt socket.
Between the front seats are well-thought out storages. Not only is there a bottom space in between the front seats but also a bi-directional console box with a lower sliding tray. The latter, is a world-first, which enables a variety of uses especially since it can be opened from both ends and has a removable divider. That’s some truly out-of-the-box thinking right there.
Under the smoothly sculpted hood of the latest Santa Fe is a 2.5-liter turbo engine producing an impressive 281ps and 422Nm of torque and mated to an 8-speed dual clutch transmission. These figures are more than enough to deliver a truly scintillating performance on the road, whether you’re on your daily drive or on a long road trip.
The Santa Fe features a column-type shift-by-wire system, similar to the brand’s electric cars, the IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 6. There are drive and terrain settings that can be adjusted based on user preference on engine power, transmission shifting, stability control and braking. A total of eight modes can be selected, namely, Normal, Eco, Sport, Smart, Auto, Sand, Mud and Snow. How’s that for choices?
Moreover, it comes with Hyundai Traction (HTRAC) all-wheel drive (AWD) system, as well as Downhill Brake Control that supports sudden changes in weather or difficult terrains.
Apart from the standard driver, passenger, side, and curtain airbags is the brand’s suite of safety features called Hyundai SmartSense. Advanced driver assist functions such as the Smart Cruise Control with Stop and Go, Forward Collision Avoidance, Lane Following and Keeping, Blindspot View Monitor, Reverse Parking Collision Avoidance, Parking Distance Warning, Manual Speed Limit, Rear Occupant Alert and Surround View Monitor.
The all-new Hyundai Santa Fe is available in the following variants:
Santa Fe GLS 8AT: P2,410,000
Santa Fe GLS 8AT AWD: P2,540,000
Santa Fe Calligraphy 8DCT AWD: P3,100,000
Exterior colors available for all variants are Abyss Black Pearl, Creamy White Pearl, and Magnetic Gray Metallic, while Calligraphy-exclusive colors are Earthy Brass Matte, Terracotta Orange, and Ocado Green Pearl. Interior colors, meanwhile, are Obsidian Black for the two lower variants, as well as Black Inck and Forest Green for the flagship Calligraphy. The new Santa Fe comes with a 5-year/200,000-km vehicle warranty.
Looks, features, performance, efficiency, safety, and value for money—the all-new Hyundai Santa Fe checks all the boxes. It certainly makes a strong case to be the perfect midsize SUV for you.
