7 Seater Hyundai Grand Santa Fe set to hit Middle East market
Posted by Samar Huneidi on Jul 9, 2013
New 7-seater SUV the Hyundai Grand Santa Fe will hit the Middle East market this summer said Hyundai Motor Company in an announcement.
"The launch of the new Grand Santa Fe greatly enhances Hyundai's model line-up in the Middle East, a region where large SUVs are of such importance. The Santa Fe has already been extremely positively received and its bigger sibling is set to prove equally popular, allowing customers to choose a spacious, practical and comfortable seven-seat SUV that also boasts a stylish design and premium quality," said Tom Lee, Vice President and Head of Hyundai Middle East HQ.
This new Grand Santa Fe will offer a Lambda II 3.3 MPI engine which produces 270bhp and up to 318Nm of torque. Customers can choose between 2WD or 4WD, and a 6-speed automatic transmission. The wheelbase is expected to be increased by 100mm, offering similar dimensions as 7 seater rivals Toyota Fortuner and Honda Pilot. Rear seats are expected to be highly flexible, with 2nd row having three split folding seats and third row completely foldable.
Among the current crop of family 7 seater SUVs, the most popular ones are Honda Pilot and the domesticated Nissan Pathfinder. The Grand Santa Fe has good prospects, provided it offers real value for money.