My perception of Korean cars over the years has been skewed. My biggest fear being that if they are a bargain, then overall quality is probably not that great. Fast forward to this year and I made my maiden voyage in the Hyundai Santa Fe 2018, and boy oh boy did my perception change in a heartbeat.
Before we delve any further here are some Key Features.
Engine: 3.3-liter / V6
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Power: 265 hp / 320 Nm of torque
Top Speed: 190 km/h
Price: AED 141,900
Exterior
The Hyundai Santa Fe is most definitely elegant looking with a wide stance that reflects its stability on the road. It’s the perfect balance between chic and has a cascading grille that gives it that sporty edge. I was equally intrigued by its Daytime Running Lights that sit perfectly on top of the LED headlights. It also has unique tail-lights and a striking bumper design.
Interior
The interior is quite spacious and is characterized by ergonomic interior architecture. It’s the perfect balance between style and functionality. The seat adjustment function is all electrical allowing you to adjust your seating in 10 different ways to ensure maximum comfort for the driver and passenger. If you enjoy driving for long or trips, then this car is a bargain by the buck because there is adequate leg room at the back and it’s extendable too. With all this there is still enough luggage capacity at the back of about 625 liters.
In terms of entertainment it has a great audio system that can be synched by USB, Bluetooth and AUX. The most outstanding feature of the interior is its panoramic sun roof, did someone just say SELFIE? Talk about good lighting - spectacular!
Features
Safety is the most vital characteristic when I am evaluating my options when buying a car. Especially when it comes to child safety and this is where the Hyundai Santa Fe nails it.
The Hyundai Santa Fe has a new feature called the rear occupant alert which is an addition to its smart sense package which has an array of other featureless that emphasize on safety. There is a senor placed in the rear seats and this monitors the movement of kids or pets and then sends the driver a notification on the instrument cluster display. If the sensor detects movement in the rear seat once you have switched off the engine and locked the vehicle, it will sound off the horn.
The best part about this technology is, that the system also activates should a child accidentally lock themselves in the car. Pretty cool, huh?
Finally, the other feature that will make you sign on the dotted line is the blind spot assist. The blind spot detection monitors the rear corners and if another vehicle is detected then a visual alert appears on the side mirrors. Should the driver in this instance turn the indicator on, then an audible alert will be emitted. This also happens when the driver wants to change lanes.
Drive
This car offers drivers in the UAE two engine options: a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine and a larger 3.3-liter V6 unit. The drive is very smooth, and the car has good noise reduction while the suspension to steering responsiveness reduces car vibration whilst going through a rough road.
Sending power to all four corners, the bigger of the two engines pushes out 265 horsepower and 320 Nm of torque through a 6-speed automatic transmission to hit a top speed of 190 km/h. When driven sedately, the Santa Fe is fuel efficient and sips just 9.8-liters for every 100 kilometers.
Verdict
For those who are on the lookout for a comfortable and affordable family SUV, the Santa Fe is definitely something they should consider. It looks good, it drives well, and it’s got plenty of tech to keep drivers and passengers entertained.
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