Now for the superficial stuff. The Korean engineers have not tried anything futuristic with the styling, which is seen on some of their other Hyundai SUVs that were recently unveiled. The Santa Fé gets sleek, rectangular headlights that arch towards the side fenders. The grille and bumper are merged in as a single piece and the bonnet gets a couple of muscular creases, which give the car a solid front stance. It is the side profile that compliments the large proportions, which are bigger than other soft-roaders. The fluid design continues to the rear with the slim tail-lights and boot lid, both following the soft, rounded edge theme. The chunky rear bumper, twin exhausts, spoiler and roof rails add up to give a sporty appeal to the SUV. Overall, the design remains contemporary, subtle and pleasing.
The contemporary design theme continues to flow into the interior as well, though we would have liked it to be more trendy keeping the competition in mind. The air-con vents, gear knob and switches bear the typical Hyundai mark. The fake wood trims and dashboard design are a cheap imitation of European SUVs and the quality of material used could have been better. Both the front seats can be electronically adjusted. The second row can easily accommodate three grown-ups, though the third row is tight on space and is better suited for kids. The long list of equipment is quite impressive. You get a six-CD changer, Aux-in and USB compatibility as part of the standard equipment. There are audio and cruise controls on the steering wheel. The tachometer, speedometer and fuel gauges sit in sporty, chrome-rimmed pods and there is also a multi-functional digital display. The four-star NCAP rating makes the Santa Fé a safe ride with front, side and curtain airbags and active headrests, roll-over sensor, ABS with EBD, and ESP.
At Rs 21.75 lakh for the two-wheel drive version and Rs 23.83 lakh for the four-wheel drive one (ex-showroom, Pune), the Santa Fé is a good deal and is also more affordable than most other soft-roaders in the market. The SUV is quite popular in the US and Europe and Hyundai are facing difficulties in meeting the international demand. Already in a supply crunch, it will be interesting to see how the Korean auto major satisfies impatient Indian SUV buyers.
CAPTIONS:
Its fluid design and 18” wheels make the Santa Fe distinctive and appealing
The interior design and fake wood trims are a cheap imitation of European SUVs and the quality of material used could have been better
