The range-topping Hyundai Santa Fe SUV is back with fresh technology and premium market aspirations
The Hyundai Santa Fe has been with us since the turn of the millennium and now it's time for the fifth generation of the brand’s large SUV to launch. The Korean firm says a full reveal of the new car will take place in August.
Although Hyundai and sister company Kia are spending a lot of money on their EV offerings, internal-combustion engined cars like the new Santa Fe are clearly still important. We expect the all new Santa Fe to go on sale towards the end of the year, shortly followed by a facelift of its sister model from Kia, the Sorento.
An alternative to the upcoming all-electric Ioniq 7 SUV, the Santa Fe gets some Ioniq-inspired design flourishes like the angular surfacing, bluff front end and full-width LED light bar. Hyundai says the ‘H-shaped’ headlights “harmonise with the H-motif” on the front bumper.
Hyundai also tells us that the Santa Fe’s wheelbase has been lengthened but to create a more imposing stance there are chunky wheel arches that house 21-inch alloy wheels. The rear lights are H-shaped like those at the front and the ‘Santa Fe’ name is emblazoned across the bootlid.
The most obvious change inside is the curved dual screen display, like you’d see in a BMW iX. The 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster is now connected to the central screen where we expect to find Hyundai's latest infotainment system. Nappa leather and wood finishes help give the Santa Fe’s interior ‘sophisticated style’, according to Hyundai.
A large control panel located lower on the dash primarily houses the climate control functions, with physical dials and buttons for the temperature and audio. We expect the Santa Fe to be sold exclusively as a seven-seater and both the second and third row of seats can fold completely flat.
The outgoing Santa Fe uses the N3 platform, which allows for hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions. Hyundai hasn’t disclosed any technical specifications of the new car yet but we should see it using the same architecture, with the powertrains potentially gaining tweaks to become more efficient. No pure-electric Santa Fe will be made, with the Ioniq 7 due to take up the role of a family-friendly, all-electric large SUV in the Hyundai line-up.
Alastair Crooks
Staff writer
A keen petrol-head, Alastair Crooks has a degree in journalism and worked as a car salesman for a variety of manufacturers before joining Auto Express in Spring 2019 as a Content Editor. Now a Staff Writer, his daily duties involve tracking down the latest news and writing reviews.
Keyword: New 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe family SUV arrives with bold new look