BODY STYLE: Intermediate 6/7-passenger CUV
DRIVE METHOD: Front-engine,
front-/all-wheel-drive
ENGINE: 3.3-litre DOHC V6 with gasoline direct
injection (290 hp and 252 lb/ft of torque)
CARGO: 383 litres behind third row, 1,159 litres
behind middle row, 2,265 litres behind front row
TOWING CAPACITY: 5,000 lb (2,268 kg)
FUEL ECONOMY: (Regular) FWD,
12.9/9.4/11/3L/100 km city/highway/combined; AWD, 13.0/9.7/11.5L/100km
PRICE: base FWD $29,999, Premium AWD $34,749,
Luxury AWD $39,779-$39,949, Limited AWD $43,099-$43,299, Limited AWD with
Saddle Leather $43,299
2015 Hyundai Santa Fe XL AWD suits Canadian
conditions
MALBAIE,
PQ: With February officially being one of the coldest months on record in
several provinces, having the benefit of all-wheel-drive is becoming a
must-have feature for an increasing number of Canadians.
During
February, I took part in four winter driving events in Quebec involving six
cars and CUVs where the advantages of AWD left me in no doubt what I will have
on my next vehicle.
The
transparency, cost effectiveness and ease of operation without the high fuel
consumption of first-gen systems is what makes AWD so attractive.
There
are actually two Santa Fe
models, the five-seater Sport and the six- or seven seat XL as driven in
Quebec.
The
Sport is available with a 2.4-litre, direct injection four-cylinder or a
2.0-litre turbo direct injection four-cylinder.
All XL
models use the well known and reliable 3.3-litre direct injection V6 shared
with Kia, putting out 290 hp and 252 lb/ft of torque through a six-speed
Shiftronic automatic transmission with manual shift mode.
The
transmission has an automatic warmer to keep the transmission fluid at the
correct temperature, which adds to fuel economy.
In
addition, all Santa Fe
models have an Active Eco system that changes engine and transmission mapping
for smoother shifting that results in real world fuel savings by up to seven
per cent.
Except
for the base model, all Santa Fes are equipped with a hydraulically actuated
all-wheel-drive system developed in partnership with Magna International.
This
advanced system is designed to select the best torque distribution without the
driver adjusting anything. In normal driving, the system distributes power only
to the front wheels, helping to reduce fuel consumption.
The AWD
system on the Santa Fe
incorporates Active Cornering Control (ACC), integrated with the Vehicle
Stability Management (VSM) system, which helps the vehicle handle acceleration
in a corner. To improve traction and cornering performance, braking is applied
to the inside rear wheel when accelerating through a turn.
To
enhance the driving experience, the Santa Fe also
comes with Hyundai’s
Driver Selectable Steering Mode, controlled by a rocker on the steering wheel.
It
gives the choice of Comfort, Normal and Sport with the first decreasing
steering input by 10 per cent below Normal for greater parking ease in city
driving.
Normal
is considered the best blend of driving conditions while Sport increases
steering effort by 10 per cent for higher speed highway driving.
The Santa Fe comes with
a battery of safety features that includes a Vehicle Stability Management (VSM)
system that incorporates a Rollover Protection System and optimally manages the
ESC (Electronic Stability Control) and the Motor-Driven Power Steering (MDPS)
to help the driver maintain control of the vehicle in slippery conditions or
during fast cornering.
If
traction is lost and spin starts to develop, VSM can deliver up to eight
Newton-meters of counter-steering effort to help keep it on the road. A
Traction Control System (TCS) is also included.
All
this was comforting to know as my co-driver and I drove through a brief but
intense snowstorm just to the west of Malbaie, PQ, as part of a Hyundai program featuring
the AWD capabilities of the Santa Fe and
the new Genesis AWD sedan.
My
Montreal-based co-driver knows these roads well and called the section of
Highway 138 we drove on one of the most dangerous winter routes in the
province, due to all the elevation changes because of the mountainous terrain.
With a
set of top tier snow tires, our drive was almost leisurely, stopping off at
several points to enjoy the view and visit the wonderful cheese stores. Yes I
bought a bunch.
Another
enjoyable part of the ride was listening to Phlash Phelps on SiriusXM 60s on 6
and all the crazy people he talks to which brings me to the third-generation
audio/entertainment systems on the XL.
Source
Actually
there are three, starting with the standard AM/FM/Satellite Radio/CD/MP3 audio
system with six-speakers and iPod/USB/auxiliary connectivity. The mid-level
system features a 4.3-inch full colour LCD screen and rear view camera.
And
then we come to the premium navigation system, which adds a 550-watt Infinity
Logic 7 audio system with 10 speakers, including an eight-inch subwoofer. An XM
satellite radio interface is integrated into each head unit, as is a Bluetooth
hands-free phone system with voice recognition, address book download, and
audio streaming. Both LCD screen-equipped systems integrate a rear-view camera.
One of
the main reasons for buying an XL is about the cargo and passenger volume.
Despite
making room for a third row seat, the XL wheelbase is only 100 mm longer than
the Sport, yet the back seat is quite useable for short hauls.
Legroom
in the second row is 50 mm longer and cargo goes up 240 litres compared to the
five-seater.
A 50:50
split-folding third row bench seat is standard with 800 mm of legroom. For the
second row there is a choice of a 40:20:40 split-folding second row bench seat
for seven-passenger versatility or six-passenger seating with second row
captain’s chairs.
To
visually make the larger XL stand out, the rear side window has a different
shape and also features its own bodyside character lines from the B-pillar
back. XL has a unique grille design, different alloy wheels, dual chrome
asymmetrical exhaust outlets integrated into the rear bumper and a
flush-mounted tow hitch design.
Prices
start at $29,999 for the FWD base model up to $43,299 for the Limited AWD with
Saddle Leather seating which several trim choices in between.
My
drive in the Santa Fe XL
certainly proved why there is such interest in AWD, proving that for many
consumers, it is the way to go.
No comments:
Post a Comment