Laid
back and a destination where the cosmopolitan stand alongside tree-hugging
hippies, Byron Bay isn't typically a place to go hardcore.
Hyundai's new Santa
Fe SR managed to look the goods when unveiled last week in the pristine
coastal township.
This is
the first SUV to wear Hyundai's
fledgling SR badge, following in the tyre prints of the Veloster, i30 and
Accent models.
Changes
are primarily skin deep, although product planner Andrew Tuitahi points out
that the changes mean the "Santa
Fe SR looks, corners and stops harder".
Prices
are yet to be announced before its arrival early next year, but the SR will be
the hero of the MY15 range which has just been released. The line-up has been
tweaked with revised pricing, which has seen the base model stay at $38,490
while mid- and top-spec variants have risen slightly.
The
MY15 Santa Fe
has received a "rolling technical change" rather than a mid-life
facelift, and only Hyundai
trainspotters will pick the difference.
Comfort
Three
trim levels - Active, Elite and Highlander - have been retained. We spent our
time in the top-shelf Highlander variant, which accounts for nearly half of all
Santa Fe sales.
It's
spacious, with seven seats, and offers excellent head, leg and shoulder room in
the front two rows. Like the majority of seven- seaters, the rear two pews are
best left to kids due to confined leg room and the nimble body required when
climbing into the back (but they do get their own air vents).
The
colour 17.7cm touch-screen deserves plaudits for ease of use, and the Santa Fe's
operations are simple and straightforward.
Highlander
models have electric seat adjustment, while the driver has tilt and reach
adjustment of the steering wheel.
Hard
wearing areas have plastic finishes, which is actually handy for families due
to its ease of cleanliness, as are the leather-clad pews.
On the road
Not
much was wrong with the Santa
Fe previously, but Hyundai
tweaks its models for Australian conditions and MY15 variants have new front
wheel bearings, redesigned front knuckles, and changes to various suspension
bushes. The electric power steering also has a faster 32-bit processor.
Would
most drivers notice the difference? Probably not. It's stiffer than the old
model, more responsive when you rip into a corner and less prone to understeer,
which is handy information at the family barbecue but most would never get
close to testing the SUV's boundaries. Still, that makes it a safer car and it
feels confident on gravel and bitumen.
We only
drove the diesel variant, but it's the obvious choice with its burly and near
instant throttle response.
SR dynamics
Engineers
overhauled the Santa Fe
brakes to feature Brembo four-piston monobloc front callipers and two-piston
rears. They pull the anchors on matte-black 19-inch alloys shod with Michelin
Latitude Tour tyres.
Combined
with H&R performance springs, it results in stopping distance reduced by 8%
from 60kmh, and an SUV which corners harder and feels remarkably more nimble.
There
are no diesel engine enhancements, and it won't get a dual exhaust system
(which we saw this week) because it means dropping the full-size spare, but
that won't worry the target audience - which is mums and dads who primarily
want the faster looks.
What do you get?
Standard
kit is still seven airbags, stability control and a host of associated safety
technology, hill descent and ascent control, full-size spare, 10.9cm
touch-screen, cruise control, auto lights, 17-inch alloys, Bluetooth
connectivity with audio streaming and a reversing camera with parking sensors.
Elites
now get an automatic tailgate, while the Highlanders have lane departure
warning system and automatic parallel parking functionality added to the
previous complimentary kit of 19-inch alloys, a panoramic glass roof, Xenon
headlights, LED rear lights, auto-dimming side mirrors, electric adjustment for
the front seats, and heated front and second-row seats.
The SR
will get a sports body kit, Brembo brakes, H&R performance springs and Oz
Racing wheels with Michelin tyres.
Practicality
Hauling
the family is a pleasure in the Santa
Fe. There is a great nook in front of the gear shifter, perfect for phones
and other gear, which is close to a USB port and auxiliary jack, along with two
12 volt plugs.
Other
storage boons are a deep centre console, pockets in the doors able to cope with
bottles, a sunglasses holder, a pair of cup holders in the console, along with
another two which pop out from the fold down arm rest in the rear.
Dropping
the rear seats is easy, with a handle in the back, and the middle row also has
a 40/20/40 folding function. With all seven seats upright there is minimal boot
space, but there is ample flexibility for a range of equipment or furniture.
Funky factor
External
massaging includes a darker chrome grille along with daytime running lights and
cornering lights across the range.
Yet the
obvious stand-out is the SR, with its body kit, groovy alloys and red Brembo
brake callipers.
The lowdown
Starting
with good cars, Hyundai just
keeps making them better with incremental improvements. The Santa Fe remains an
attractive seven-seat SUV with excellent specification levels.
Adding
another string to the bow is the SR with ticks the most important boxes for
buyers in this genre: it looks sporty and fast.
What matters most
What we liked: SR body kit and
alloys, internal flexibility and comfort, easy to drive, automatic tailgate.
What we'd like to see: Lower beltline to
improve outward vision for littlies in the back.
Warranty and servicing: Five-year unlimited
kilometre warranty, with one year roadside assist. Servicing intervals are
annual or every 15,000km. Lifetime capped- price servicing is available,
starting from $379 for the diesel and $310 for the petrol.
VITAL STATISTICS
Model: Hyundai Santa Fe.
Details: Mid-size, all-wheel, seven-seat
drive sports utility vehicle.
Engine: 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol generating
maximum power of 141kW @ 6300rpm and peak torque of 242Nm @ 4250rpm; 2.2-litre
four-cylinder turbo-diesel generating 145kW @ 3800rpm and 421Nm @ 1800-2500rpm.
Transmission: Six-speed manual or
six-speed automatic.
Consumption: 9.0 litres/100km (petrol, auto and
manual); 6.6L/100km (manual diesel); 7.3L/100km (auto diesel).
CO2: 209g/km (petrol models); 174g/km (diesel
manual); 192g/km (diesel auto).
Towing capacity:
2500kg (m), 2000 (a), tow ball rating 100kg.
Bottom line:
Petrol - Active (m) $38,490, Active (a) $40,990. Diesel - Active (m) $41,490,
Active (a) $43,990, Elite (a) $48,490, Highlander (a) $53,240.
1 comment:
I really want to buy a new car. I've had mine for over fifteen years and it just doesn't run like it used to. There is a new vehicle dealer in my town and I'm thinking about talking to him.
Susan Hirst | http://willstoyota.com/inventory/newsearch/New/
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