Piping Hot

The Character as suggested by the swept-back headlamps that taper towards the grille, trademark Hyundai hexagonal grille, stylish fog-lamps skid plates, body cladding and exceptionally well executed rear end. However, the dimensions and muscular touches like the wheel-arches, bumpers, strong creases on the side profile and chunky wheels and tyres still suggest that it's very much an SUV. I especially like its slanting roof-line that gives an impression of a sporty vehicle and also the shoulder-line, which rises sharply at the back of the rear door, perfect hints of sportiness and aggression. Pretty neat execution on the design front, I must say.

As mentioned earlier, this is not a mere facelift. Hyundai have also worked a lot on the Santa Fe's interior to give it a more chic and superior look. The quality of plastic is immaculate, just like in every other Hyundai. The panels are perfectly put together, leaving just the right amount of space in between, and not a single thing feels out of place. I particularly liked the dashboard layout. It is tidy and has an appropriate number of buttons and dials to give it a cloner-free appearance. It's svelter than other Hyundai cars and I like the fact that the company has kept it so. After all, the Santa Fe is a mature SUV and the interior design suits its exterior persona: neither too strong, nor too weak.

Space-wise I found the third-generation Santa Fe to be a bit more generous as compared to the earlier model, which, by the way, was never short on space. The leather seats are quite comfortable with enough leg-knee-head room. They are quite snug too and keep fatigue at bay even on long drives. Besides, the driver's seat gets electric adjustment. I would also like to mention the clever packaging inside the car, which has liberated about 45 mm more of knee-room in the second row despite the wheelbase being exactly the same as earlier. Boot space is huge, though it becomes quite tight if the third row of seats is put to use.

The third-generation Santa Fe also ranks quite high on the features list. There are all the modern-day gadgets such as touch-sensitive infotainment screen, Bluetooth AUX and USB connectivity, dual zone air-conditioning with vents in all three rows, t2V sockets all around, steering-mounted controls and a drive info display in the instrument console. It has everything you'd expect of a modern SUV. Plus, being the flagship, the Santa Fe also comes with modern driver aids such as cruise control, hill start assist, and downhill brake control, eco¬mode, ESC, brake assist, advanced traction control, vehicle stability management, flex steering system, rear parking sensors and 4WD assist system. 

That's quite a long list, isn't it? With so many features I don't think you will complain about anything missing.

Talking of features, there was one that I really liked. The power output, for India at least, is quite decent at t9' PS. But it is the torque that does all the talking. Driving it in the city was not cumbersome; in fact, I found it rather easy. The commanding view from the driver's seat is inspiring and the healthy torque at low RPM is adequate to propel the Santa Fe through the traffic without causing a nervous breakdown.

 

There is plenty of space/ cup-holders for that large drink, and yes  the auto ox is improved as well Lot's of buttons including down-hill assist, diff-lock. I was quite comfortable in the second row with its traction control and tree-hugger's delight; Eco Mode generous knee and headroom. I felt like going to sleep automatic gearbox is another thing that makes driving the Santa Fe a pleasurable experience. The shifts are smooth and precise. However, the SUV seems to be in a hurry to get to the top gear at any given point. The Flex Steering system, which weighs up the steering depending on the mode selected, works just fine, though I would have appreciated if the company had put in a bit more effort to make the steering more communicative.

Performance-wise, the Santa Fe scored rather well. It completed the 0-to km/h sprint in 9.31 seconds and went from 4c to 'co km/h in just 7.3 seconds. These two important figures are enough to convince one that the Santa Fe has decent performance at its command.

Handling and driving dynamics of the Santa Fe are more on the lines of a family car rather than a performance machine. It feels rock-solid at all times and stability through corners has improved tremendously. Being an SUV, the suspension set-up is on the softer side, which is good news because it lends good ride quality on smooth roads. However, once you get on to a cobbled patch of the black top, things get bouncy. Moreover, the steering, even though it has three different settings, lacks some communication. There are improvements as well; the turn-in is better you don't feel nervous through the corners any longer, and it is safer than before with all its safer nets. The brakes also do a good job of anchoring this beast, though a little bit of feel would have been welcome. Yes, there is body-roll, but it doesn't become bothersome, you have to remember that this is not a sporty SUV. I handling and driving dynamics are fairly good; expecting it to behave like a sporty German car would be a big mistake though. It will surely take you on that cross-country trip in comfort and adequate luxury, but throwing it into corners like a lunatic will surely make you see red.

Overall, the Santa Fe is a modest SUV that will fulfill every need of yours in the most practical way possible. But expecting it to deliver the "thrills" would be asking for too much. It drives decently has good handling for its size, can do triple-digit highway speeds while assuring safety and a boot full of gadgets and features you'd expect from a car of this value. Plus there is Hyundai's huge service network and the brand's reliability. It is a perfect tool for the people who are looking to spend some quality driving time with their family and friends and maybe even their colleagues. So, if you are a contemporary person looking for a big SUV that elevates you to the upper crest while being totally practical, the Hyundai Santa Fe is the perfect option for you that is if you don't mind its price-tag of Rs 34 lakhs.