New Hyundai Santa Fe is angular and modern beast

Highlights new Hyundai Santa Fe

• Distinctive design
• Influences of Seven Concept
• Not electric, but as a (plug-in) hybrid
• Probably also for the Netherlands

The Santa Fe family is a special one. With the first generation Santa Fe, Hyundai – just like Kia with the Sorento – entered the segment of large non-premium SUVs. The outgoing fourth-generation Santa Fe deserves an extra mention. After all, that model debuted in 2018 and was already extensively facelifted in 2020. So extensive, in fact, that the car changed platforms during that near-point session. The Y7 base gave way to the N3 platform and that opened the gates for the arrival of hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains. After three years, that Santa Fe is also waving off and here is a completely new one down to the smallest bolt.

The outgoing Hyundai Santa Fe after the 2020 facelift.

The new Hyundai Santa Fe is a real attention grabber. The rounded shapes of the current model give way to lines that seem drawn with a ruler. Striking is the influence that the Hyundai Seven Concept with which Hyundai primarily looked forward to a large electric SUV. Despite the fact that the new Santa Fe will not have an electric powertrain, unlike the SUV that has yet to be revealed and will probably be called the Ioniq 7, the Hyundai Santa Fe has something to do with the Seven Concept, especially when viewed from the rear. As with that study model, the rear lights are incorporated in a wide strip that is housed deep in the bottom of the tailgate. As in the headlights – and in several details of the SUV – an H has been incorporated. A reference to the brand name Hyundai.

Hyundai Santa Fe (2023)

The new Hyundai Santa Fe has angular wheel arches, a dead straight shoulder line and, as a result, a tight window that seems to cling to the body like giant sunglasses. With its long and fairly straight bonnet, relatively flat windscreen and dead straight sloping stern, the new Hyundai Santa Fe reminds us somewhat of the Ford Flex.

The interior is, as you are used to from many modern cars, sleek and tidy. We see a strip running across the entire width in which the outflow openings of the ventilation system are incorporated. The H’s also return here. Two fused 12.3-inch displays behind the steering wheel act as instruments and infotainment screen. The high center tunnel with both below and in various storage compartments runs in the middle a tilted part containing, among other things, the climate control over into the dashboard.

Hyundai Santa Fe

As mentioned, the new Hyundai Santa Fe will not have electric powertrains, after all, the Koreans will soon have the aforementioned Ioniq 7 for that. Is there still room for the Hyundai Santa Fe in the Netherlands? AutoWeek expects Hyundai to continue here with the Santa Fe and therefore also bring this new model to the Netherlands. However, don’t be surprised if Hyundai only decides to bring the plug-in hybrid variant to our country. How big the new Santa Fe is, we have to guess. As well as how the engine range is composed. We do dare to put our hands in the fire that the new Hyundai Santa Fe grows quite a bit compared to the current model, which extends over a distance of about 4.9 meters. In terms of size, the Santa Fe does not even seem to be inferior to the largest SUV that Hyundai has in its international line-up: the Palisade, which is not available here and is almost 5 meters long. The new Santa Fe will also offer space for at least seven occupants thanks to three rows of seats.

Hyundai will release all details of the new Santa Fe in August. Then all the blanks in the Hyundai Santa Fe story will be filled.

Hyundai Santa Fe in the Netherlands

Since the market introduction of the first generation Santa Fe in 2000, Hyundai has delivered about 16,000 units in the Netherlands over four generations. In 2006, the Santa Fe had its best sales year. At that time, almost 3,000 units were registered in our country.