Being the brand that introduced the first SUV seems to be a long-distance race. There are many manufacturers that give themselves this credit, either because they launched the first SUV with a sophisticated design or because they democratized a segment that started among the premium firms. Be that as it may, the Hyundai Santa Fe also joined the car . Its official presentation took place in 2000 , it reached our dealers a year later and two decades later it has become the flagship of the firm in Europe. Santa Fe celebrates years in digital, like almost all of this 2020 coronavirus. A celebration that makes us look back to understand how the model and the industry in general have evolved .
The Hyundai Santa Fe was the first SUV of the Korean firm and is one of its oldest models. It shares a name with a city in the southwestern United States, a country in which it accumulates a large part of the sales. Throughout these 20 years, more than 5 million units have been registered worldwide. Andreas-Christoph Hofmann, Vice President of Marketing and Product of Hyundai Motor Europe commented: “For Hyundai it is an automotive icon that continues to evolve in terms of design, technology, space and comfort .” The firm is established, models like the Santa Fe have. Now is the time to go one step further, prioritizing aspects such as equipment, design and brand image.
The first Santa Fe
The 2000 Geneva Motor Show hosted the presentation of the first Hyundai Santa Fe. It was a simple, robust and practical model. The design was not his strong suit but he fit in with those customers looking for a functional and resistant SUV . They were soon overwhelmed by the high demand for Santa Fe in the United States, a market related to large vehicles with interesting load capacities.
This first Santa Fe was longer and wider than most of its rivals. Spain welcomed him with open arms (2001) thanks to his takedown price. Customers could get an SUV with air conditioning, electric windows, mirrors and a sunroof from € 22,000 . The passage of time has certified that this cost does not take its toll on its cabin, a durability that has become a selling point. Another one of his aces up his sleeve was the ability to drag. The Hyundai Santa Fe could tow up to 2,380 kilograms so it became the favorite model of users of caravans, horse trailers , hunters and a long etcetera.
The second generation
After the success in American lands, Hyundai presented the second generation of the Santa Fe at the North American International Motor Show (2006). Customers began to be more demanding with the aesthetic appearance of SUVs, it was time to put the batteries in Hyundai. The lines were still rounded but more sporty, the crossovers had to look adventurous but also sporty . The Korean firm did its homework and presented a tall, modern car with a dynamic silhouette, with elongated headlights, an oversized grille and waist-high side blisters on the C-pillar.
It was a larger Santa Fe, at 4.67 meters long, 1.89 wide and 1.78 high . This model was fitted with a 189 hp 2.7-liter V6 petrol block or a 150 hp 2.2-liter diesel. The firm worked to offer a versatile vehicle that would behave better on the road but maintain its off-road character. They opted for a more luxurious design in the cabin and could mount five or seven seats. In addition, safety began to be a key issue for manufacturers. Stability control and ABS were included as standard, curtain head airbags, tire pressure monitor and active front head restraints. Later came rear cameras, cruise control and other technological innovations.
Safer and European
In 2012 the third generation of the Hyundai Santa Fe arrived , which was marketed until last 2018. Its aesthetic evolution is obvious and marked a before and after in the European market. The Storm Edge design language consisted of more sophisticated lines, the use of chrome elements and a less jacket image. The idea was to remove the image of a tough car, without losing the advantage of reliability, to conquer the most elite buyer and concerned about showing a beautiful vehicle. The long version offered three rows of seats for seven passengers and sported a specific hexagonal grille. It also had 19-inch wheels and flush exhaust outlets to differentiate itself from the five-seater version.
The third-generation Santa Fe featured an eight-inch touch screen with a navigator and voice control. At this point it stopped being a “battle” model to compete with premium rivals, without any qualms . Its equipment level was at the level, the finishes were of quality and its rolling comfort was impeccable. Its price began to rise without becoming like that of Audi or Mercedes. It was marketed with 150 and 197 CV diesel blocks ; manual and automatic box; all-wheel or front-wheel drive and endless driving aids.
The current Santa Fe
Far is the robust and invincible-looking SUV that arrived in Spain in 2001. The fourth generation of the Santa Fe is elegant, athletic and very large . It is only marketed in a seven-seater version and measures 4.77 meters long by 1.89 wide and 1.68 high. Its wheelbase is 2.76 meters and second-row passengers have 38mm more legroom. The 547-liter boot capacity is in the middle of the segment, with rivals such as the Kia Sorento, Skoda Kodiaq or the Nissan X-Trail .
Customer habits have changed and the priority is to offer a comfortable model for the asphalt. The new Santa Fe is better on the road, more stable and with a poise that stands out compared to the previous generation. It is designed for families who make long trips, journeys that they can complete with little fatigue thanks to its excellent rolling comfort . They have also expanded the range of engines with two 150 and 200 hp diesel blocks in addition to 185 hp gasoline . Its level of equipment continues to be the spearhead, with a very interesting offer at an unbeatable price ( from 31,000 euros ) compared to other premium firms.
