THE Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show 2018 (KLIMS18) media day yesterday saw the fourth-generation Hyundai Santa Fe launched by Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors.
Going on sale in Malaysia in the first quarter of 2019, the seven-seater SUV is available in “Executive” and “Premium” variants.
“Featuring an aerodynamic look that encompasses luxury and toughness, this bold and robust SUV introduces a wide cascading grille that is iconic to current Hyundai designs with separated type composite lights, comprising LED daytime running lights positioned on top of the LED headlights, for the front and rear,” said the company.
A longer wheelbase and short overhang give the SUV an elegant profile with large wheel arch lines for a sturdy ridge.
Combined with the wide-grilled bumper and tasteful chrome mouldings, the new Santa Fe takes on a “visually original identity with a substantial increase in interior space” compared to its predecessor.
The interior is also entirely different, with great improvement to ergonomics and modern-day necessities for an improved driving experience.
The new one-touch folding seats applied to the second-row seats ease passenger access to third-row seats, while the electronic switch applied to the luggage side increases convenience for loading.
“The many qualities that made the third-generation Santa Fe a success are naturally retained,” said company managing director Low Yuan Lung.
“However, there are many new additions and upgrades to the fourth-generation Santa Fe that substantially raises the bar. It is an outstanding testament to Hyundai’s constant improvement on design, safety, performance, spaciousness, user experience and technology.”
Standard safety features carried over from the previous generation are the six-airbag system, Vehicle Stability Management (VSM), Hillstart Assist Control (HAC), Downhill Brake Control (DBC), as well as Electric Parking Brake (EPB) with an Automatic Vehicle Hold feature.
Other features include smart power tailgate, seven-inch TFT LCD virtual cluster, floating-type seven-inch display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and wireless phone charger.
The newly-developed Rear Occupant Alert is the latest addition to Hyundai’s list of safety features. It monitors the rear seats using an ultrasonic sensor that helps detect the movements of children. It is designed to prevent instances of children or pets being left behind and forgotten in the car, as well as in cases where children accidentally lock themselves in.
The new Santa Fe is powered by two engine options, a 2.4-litre petrol engine with six-speed automatic transmission and a 2.2-litre VGT diesel engine with Hyundai Malaysia’s first-ever eight-speed automatic transmission. The price is estimated at RM188,000 onwards and the company is currently taking in bookings.
The Santa Fe comes with three-year 50,000km free service and a five-year or 300,000km (whichever comes first) warranty.
Internationally, this latest Santa Fe, together with the Hyundai Kona and Nexo have been granted the Silver Award in the 2018 International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA), held by the Industrial Designers Society of America.
The prestigious recognition was given to recognise Hyundai’s bold design language and futuristic ideas. All three vehicles meet IDEA’s design demands and showcased its style and determination.
Visitors to the Hyundai booth at KLIMS18 also get to view some of the marque’s extensive range of vehicles including the Accent, i30N, Kona, the facelifted Tucson and a new variant of the Grand Starex Executive, as well as its Eco Technology models under the Clean Mobility display area – the Ioniq Hybrid, Kona Electric Vehicle and the Nexo fuel cell vehicle.
Visitors will also get the opportunity to experience the Hyundai Virtual Reality Motorsports Ride. The “real to life” VR ride gives visitors a first-hand perspective and feel of what it is like to be in a rally.
