COMING SOON: 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe

A fresh-faced and upgraded Hyundai Santa Fe arrives in Australia later this year. Initially expected in November, it’s now likely it will go on sale in December, Hyundai sources say. 

One of Hyundai’s most popular models Down Under, the newest Santa Fe is set to take on the brand-new Kia Sorento and a swag of family seven-seaters in a category that is one of the new-car market’s hardest fought. 

Both the exterior and the cabin have come in for substantial changes in the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. 

The face of the seven-seater is bolder and integrates elements of Hyundai’s new corporate identity with a complex headlight arrangement and a sculptured 3D mesh grille that now spans the width of the vehicle. 

At the rear, there are redesigned tail-light clusters and new lower rear bumper and, overall, bolder flared guards give the SUV a more muscular look. 

Inside, the wow factor has also been dialled up. There are more soft-touch materials and, in top-spec versions, suede-like headlining and Nappa leather seat trim.  

A redesigned centre console disposes with the traditional transmission lever and replaces it with shift-by-wire buttons. Infotainment systems have also been boosted. 

So too safety with cyclist and junction-turning detection added to the auto braking system, plus rear collision avoidance braking, improved autonomous steering functions and what Hyundai calls a navigation-based Smart Cruise system with Road Curve Control, all of which are new. 

Although Hyundai Australia has yet to confirm full mechanical details for the new Santa Fe, American-market specifications have been revealed, including a new 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol-electric hybrid version – which will come Down Under. 

The US market’s entry-level petrol engine is a new turbocharged petrol four-cylinder. In Australia we’re likely to see V6 petrol and an upgraded version of the 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder retained. 

There are revisions to the Santa Fe’s all-wheel drive system and more…  

But we may have to wait for Hyundai Australia’s official release of the 2021 Santa Fe line-up in coming weeks to know exactly which of the mechanical updates make it Down Under.