Hyundai Santa Fe Highlander 2015 Review

The 2015 Santa Fe continues the vehicle's family friendly approach, from the smaller touches like the abundance of incidental storage cubbies, intuitive controls, seven-seat capability and decent cargo space, while honing the driving experience with suspension tweaks and adding a few extra features to sweeten the deal.

Three models maintain Hyundai's large SUV range, the Santa Fe Active, Elite and Highlander, with the latter two available exclusively with a 145kW/436Nm 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine and six-speed auto.

Pricing of the entry-level Active model remains unchanged at $38,490 (plus on-road costs) while the mid and up-spec models rise by $500 and $1250 respectively. Full pricing is as follows:

Santa Fe Active: $38,490 (man.) / $40,990 (auto.)
Santa Fe Elite: $48,490 (auto. only)
Santa Fe Highlander: $53,240 (auto. only)

A fourth model has also been added to the range in the form of the Santa Fe SR (http://www.motoring.com.au/reviews/2014/hyundai/santa-fe/hyundai-santa-fe-sr-2015-review-46764), a stiffer, sharper, head-turning variant that's yet to be priced, and will arrive in local showrooms from February next year.

All 2015 Santa Fe models are distinguished externally via LED foglights and a new-look, darker chrome grille. A full-sized spare alloy wheel remains standard. But it’s the mid and high-spec Elite and Highlander models that get the cool new tech features, such as the smart tailgate.

Unlike some hands-free power-operated tailgates that require a foot swipe to open, Hyundai's smart tailgate opens automatically when the holder of the key fob stands within about a metre of the boot for around three seconds. So it's hands and feet-free. In practice the system is very effective and certainly preferable to the foot-swiping systems: just leave the keys in your pocket or bag, and it beeps three times to confirm the owner is near, then another three times to 'initiate'.

The proximity sensor key also allows for keys-in-pocket entry and engine start, streamlining entry and ignition. It will also fold and unfold the mirrors as you near or walk away from the car.

Move up to the Highlander model, which currently accounts for half of all Santa Fe sales in Australia, and things like front parking sensors, heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats and a lane departure warning system are added.

The seat cooling function is a very nice touch, particularly handy in the humid climes of northern NSW, and the lane departure warning system also works well, with audio and visual alerts. It even works on roads with no lane markings (which is a blessing and curse on narrower roads).

An automatic parallel parking system dubbed SPAS (smart parking assist) can park the Santa Fe by itself, requiring only soft braking and acceleration.

Driving the 2015 Santa Fe, a very subtle model update, reinforces how sorted the car is on many different levels. Even the less exciting aspects of the car are done well, for example the boot is amply sized (516 expanding to 1615 litres with seat folded flat), easy to load and unload thanks to its raised height, the middle row seats can be reclined, and outboard seats even have two-stage heaters now (previously single stage).

Up front the USB slot and a pair of 12-volt power outlets are sensibly located under the radio controls, and incidental storage is very good. There's even a slot for a couple of iPhones in front of the central bin. Not the iPhones though, they're too big now.

There's plenty of room front and back, and even the third-row temporary seats are easy to extract – but best left to non-adult passengers to sit in. Everything feels good in the car, with doors that thud shut firmly, electric windows that operate rapidly and good quality plastics used throughout.

The reversing camera is very good, with an excellent resolution and clear colours in the day, and little touches like the way the mirrors fold up when the car locks or the separate rear air-conditioning operation and cup holders galore. Even the sat-nav is intuitive, and best of all can be used when driving. Those lock-out systems are frustrating (if supposedly safer).

Changes to the 2015 Santa Fe's ride and handling have been effected to better suit local conditions, with Hyundai's suspension gurus fitting several new components (front wheel bearings, knuckles and bushes) and recalibrating springs and dampers.

The chassis adjustments are supposed to make the vehicle less prone to understeer and Andrew Tuitahi, Hyundai Motor Company Australia’s Senior Manager, Product Planning, says it results in "a more responsive car".

And it is. The Santa Fe feels more confident than before and maintains slightly better body control through curves. It's also more eager turning into fast, flowing corners, with generally better roadholding. But in firming up the suspension has ride quality been thrown out the window? Not completely.

The Santa Fe is not the smoothest or supplest vehicle in the large SUV segment, not by a long shot, but it rides over big pot holes and craggy roads without significant vibration, jarring or jouncing. Smaller amplitude bumps and corrugations are more noticeable but generally speaking it rides well over broken surfaces – which is notable, given we only tested the range-topping Highlander model which connects with the road via massive 19-inch alloy wheels and sporty 235/55 R19 tyres.

The brakes are also surprisingly good, slowing the vehicle's 1968kg (kerb) mass smoothly, and rapidly if required.

The car is content honking along winding dirt roads too, reacting predictably on the loose surfaces. Although the steering lacks any meaningful feel or feedback, it goes where you point it.

Changes to the steering have been affected via the inclusion of a revised power steering system, which adopts a new steering gearbox and a more powerful 32-bit processor, up from 16. Hyundai reckons the update improves the weight difference between the three push-button Flex Steer modes, but to be honest it felt pretty much like the previous one. That's no bad thing, because in comfort mode the steering is super light, making quick work of reverse parking and tight manoeuvres.

Two engine choices remain unaltered for the 2015 Santa Fe, a 2.4-litre petrol four-cylinder unit worth 141kW/242Nm or a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel that generates 145kW/426Nm. Both have a 64-litre fuel tank with the petrol consuming fuel at a claimed rate of 9.0L/100km, the turbo-diesel at 7.3L/100km (6.6 for manual).

Igniting the diesel engine reveals a fair bit of noise at idle but it purrs along smoothly and quietly above walking pace. Indeed the car is impressively quiet at freeway speeds and Hyundai's four-cylinder engine provides plenty of poke from standstill. The only area it lacks in is roll-on response at speed, the six-speed auto and turbo lagging slightly behind one's right foot flexing.

Fuel economy during the launch was 8.1L/100km according to the trip computer, not bad considering the hilly terrain of the launch drive.

With five-star safety, including seven airbags and stability control, plus luxury car levels of standard features and a comprehensive after sales package – a five-year warranty, 10 year's roadside assistance, lifetime capped-price servicing – the Santa Fe's ownership costs are well contained.

The 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe makes small but significant changes and although this update is unlikely to compel current owners to dash out and upgrade, the end result is that a good SUV is now better.