Hyundai Santa Fe 2018 Review

Pricing and cost of ownership

The 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe range kicks off with the petrol-powered Active AWD at $43,000 (plus ORCs) and the turbo-diesel entry model starts at $46,000 (plus ORCs).
The mid-range Elite AWD – which is available in turbo-diesel AWD format only – retails from $54,000 (plus ORCs), while the range-topping Highlander AWD, which is also diesel-only, starts at $60,500 (plus ORCs).

A premium paint charge of $695 applies to all but two of the nine colours offered.

A comprehensive and fully transferable lifetime capped-price servicing deal applies to every new Hyundai sold and includes a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty with up to 10 years of roadside assistance and sat-nav map updates.

Service intervals for the Santa Fe are 12 months/15,000km (whichever comes first) and the first 1500km check-up is free of charge.

Based on current metropolitan online pricing, a petrol Santa Fe will cost $1680 to service over a five-year period, the turbo-diesel model $2095.

According to RedBook resale values, the previous-generation mid-spec Santa Fe Elite (turbo-diesel) retains 69 per cent of its original price when sold privately after three years, or 59 per cent if traded-in.

Comparatively, those numbers are 60 and 51 per cent for a similarly specified, superseded Mazda CX-9 Luxury V6, and 73 and 62 per cent for the equivalent Toyota Kluger GXL.

Despite the lack of engine idle-stop technology, and with arguably outmoded petrol engine technology (the 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder and 3.3-litre petrol V6 offered in other markets are not available here), both of the Santa Fe’s mills managed respectable fuel economy on test.

The R-series diesel is claimed to consume 7.5L/100km on the ADR Combined cycle and the Theta II petrol engine 9.3L/100km. On test, we managed 8.9 and 10.8L/100km respectively.

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Design and innovation

Perhaps the most innovative aspect of the new Santa Fe is its significant uptick in standard safety technology.

With the ability to accelerate, brake, park and steer by itself, it’s the most autonomous seven-seat SUV Hyundai has ever offered, and shows a level of ease about its self-driving abilities that rank among the best in market – and that includes a few premium marques we could mention.

Aesthetically, the Santa Fe is differentiated by Hyundai’s new, cascading grille (finished in a carbon effect on Elite and Highlander models), split headlights and softer, sleeker lines.

The simpler profile contrasts with many of the Korean brand’s previous styling efforts in doing away with the hard folds and diagonal creases of former models, allowing slim but crisply detailed lighting, grille, beltline mouldings and exhaust outlets to draw the eye.

Inside it’s the use of higher quality materials and the attention to detail that impresses most. From the leather-wrapped steering wheel to the floating infotainment screen and low-set dashboard, there’s a proper sense of style and substance throughout.

A choice of black or sepia interior colour schemes in the Santa Fe Active are complemented by grey/black cloth upholstery and garnished with alloy-effect door-handles and trim.

Elite and Highlander variants add leather upholstery – in a choice of black, dark beige or burgundy with contrasting carpet and mats – plus cloth or suede pillar covers and headlining, stone, wood or carbon-fibre inlays, roll-up rear window blinds and metallic or black garnishes.

The Santa Fe Highlander also scores cool-white LED interior lighting.

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Packaging and practicality

Growing 70mm in length (to 4770mm), the Santa Fe is still shorter than the Mazda CX-9 (-305mm) and Toyota Kluger (-120mm), but grows larger inside thanks to clever space utilisation, a longer wheelbase (+65mm to 2765mm) and a wider (+10mm), taller body (+10mm).

A longer roofline (+210mm) also gives Santa Fe passengers more headroom (+42mm front, +32mm middle, +42mm rear) and legroom (+29mm second row), while larger rear doors improve ingress and egress (+36mm to 170mm), especially for passengers in the adult-sized third row.

The rear glass area increases 41 per cent to address the outward visibility issues that tarnished the outgoing model. The second row of seats slide 300mm (+30mm) and sit higher (+18mm) than the first to allow a better forward view for passengers, while the lower shoulder line improves visibility for little ones.

All back-seat passengers receive ventilation outlets, cup-holders and top-tether child-seat anchors. ISOFIX child-seat preparation is offered in the outboard second-row seats only.

In higher grade Santa Fe variants, one-touch electric-folding leather-trimmed seats and a larger (+189mm) two-speed hands-free tailgate (standard on Elite and Highlander) allow more flexibility for odd-shaped cargo.

The rear seat is split 50:50 while the second row divides 40:20:40. Boot space is now listed at 547-1625 litres, or 31 litres more than the outgoing model.

Braked towing is unchanged at 2000kg (-200kg) or 750kg unbraked, with a tow-ball down weight of 100kg. An upgrade kit raises tow capacity to 2200kg and a 150kg tow-ball down weight.

All models are equipped with roof rails and score alloy wheels (ranging from 17 to 19 inches diameter) with a full-size matching spare.

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Safety and technology

Hyundai’s Smart Sense electronic safety suite joins the usual list of electronic chassis controls plus tyre pressure monitoring and six airbags (although the rear curtain airbags cover only the glass in the third row, not the D-pillar right next to the rearmost occupants’ heads) as standard across the three-model range.

Included is autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist detection, active cruise control with stop and go, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic avoidance assistance, driver attention warning, high-beam assist and lane-keeping assist.

The Santa Fe is also able to detect if you’ve left children or pets in the back seats, and warn you if traffic is approaching from behind when you attempt to open the doors.

A 360-degree camera and self-parking technology is fitted to Highlander variants and Active and Elite models receive a reversing camera as standard. Active models are fitted with rear parking sensors, while Elite and Highlander grades gain front sensors as part of the deal.

Depending on grade, the Santa Fe is equipped with either a 7.0-inch (Active) or 8.0-inch (Elite and Highlander) colour infotainment array with standard AM/FM radio, Bluetooth, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity and voice recognition.

An Infinity premium audio system with satellite-navigation and live traffic updates is included with Elite and Highlander variants, as is dual-zone climate control, keyless entry and ignition, and powered front seats.

Highlander variants add head-up display, heated and ventilated front seats with memory function, heated outboard rear seats, a heated steering wheel and LED foglights, headlights, running lights and tail-lights.

The top-spec Santa Fe also adds a digital instrument panel, wireless smartphone charging and a connected smartphone app known as Auto Link, providing a suite of driving information, vehicle maintenance, parking management and remote control functions.

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Behind the wheel

A stronger frame with more high-strength steel (57 per cent) and locally-tuned strut (front) and multi-link (rear) suspension form a capable chassis that provides the Santa Fe with confident cornering and secure highway cruising.

But there are differences between model variants in terms of ride quality, with the lighter petrol-powered Active better soaking up small, sharp bumps and feeling livelier and more accurate through the tiller.

The electrically-assisted steering is otherwise fluid, the rack-mounted motor producing an honest feel that’s also quite refined. Assistance levels are perfect for the application, too, and we found the driving position easy to settle into.

On the downside, we found the head restraints sit quite a long way forward and the leather seats firmer and flatter than the oh-so-comfy cloth pews.

Cabin noise is quieter than in many of the Santa Fe’s rivals with road and mechanical noise well suppressed. There is, however, a little wind noise evident off the door-mounted wing mirrors.

Under the bonnet it’s the 2.2-litre turbo-diesel (147kW/440Nm) that holds the advantage. Its narrow torque band is disguised well by Hyundai’s in-house-developed eight-speed automatic and acceleration from standstill particularly sprightly.

The direct-injected 2.4-litre petrol four (138kW/241Nm), on the other hand, feels a little out of its depth, struggling to motivate the Santa Fe with the ease of its diesel sibling and forcing the six-speed automatic to endlessly yo-yo between its ratios.

Hyundai’s variable torque HTRAC all-wheel drive system shifts more drive to the rear as required (up to 50:50) to improve traction on loose surfaces, though in most scenarios the standard 65/35 front/rear split is perfectly adequate and helps keep fuel consumption in check. A centre diff lock is fitted for sand, snow and the like.

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The verdict

Hyundai has really raised the bar on its popular seven-seat SUV. The new Santa Fe is bigger, better-equipped and safer than it’s ever been before, yet remains a quality family-hauler that’s easier to park, position and drive than a lot of its larger contemporaries.

Add to that Hyundai’s generous after-sales provisions and the added interior space and refinement of the latest model, and it’s obvious the Santa Fe is better value than perhaps every class-competitor bar the Kia Sorento (from $42,990 plus ORCs).

If you haven’t considered a Hyundai before now, the new Santa Fe is a great place to start.

How much does the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe AWD petrol cost?
Priced from: $43,000 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol
Output: 138kW/241Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 9.3L/100km (ADR Combined), 10.8L/100km (as tested)
CO2: 198g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: TBC

How much does the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe AWD turbo-diesel cost?
Priced from: $46,000 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 147kW/440Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 7.5L/100km (ADR Combined), 8.9L/100km (as tested)
CO2: 217g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: TBC