Santa Fe fronts up

Hyundai has taken a leaf out of its own book with the launch of its new range-topping Santa Fe SUV. The new 3.3-litre petrol V6 powered model, launched yesterday in Sydney, will eschew the existing models' all-wheel drive underpinnings and be offered as front-wheel drive only.

Aimed at urban buyers who desire SUV looks and space without the full all-paw drivetrain, the new Santa Fe follows the lead of its smaller sibling, the Tucson City. Since Hyundai launched the front-wheel drive compact SUV in late 2005, the front-wheel drive version has outsold all-wheel drive by more than four to one. Indeed 82 per cent of Tucson sales are the 2.0-litre City.

Unlike the Tucson City, however, which mated the front-wheel-drive system with a smaller (cheaper and more economical) 2.0-litre four, the Santa Fe front-wheeler arrives with the biggest and most powerful engine yet offered in the model range.

The new five-speed auto-only 3.3-litre V6 is rated at 180kW at 6000rpm with peak torque of 309Nm delivered at 4000rpm. Hyundai claims a relatively swift 8.3sec for the 0-100km/h sprint for the 3.3 while fuel economy all but matches the existing auto-equipped 2.7-litre Santa Fe AWD (10.6) at 10.7lt/100km

Santa Fe joins both Toyota's Kluger and Ford's Territory in combining SUV body characteristics with a two-wheel drive powertrain. In the case of the locally built Ford, AWDs make up just a third of deliveries. Toyota is chasing similar proportions when it launches its new Kluger next month.

In a year when Hyundai's sales are down 8 per cent YOY to the end of June, against a market that's up by the same amount, the Santa Fe is one of the few shining lights. Hyundai believes the 3.3, which will be offered in SX, SLX and Elite trim grades can deliver incremental sales to the nameplate.

Both the 2.7-litre V6 petrol and 2.2-litre CRDi inline four-cylinder turbodiesel all-wheel drive variants continue to be available in both manual and auto versions.

The 2.7 is now available in an entry-level SX all-wheel drive variant for the first time. This grade, which is the only petrol 4WD model in the range, is exactly $2000 less than the price of the previous SLX five-seat V6 and $3000 less than the diesel SX CRDi model.

Santa Fe model line-up and pricing are as follows:

Santa Fe 2.7 SX AWD five-speed manual $33,990
Santa Fe 2.7 SX AWD four-speed auto $35,990
Santa Fe CRDi SX AWD five-speed manual $36,990
Santa Fe CRDi SX AWD five-speed auto $39,490
Santa Fe CRDi SLX AWD five-speed auto* $43,490
Santa Fe CRDi Elite AWD five-speed auto* $48,990
Santa Fe 3.3 SX 2WD five-speed auto $37,990
Santa Fe 3.3 SLX 2WD five-speed auto* $40,990
Santa Fe 3.3 Elite 2WD five-speed auto* $46,490

* seven-seat models

Metallic/Mica paint is the only ex-factory option, priced at $350.

Look out for our launch review in the next few days.

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