When Hyundai revealed the new generation Santa Fe a few days back, the whole automotive world let out a collective gasp. The sharp design, the bulky exterior; all the elements came together to form a silhouette that shrieked of a revolutionary shift in the way the big family SUV is perceived. This is Hyundai’s ambitious plan to change its design language laid entirely bare, and it’s got us a little hot under the collar.
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The fifth generation 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe now features a head-turner boxy design language, alongside the South Korean automaker’s ‘H-pattern’ design philosophy. Much larger than previous editions, the new series Santa Fe’s silhouette bares a striking resemblance to the Land Rover Discovery. According to SangYup Lee, executive vice president and head of Hyundai Global Design Center, the new Santa Fe is a “perfect balance” of design work.
“The all-new Santa Fe is an SUV that finds a perfect balance between city life and the great outdoors, handling everything from busy family itineraries to car camping adventures,” SangYup Lee said. “With its longer wheelbase, roomy interior and terrace-like tailgate space, the new Santa Fe leans into its SUV strengths to offer more versatility than ever before as well as a premium customer experience.
There are no sculpted flanks or sloping roofline; instead, it is built up with distinct square-like elements. The shortened overhangs and boxy front end is reminiscent of Land Rover designs with an H-pattern LED lighting treatment and grille. The long wheelbase is very much visible from the side with square-shaped wheel arches and thick character lines accentuating its sense of length.
The rear too has the same H-shaped taillights along with an extended tailgate leading to a ‘terrace-like’ vibe. The spacious interiors have the same stark design philosophy as seen on the Ioniq 5 with large seats along with fully foldable second- and third-row seats. Just like with the exterior, the interior emphasizes horizontal and vertical lines, with an H-motif also making an appearance. Hyundai has also moved the gear selector to the steering wheel to free up more space at the centre.
The expansive dashboard gets a panoramic curved display and dual wireless charging along with being connected to a digital 12.3-inch cluster. Sustainable materials are also used on the suede headliner, car mats, and second- and third-row seatbacks while Nappa leather seats are also available.
Hyundai is tight-lipped about the powertrain line-up but expect petrol/diesel engines and a plug-in hybrid option. Compared to the curvaceous but rather tame previous generation Santa Fe, the new one straddles between a boxy off-roader and a practical SUV with a clear focus on standing out from the crowd!
The fifth-gen Santa Fe will most probably come to Australia by the middle of next year with a slight bump in the pricing when compared to the current version. Overall, we do like what we see and love the bold approach taken by Hyundai along with a refreshing change in the way the South Korean manufacturer has steered clear of being ‘Sporty’ in regards to its new family SUV.
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