By Khulekani Dumisa

Most buyers looking for a seven seater family SUV will most likely look at the bakkie based SUVs. These SUVs lead the segment and there’s quite a few to choose from. However, buyers looking for something softer and more family friendly may look elsewhere and this is where the Hyundai Santa Fe comes in, and recently we spent time with the entry level Santa Fe Hyundai Santa Fe.

Exterior

The Santa Fe has an imposing design thanks to the large grille that dominates the front. The slim LED daytime running lights soften the look somewhat and on the side, the Santa Fe has long lines that hint to its size. The back doors are large to accommodate the entry into the middle and last rows. At the back, a well-designed light cluster rounds up the modern design of the Santa Fe.

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‪We are with the @hyundai_sa Santa Fe. This 7-seater vehicle screams value for money. The front is imposing, the interior is roomy and the 2.2-litre (142W/440Nm) is punchy and fuel efficient. Flaws are minimal but less plastics on door panels would make a stronger premium statement.‬ #hyundaisa #hyundai #hyundaisantafe #santafe #suv #korean #quality #premium #family #saturday #leisure #travel #explore #autumn #car

A post shared by The Car People (@khulekani_on_wheels) on May 25, 2019 at 3:17am PDT

Interior

Step inside the Santa Fe, you are welcomed by a well-built cabin with quality finishes. The dashboard is well laid out with the floating 7-inch touchscreen infotainment taking center stage in the design. The infotainment screen is compatible with Apple Carplay and Android Auto. Connectivity is also taken care of courtesy of Bluetooth and a number of USB ports through the cabin. The leather seats in the Santa Fe are large and provide adequate support although they are manually adjustable.

Practicality

Although the last row of seats is for children, adults can occupy those seats for short drives. Getting in and out the last row of seats is not hard as it is taken care of by a single touch button that folds the seat and allows the occupants to push the seat forward to make room for their entry or exit.

The roomy and quality interior of the @Hyundai Santa Fe. pic.twitter.com/RJizCUx8Oz

— Khulekani on Wheels (@khuleonwheels) May 27, 2019

The boot becomes limited when the last row of seats are up but leaves a bit of room for one or two grocery bags. The luggage space extends with the last row folded down (with boot space at 547 litres) and even gets bigger (1,625 litres) with all the second and third row folded down.

Although large, the Santa Fe comes with parking sensors and a reverse, this makes piloting the Santa Fe in the city and malls with tight spaces simple.

Engine and transmission

The Santa Fe is powered by Hyundai’s trusted 2,2 turbo-diesel engine with 142 kW of power and 440 Nm of torque. The power delivery from this engine is impressive. The torque is felt almost immediately when you put foot to the metal. The good thing is that the engine is also fuel efficient just in case you get carried away. We averaged about 7,8l/100 km which is what Hyundai claims. The smooth and precise transmission will also impress you as it plays an important role in delivering an impressive drive in the Santa Fe. The Santa Fe is also comfortable and drives well in most surfaces and appears confident in corners and not just straight lines.

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Hello Monday. We are still spending time with the @hyundai_sa Santa Fe. The 7-seater family SUV is proving to be quite impressive. The interior is roomy and well put together. It feels quite upmarket with the supportive leather seats and leather wrapped steering wheel. The dash looks great and the 7-inch infotainment screen isn’t distracting and works well with Apple CarPlay. There’s decent legroom in front and second row and last row is of course suited for children (including big ones known as teenagers). The boot is generous and even extends with second row of seats folded down. Accessing the back row isn’t difficult with a one touch button that slides second row forward. There’s a premium on this compared to Japanese SUV based competitors but may be worth it if you are looking for a big car that drives more like a car than a bakkie. Another thing going for this car is the competent 2.2 diesel engine which packs a punch but manages to return a decent fuel consumption. #hyundai #santafe #hyundaisantafe #suv #familycar #monday #car #travel #adventure #premium #design #korea #city #durban #capetown #jozi #joburg #johannesburg #gauteng

A post shared by The Car People (@khulekani_on_wheels) on May 26, 2019 at 11:43pm PDT

The Santa Fe is priced from R599,900. Whilst the Santa Fe appears to come at a premium compared to its decent bakkie based rivals. One must bear in mind that the Santa Fa has a more refined drive, has more power and high standard features, and is brought in by an importer which contributes to the higher price. If this isn’t convincing for you, the fuel efficiency and a strong warranty offering will probably win the day. Hyundai offers a 5-year/150,000 km Manufacturer’s Warranty and an additional 7-year/200,000 km Manufacturer’s Powertrain Warranty.