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 petrolOutput: 138kW/241NmTransmission: Six-speed automaticFuel: 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-dieselOutput: 147kW/440NmTransmission: Eight-speed automaticFuel: 7.5L/100km (ADR Combined), 8.9L/100km (as tested)CO2: 217g/km (ADR Combined)Safety rating: TBC
