Third-generation Hyundai Santa Fe DM

In June 2000, there was the Hyundai Santa Fe and we saw it and we saw it was good. Then on November 2005, the Hyundai Santa Fe reached its second incarnation and this was the first Santa Fe to arrived in the Philippines. And now, in April 2012, the third incarnation of Hyundai's Santa Fe (현대 싼타페) has arrived and some say this is going to be the best of the best...

2013 Hyundai Santa Fe

If you look closely to the exterior details of the new Hyundai Santa Fe, you'll notice that the front view is likely similar to the 4th generation Honda CR-V while the back looks more like the Hyundai Tucson iX. Despite that, the new look of the Santa Fe The Contrast (as the advertisers called it for the 3rd generation model) incorporates the STORM EDGE design concept, a step further to Hyundai's FLUIDIC SCULPTURE design DNA. With such design, that is really meant to be STRONG OUTSIDE.

2013 Hyundai Santa Fe interior

If the new Santa Fe DM is STRONG OUTSIDE, it is SOFT INSIDE because the interior is much more premium than what you might expect to be. The aesthetics can't even be measured because it was well trimmed and much more preferable than its direct rivals such as the Kia Sorento R and the Chevrolet Captiva. This can accommodate up to seven passengers but to have the kids gain access to the third row seats, the 2nd row seats can be adjusted horizontally or folded for access but suddenly, the legroom for the third row seats just wasn't enough. Sorry Hyundai but you have to think better than that....

Other interior features you might find on the new Santa Fe may include 4.2-inch TFT-LCD color Super Vision cluster, Wide Panorama roof, Hi-Pass room mirror if you want to get your Hi-Pass in a hurry when approaching on a toll gate, climate control, and the new ACTUNE Premium Sound for some very moderate sound quality. Depending on the variant you might get an HDD navigation system or an audio system for something something. However, for the first time ever, the new Santa Fe comes with Korea's first BLUELINK telematics system.

What is BlueLink?

With Hyundai's BlueLink telematics system, you can navigate, connect and discover with the push of a button. This innovative feature sends and receives messages to keep you well connected at all times. Access BlueLink through a smartphone to find your points of interests, learn more about mechanical issues on your Santa Fe, call for help, and many others. Visit the BlueLink site at http://bluelink.hyundai.com/

2013 Hyundai Santa Fe

The new 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe offers an all-diesel lineup, which the Philippines will have a hard time getting these because both are Euro V (or soon Euro VI) compliant. Sorry but we can't get those, yet. Anyway, the first was the e-VGT R 2.2 engine that produces 200PS of power and 44.5kg-m of torque. Then, the e-VGT R 2.0 engine produces about 184PS of power and 41kg-m of torque.

For fuel economy, a new Santa Fe equipped with the e-VGT R 2.0 engine will provide 14.4km/L of fuel economy while the 4WD option will provide 13.0km/L. On the one with the e-VGT R 2.2 engine, this looks tricky because this model has a choice of either a 6-speed automatic or a 6-speed manual transmission, whatever floats your boat. A Santa Fe with a e-VGT R 2.2 engine and 6AT will provide about 13.8km/L while the one with the 6AT and 4WD would lead this one with 12.4km/L of fuel economy. Now, for the one with R 2.2 diesel and 6MT, this will get up to 14.8km/L while the 4WD version will get up to 14.0km/L. Should be up to getting one of these...

This is getting interesting because the new Santa Fe has a feature derived from the latest Hyundai i30, which is called Flex Steer system that allows the driver to choose from three driving modes; Comfort, Normal, and Sport. The Comfort mode provides easy driving on normal roads, Normal mode for balance, and Sport mode to provide quicker handling on the corners of the earth. Notable features for the new Santa Fe includes Auto Cruise Control, SPAS (Smart Parking Assist System) that allows the car to park all by itself hands-free, Active ECO assist, Parking Guide System, Electronic Parking Brake, Lane Departure Warning System, Tire Pressure Monitoring System, and 7 airbags.

Available colors are: Creamy White, Sleek Silver, Titanium Silver, Mystic Beige, Beach sand, Arabian Mocha, Ocean View, Phantom Black.

My comment:




The contrast of the new, third-generation Santa Fe says it all; STRONG OUTSIDE, SOFT INSIDE. The STORM EDGE design concept really provides a stronger exterior design that gives the Fluidic design DNA one step ahead of the time while the interior is all about being premium for the average Korean driver. Because the new Santa Fe featured an all-diesel lineup, it's hard to say that the new Santa Fe DOESN'T WORK IN THE PHILIPPINES BECAUSE WE'RE A EURO 2 COMPLIANT COUNTRY. Sorry guys and don't you even think of smuggling this one because if cops caught you driving the 2013 Santa Fe in the Philippines, I;m afraid that they'll gonna ask you to step out and have it confiscated because you smuggled it without permission.

Those idiots...

Photo: Hyundai Motor Company