Fourth-generation Hyundai Santa Fe (TM)

Hyundai's midsize crossover, the Santa Fe, is now on its fourth-generation and for this generation, it promises to be a better-looking and more functional Santa Fe than ever before and looks like they're feeling a little tense over this full model change.

2019 Hyundai Santa Fe

2019 Hyundai Santa Fe

So, fourth-generation Santa Fe, huh? By the glance of its new shape, you can really tell judging from its Kona-styled nose, side view inspired from the Infiniti QX80, and the rear view copied from the Lexus NX. It's all about the things that are right balanced with the things that are wrong and in the subject of being a car with exquisite tastes, it's somewhat above average overall, but it's more than enough to swoon the crowd more than those not-for-Japan PPVs sold beyond the ASEAN market. Impressive though, but has the interior changed?

2019 Hyundai Santa Fe interior

2019 Hyundai Santa Fe interior

On the inside, it's starting to feel like every other Hyundai of today since the iONIQ but the new Santa Fe offers some nifty features like the instrumental panel styled like the upcoming Honda CR-V, sat-nav with song recognition courtesy of SoundHound, HUD, and smart power liftgate that automatically opens when you lift your foot up. In partial terms of comfort, get this; in the previous Santa Fe, getting through the third row seat is as squishy as becoming a Jill sandwich and when the second row seats are heavily occupied with child seats, Jill sandwich. There you go. In this new model, it's now bigger than the previous model and it has the same creature comforts of that certain seven-seater SUV your big sister used to drove. Yes, there's a third-row seat present and as long as it's not occupied with those heinous child seats, the second-row seats makes up a nice sweet spot but if they're here, off to the third row seats you go but surprisingly, you'll have slightly less chance of becoming, well you get the point, and there's room in the back for your grocery shopping or stuff from the thrift store.

2019 Hyundai Santa Fe

Of course, the dynamics are slightly improved compared to the last one but the engine choices remain the same as the previous model, meaning you're still greeted with either a 2.0L CRDi-VGT, a 2.2L CRDi-VGT, or a 2.0L T-GDi engine with 235PS of power and 36kg-m of torque, all mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox and R-MDPS for questionable but effortless steering. For 4WD models, the Santa Fe comes with HTRAC AWD System that works rather well in either tarmac, gravel, and snow, but awkwardly, power transfers to the front wheels under normal conditions and when Sport mode's engaged, you have a lot of explanation to do. Speaking of safety, the Santa Fe comes with Hyundai's SmartSense suite of safety features as well as Hyundai's first Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist.

If you're interested in the Santa Fe TM, you'd better book one now because the new model starts at 28,150,000 Korean Won and while this is a slight price bump compared to the previous model, looks like everyone's taking interest on the new Santa Fe right now, especially those pesky smugglers. To evaluate, while the Santa Fe's design is a yes and a no from the crowd, the interior space is now roomier enough to avoid the Jill sandwich scenario but with the second-row seats occupied by child seats, kiss your sweet spots goodbye. While the choice of engines sound reasonable for a family crossover, it's the HTRAC that will make you noticed because even if it makes you go anywhere, there's no point of getting away from your driving style that decides the fate of the new Santa Fe. The more you know.

Photo: Hyundai Motor Company