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| 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe |
Starting at 31,220,000 Korean Won (around $26,000), the reasonably-priced Santa Fe TM big minor change promises to be the best Santa Fe to date because even though it's basically a facelift, the revised model now sites on the new third-generation vehicle platform first seen on the Kia Sorento MQ4, meaning it's getting better to drive than the old one.
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| 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe |
But first, let's take a look at the new design, and although still a fourth-generation model, this big minor change really made a statement because of its massive front grille that is downright terrifying for a family mover and because the headlamps are positioned above the grille, you'd get the expression of Big Bertha coming to eat you. Not only the Big Bertha look made the big minor change scary to look at but it makes your skin crawl.
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| 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe interior |
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| 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe interior |
The interior's heavily revised on the big minor change and it now mimics like the one you saw on the Palisade, meaning there are now buttons in place of a gear lever, a new 10.25-inch AVN touchscreen, digital instrumental cluster, and this new feature that I'm going to mention it later. Anyway, while most cast doubts about the new interior design, it's still as comfortable and as spacious as the pre-facelifted model and you can have up to seven people on board, as long as no one's ruining the most important thing of the family mover; the sweet spot.
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| 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe |
Like the latest Kia Sorento MQ4, the Santa Fe TM big minor change is offered only with the brand-new Smartstream D2.2 engine which produces 202PS of power and 45kgf-m of torque. Mated to a brand new Smartstream 8-speed wet dual-clutch gearbox, it delivers a combined fuel economy of about 14.2km/L. That's not bad but that's just the start because while on talks about the new platform, the Santa Fe is surprisingly aerodynamic, more quieter, more rigid and better to drive the pre-facelift model.
For HTRAC models, the Santa Fe comes with a brand new Terrain Mode selector as seen on the Palisade. This feature allows the driver to switch through different drive modes as well as taking on Mud, Snow, and Sand, making it a good car to tackle the dirt and more than enough to play elephant at Hannibal's, although unwise to take it cross-country like most wannabe SUVs don't. As for safety, the Santa Fe comes with Hyundai SmartSense suite of driving aids but that's all TMI I can give today.
Although unhappy with the Big Bertha-esque looks, the diesel-only offering, and the tech-laden dashboard unfriendly for speedo boys in the rough, the facelifted Santa Fe is free to stretch itself with its new platform and spacious interior fit for today's families. We may be living in the new normal but the Santa Fe truly fits rather well at this moment in time and as the nameplate celebrated its 20th anniversary this year, this is the big bottom line that makes Santa Fe THE Santa Fe.
Photo: Hyundai Motor Company
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