Overview
HYUNDAI is late to the celebration with its first hybrid SUV in Australia, the Santa Fe hybrid electrical automobile (HEV), which arrives in two fashions, Elite and Highlander in AWD solely, priced from $63,000 plus on street prices. It joins varied petrol and diesel Santa Fes in an intensive 2WD and AWD line up.
Group stablemate Kia has provided a selection of three hybrid Sorento giant SUVs since earlier this 12 months in HEV (with 2WD and AWD) and PHEV (plug-in hybrid electrical automobile) with AWD albeit beginning at a pricier $66,750 + ORC for the entry mannequin.
Regardless of sharing a lot beneath the pores and skin, consumers are getting a ‘deal’ with the Hyundai because it prices much less and has AWD over the Kia although the Kia has a seven 12 months guarantee versus the Hyundai’s 5 years.
This would be the final new Santa Fe variant earlier than a totally new era arrives in 2024 that’s primarily based on related ICE structure however assuredly with extra electrically assisted variants accessible.
Inside and outside, the Santa Fe hybrid seems to be almost the identical as different equal fashions save for the flat-faced, solid 19-inch alloys which might be specified for decrease drag and presumably to maintain the hybrid’s higher weight.
Utilizing Hyundai’s ubiquitous 1.6-litre T-GDi Smartstream turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine assisted by a 44.2kW electrical motor, which pulls energy from a 1.49kWh lithium-ion polymer battery, the Santa Fe hybrid delivers a mixed 169kW of energy and 350Nm of torque whereas attaining a claimed mixed gas financial system ranking of 6.0 litres/100km.
Drive to all 4 wheel wheels is thru a revised six-speed computerized as an alternative of the newer eight velocity auto filtering by the model’s vary.
The AWD is Hyundai’s HTRAC system that apportions torque to every axle and wheel on demand in response to enter from sensors. It additionally has a locking perform for more difficult surfaces.
A number of driving modes are provided: Consolation, Sport, Eco and Good. The latter is electronically managed by sensing the driving model and circumstances to optimise traction, consolation, stability, acceleration and gas financial system.
Moreover, the mannequin has a selection of terrain driving modes – Snow, Mud or Sand – which apply particular settings for engine, braking management and torque vectoring.
Information for native dynamic calibration has been collated by Hyundai Australia such that the Namyang facility in South Korea can now perform all needed modifications to swimsuit Australian driving circumstances.
It means the Santa Fe hybrid encompasses a ‘distinctive’ suspension tune developed in Namyang and confirmed regionally throughout the complete spectrum of difficult Australian metropolis, freeway, nation and gravel roads.
“That is our first-ever turbo-petrol Santa Fe and naturally our first hybrid SUV, so it’s fairly an thrilling proposition for us,” stated Hyundai Motor Firm Australia product growth supervisor Tim Rodgers.
“The petrol/electrical powertrain clearly modifications the mass on the entrance, and with the battery within the rear, and all-wheel drive, Santa Fe Hybrid has a selected weight distribution, which in flip known as for a selected chassis tune.’
Each hybrid fashions are outfitted with range-wide commonplace tools together with an intensive SmartSense lively security and driver help tech suite, Apple CarPlay and Android auto smartphone mirroring, wi-fi cellphone charging and LED headlights and DRLs.
Additionally commonplace throughout the vary is a rearview digicam, rear park distance warning, tyre strain monitoring, and air-conditioning retailers for all three rows of seats.
Hybrid variants get leather-based upholstery, sensible key with push-button begin, shift by wire, entrance parking distance warning and secure exit help methods, and computerized dual-zone local weather management.
The Elite has Harman Kardon premium audio, rear occupant alert, powered and heated entrance seats, ‘sensible’ energy tailgate, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, 10.25-inch navigation unit that includes DAB+ digital radio and a rear occupant alert system.
Vary-topping Highlander trim steps up with Nappa leather-based upholstery, driver’s seat place reminiscence, heated and ventilated entrance seats, heated rear outboard seats, a heated steering wheel, and a panoramic glass sunroof.
Further security package consists of parking collision-avoidance assist-reverse system, blind-spot view and encompass view displays, a head-up show and distant sensible parking help.
Moreover the hybrid-specific 19-inch alloy wheels, each have minor styling variations in comparison with petrol and diesel fashions, in addition to the six-seat choice with second-row captain’s seats accessible with Highlander in lieu of seven seats.
Driving Impressions
Within the metallic, Santa Fe Hybrid is enticing to have a look at from all angles; maybe not as masculine and squared-off as its Kia Sorento stablemate however however a very good looker.
The impression continues inside, with giant digital screens and subdued styling to the sprint and fascia enhanced by supple leather-based upholstery with spotlight inserts.
Hyundai supplied an unusually lengthy drive program for the Santa Fe Hybrid, masking nearly 1000km of combined metropolis, nation and motorway driving.
It was a very good illustration of what house owners will undertake and demonstrated the advantages of a hybrid drive system.
Entry is simple by huge and excessive door apertures and the trip top isn’t too excessive.
Each fashions provide comfy seating, with the center captain’s seats within the Highlander optimum for long-distance travelling.
Energy from the petrol-electric driveline isn’t missing and is available with minimal lag due to the electrical traction motor partaking to ship quick response.
The diminutive 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine is audible when full throttle is utilized, remaining so till the appropriate foot is lifted.
A number of drive modes present a selection of car responses from comparatively relaxed by to frenetic. The motive force can amp it up additional by utilising Santa Fe hybrid’s paddle-shifters, though these are generally overridden on the automobile’s discretion.
Cruising is completed in close to silence with minimal noise intrusion from the same old areas of tyres, exterior mirrors and engine.
The Santa Fe Hybrid sits on the street properly by corners taken at velocity with out extreme physique roll, backed up by sturdy braking and grippy tyres.
Nonetheless, over-active driver help know-how tends to intrude when you might not need or count on it, making use of the brakes or steering midway round a nook when swerving to keep away from a pothole or crossing a street marking line with out making use of the symptoms to realize the identical.
Driving on dust roads is punctuated by random software of particular person brakes in live performance with steering intervention if the automobile decides driving parameters are being exceeded.
It may be annoying to say the least because the Santa Fe lurches and props in tune to sensors that detect a contact of slip right here, a little bit of drift there or a giant rut or street defect they don’t like.
This prompts the query as to what info was used to calibrate the automobile… actual world? Hyundai says so.
Nonetheless, on the extraordinarily badly potholed again street from Nowra to Canberra, the Santa Fe proved to be a helpful, quick and secure device simply avoiding many of the unhealthy bits and if unavoidable, absorbing some pretty nasty street irregularities with out flinching.
It has loads of grunt underfoot for speedy overtaking and on the opposite aspect of the coin, delivers a serene, luxurious drive really feel if desired and all the things in between.
The Harman Kardon audio is epic and the beneficiant quantity of luxurious options in each hybrid variants provides considerably to journey consolation.
After zeroing the gas consumption studying at first of the drive, it was fascinating to see the common charge drop however solely to a finest of seven.9L/100km and that was in combined driving. It claws again tenths on lengthy downhill runs however eats them up on the opposite aspect. Maybe a bigger battery and extra highly effective electrical motor would make a worthy enchancment.
Each fashions have been pushed and the pragmatist would go for the lower-cost Elite as differentiation between the 2 is negligible, until you really need these captain’s chairs.
One potential main draw back is that the Santa Fe Hybrid tows a most 1650kg, which is beneficial however falls in need of petrol and diesel variants, to not point out a serious competitor, Toyota’s Kluger Hybrid, at 2000kg.
Typically, these further kilos make all of the distinction.
