Hyundai Santa Fe is vast, modern SUV that has fancy cabin, but you’ll have to pay extra if you want to take it off-road
OH blimey, another car nudging £50k.
But in a world of ever-increasing motor prices, the Hyundai Santa Fe actually looks pretty good value.
It’s big outside and vast inside.
Seven adult-sized people will fit.
And they can take a decent sports holdall or aircraft trolley each.
Start folding seats, or stick on a roof rack, and the capacity grows hugely.
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Or use a tow bar and it’ll pull up to two and a quarter tonnes.
But it’s not just about utility.
It’s ultra-modern on the outside, and pretty fancy in the cabin.
The furniture is chic and modern.
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The materials feel expensive.
It’s full of convenient touches and big storage spaces.
There’s even a little box that uses radiation to sanitise your phone or wallet.
An acceptable sort of money laundering.
The whole cabin is abundant in charge points, vents, lights and cupholders.
The centre seats slide and recline, so you can share the space.
So, a good deal for the passengers and luggage.
The driver doesn’t come off badly either.
The screens and controls are high-tech but easy to use.
Important controls have actual buttons, not just screen menus.
I tested the standard powertrain, a hybrid.
(You can pay extra for a plug-in hybrid if you can charge at home, or need to cut your company car tax.)
The engine is a 1.6-litre petrol turbo, with an electric motor for extra shove when you accelerate.
That motor recoups energy when you coast or brake then uses it later, which is how hybrids save fuel.
But the Santa Fe drives like a regular automatic.
You won’t be put off by strange noises or oddball handovers between the two power sources.
It’s not exactly quick.
But do you really need rocketship acceleration in your family bus?
Cornering is accurate and pleasant enough too.
It cruises majestically down the motorway.
In town, that boxy styling means you have a good idea where the corners are, and parking cameras help too.
Actually the only place it isn’t as good as you imagine is out in the wilderness.
It might look like a tank but doesn’t have four-wheel drive unless you pay £2k extra.
It’s basically a road-biased crossover not a hardcore off-roader.
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Actually, for most people, the extra engineering for off-road work wouldn’t be money well spent.
And the Santa Fe is careful not to waste any of that.
Key facts:
HYUNDAI SANTA FE
Price: £49,000
Engine: 1.6-litre petrol hybrid
Power: 235hp
0-62mph: 9.5 secs
Top speed: 118mph
Economy: ???
Out: Spring