2024 Hyundai Santa Fe revealed
A global car giant has revealed the new version of one of Australia’s favourite SUVs and it is almost unrecognisable compared to the current model.
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Hyundai has taken the covers off its new Santa Fe, showcasing bold looks never before seen on the brand’s machines.
The big family SUV has ditched the sharp creases and curves of previous examples and replaced them with a square-jawed design reminiscent of Land Rover’s Defender.
It follows a similar trend for other big SUVs pitched at the US market. The recent Nissan Pathfinder, new Toyota Prado and Ford Bronco all have similar boxy styling.
It has dominant H-shaped headlights with a light bar across the front, a multi-layered front grille, bold wheel arches holding 21-inch multi-spoke wheels, roof rails and big lettered “Santa Fe” badging on the rear.
Despite its tough-guy look it won’t have the hardware to head off road, instead keeping the on-road bias of the current Santa Fe.
It is expected to arrive in Australia in the first half of next year and will be available with hybrid power. There will also be petrol and diesel options, but no plug-in hybrid version.
The Santa Fe is unlikely to be electric, with the coming Ioniq 7 filling that role in the brand’s global line-up.
It is expected to have seven seats, too.
Interior images show the Santa Fe has a more upmarket fitout than previous with lots of digital screens, wood veneer and leather surfaces.
Again there are strong similarities with Land Rover cabins.
The boxy shape coupled with a longer wheelbase – the distance between front and rear wheels – will liberate more interior space according to Hyundai.
“With its longer wheelbase, roomy interior and terrace-like tailgate space, the new Santa Fe leans into its SUV strengths to offer more versatility than ever before as well as a premium customer experience,” SangYup Lee, Head of Hyundai’s global design centre.
The top-hinged tailgate opens to a massive cargo area with a giant opening to make it easier to load big objects.
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