Between prepping new models and expanding their current lineup with hot vehicles like the Ioniq 5 N, Hyundai has taken the time to give the Santa Fe a well-deserved upgrade. We're talking about the fifth generation that was unveiled earlier this week, which is a "radical" departure from its predecessor, according to the Korean auto marque.
Were you not fans of the brand's old mid-size crossover? Well, then, you'll probably like the new one more because it has ditched the catfish-like face for an entirely new styling. Therefore, telling them apart from each other will be very easy, as besides the fresh looks, the new Santa Fe has also adopted far boxier proportions to the point where it has reminded some of the Ford Flex – or a van as far as the rear three-quarter design is concerned. As some of my colleagues would say, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, so you be the judge if it's prettier or uglier than the old one.
Since we've inevitably started talking about the exterior design of the all-new Hyundai Santa Fe, we might as well mention the elephant in the room: the H-shaped headlights. Neatly blending with the upper grille, which features a horizontal light bar in the middle, they're one of the most defining styling traits of the car. Further down, it has a pair of vents in the bumper and a rectangular central intake. Compared to the new one, the old Santa Fe sports double headlamps, a very big grille, and softer proportions. While the front overhang has remained about the same size as before, the rear one is longer, translating to more space in the trunk.
Rather surprisingly, Hyundai hasn't opted for flush-mounted door handles. The roof rails are more prominent, the wheel arches are fatter and respect the angular looks, and there is a significant amount of cladding on the lower sections of the body. Also, the rear three-quarter windows are far more generous, providing more natural light to the cabin and improving visibility. Decorated by the corporate logo and Santa Fe lettering, the tailgate is shaped like a van. Further down, it has new taillights with the same H-styling, and the license plate holder was moved to the bumper. Since tailpipes are sexy, unless we're talking about those tiny ones pointing towards the asphalt, Hyundai chose to make them (or rather it) visible.
Photo: Hyundai
Far airier than the old one, the cabin of the 2024 Santa Fe follows the same boxy proportions as the exterior. The double-layer dashboard is entirely new, and it mixes the dual-screen layout with the infotainment system in the middle with the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster behind the steering wheel. The 2023 Santa Fe has a more traditional layout, with the gauges separated from the tablet-like infotainment system. The floating-style center console is still present, though with a cleaner look and more storage spaces on the 2024. The upper section is defined by the HVAC controls and the buttons for the Drive Terrain selector and others, and further down, it has space for the dual wireless charging pad that will keep your smartphones charged on the go.
Hyundai has yet to release the cargo volume and other juicy details about the new Santa Fe but claims that due to the new proportions and the fully foldable seats on the second and third rows, it offers "class-leading" space. It'll also be a vehicle suitable for relaxing away from the noise of the urban jungle, with the automaker suggesting that it will be available with all sorts of accessories, including a roof-mounted tent. Mind you, you should confuse the 2024 Santa Fe with a proper off-roader, despite trying to somewhat identify itself as a Land Rover Defender (ahem, boxy looks), because it's still a crossover and not a body-on-frame truck. Thus, it will venture a bit into the unknown if given chunkier rubber and maybe the occasional lift kit, but other than that, it won't pose a threat to any Nissan Patrol or Toyota Land Cruiser on arduous tracks.
The old Santa Fe is still listed on the company's US website, with prices starting at $28,750 for the most affordable variant. This one uses a 191-horsepower (194 ps/142 kW) 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 181 lb-ft (245 Nm) of torque. The turbo variant brings 281 hp (285 ps/210 kW) and 311 lb-ft (422 Nm) to the party and kicks off at $40,600 for the Limited trim level. For the 2023 Tucson Hybrid, interested parties are looking at a minimum of $36,210 before destination, and the PHEV model has an MSRP of $42,410. It's a bit too early to speak about the US model, as it's likely a few months away from arriving in the New World, but when it does, it should be a bit pricier than its predecessor. The engine family will be detailed in due course, but we expect it to get a 2.5-liter turbo, as per the badge on the tailgate, and at least one electrified powertrain, with Europe probably getting a hybrid and a plug-in hybrid.
The official unveiling of the all-new Hyundai Santa Fe will be hosted on the automaker's YouTube channel next month, in August, and that's when they're expected to release the full details about it, including those surrounding the drivetrains, cargo capacity, footprint, tech, comfort, and safety features. So far, the only details about it revolve around the exterior and interior looks, and from certain angles, we think it's more appealing than the old one. However, it's hard to ignore the van-like rear three-quarter design and the fact that, in certain configurations, it's anything but good-looking in real-life photos. Therefore, we'd wait a bit before deciding whether it is worth the upgrade over its predecessor, which is still a very good vehicle, or if the older one would get our seal of approval. But you don't have to, so feel free to spam our comments section with your thoughts on the new 2024 Santa Fe and tell us if you'd buy one or not.
After a series of unfortunate events put an end to Cristian's dream of entering a custom built & tuned old-school Dacia into a rally competition, he moved on to drive press cars and write for a living. He's worked for several automotive online journals and now he's back at autoevolution after his first tour in the mid-2000s. Full profile
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