Yet to establish an identity, could the Santa Fe be the most profile-raising launch yet for Hyundai?
If Audi is known for quality design, Toyota for solid engineering and Alfa Romeo for flamboyant style, what sets Hyundai apart from the crowd? The Korean firm has yet to establish a true identity, but a new car has just arrived which could help it become a household name in the UK. While some of the latest Santa Fe’s styling isn’t particularly original, the overall effect is very attractive, maintaining the right balance of sophistication and aggression. At 175mm longer and 65mm higher than its predecessor, it now sits between the Toyota RAV4 and Land Rover Discovery. The largest engine offered in the UK is a revised version of the firm’s 2.7-litre V6 petrol unit, tuned to produce 186bhp, but its performance is disappointing. Hyundai expects around 90 per cent of buyers to opt for the new 148bhp 2.2 common-rail diesel CRTD instead. And it’s a peach – flexible, lag-free, responsive and refined. The standard five-speed manual box and £1,000 optional five-speed auto work well with the 335
