Hyundai Santa Fe 4WD

2001 September: The Hyundai Santa Fe 4x4 is to be used as a course clearing car for the Telstra Rally Australia in November.

2000 November: The Hyundai Santa Fe four wheel drive. This one is a pre-production 4-cylinder, here to do car shows, and it differs from those currently in the ship for sale in Australia - they each have roof rails and a rear luggage cover as standard.

Hyundai Australia says that the factory has been surprised by demand from dealers world wide for the new four wheel drive; the USA wanted to order 50,000 but capacity currently stands at 40,000 - which is being increased.

Recently released in Korea and soon for sale in Australia, the Santa Fe could be a car in the right place at the right time. The Honda CR-V has just become the best selling four wheel drive in Australia as yet more car buyers switch to 4WD while being wary of the big 'cruiser and the like, particularly given the recent jump in fuel prices. The Santa Fe is slightly bigger than its obvious competitors, the engine range straddles them and the pricing is competitive at 30K-34K (). The Australian distributor even anticipates picking up some sales from the 4x2 family station wagon brigade, trading in Commodores and Falcons, and it sounds possible.

The car was styled in California, the most contentious feature being its nose, which looks better when the grille surround and bumper are close to the body colour.

The windscreen is quite steeply raked which put it close to the occupants if the seats are well forward, but there is a solution - slide the seats back.

Two engines are offered - a 2351cc 4-cylinder (106 at 5500r, 200 at 4000r) and a 2656cc V6 (132 at 6000r, 247 at 4000r). The 4-cylinder model has a 5-speed manual transmission. The V6 gets a 4-speed automatic which can be operated manually, tiptronic style.

Engine and transmission are transversely mounted. A full-time four wheel drive system (without low-ratio) is fitted: What is logically the "centre" differential is located beside the front axle differential. The gearbox drives the centre diff' whose output shafts drive the front axle diff' and a bevel gear taking drive to the rear. The torque split is 60:40, front:rear, which matches the Santa Fe's weight distribution. A viscous coupling linked to the centre diff' can send all of the torque fore or aft in case of a loss of traction at one end. (Steyr had a hand in the 4WD system.)

The Santa Fe's size not only makes for good interior room and load space but also allows the spare wheel to be stored underneath the car: There is no heavy spare wheel hanging on the rear door and that allows a lifting door to be fitted. This is an advantage over the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 and the like. It has to be a big consideration with so many four wheel drives now being sold as family cars which deliver the kids to school and carry the shopping.

Another neat trick is the opening rear window within the rear door. There is a release catch just above the number plate and the window has small gas struts. This allows small items to be placed in the rear of the car without opening the main door. The only query is how good will the dust sealing be after a few years?

There are two levels of trim: GL (4-cyl or V6) and GLS (V6). Air conditioning, CD player, power windows, central locking and an engine immobiliser are standard across the range. A driver's airbag is standard on all models, a passenger airbag and ABS brakes being standard on the GLS, optional on the GL.

There is good room in the front and rear seats; you can have 6-footers front and back with adequate leg room. The back seat can take three and it has three head-rests, although only the outer passengers get lap-sash seat belts. Shoulder room is obviously not as generous as in the big 4WD's and it is squeezy with three adults in the back.

One can anticipate that the Santa Fe will fall somewhere between a Subaru Forester and a Mitsubishi Pajero in offroad ability. It should pip the CR-V and Freelander, and maybe the RAV4. The full-time four wheel drive system is good but the lack of low range will be felt in the hills. The 207mm minimum ground clearance does not sound too bad but it extends right across the car rather than being an isolated low spot. The 225/70R16 tyres have a nominal diameter of 28.4" and will have a hard time in the ruts of 7.50x16s (31").
- © L. A11ison, 11/2000

Footnote: With the low Australian dollar, Hyundai (au) says that it will be "looking at its pricing" in early 2001.

Front Suspension

Santa Fe station wagon 2000, manufacturer's data: 5-seats, 4-doors, driver airbag (GLS: +ABS, +passenger airbag) loa: 4500mm, width: 1845mm, height: 1730mm approach: 28°, departure: 26°, turning radius: 5.7m (kerb) weight: 1662kg - 1778kg (unladen), towing: 544kg (unbraked) 4-cyl 2351cc, petrol, 4-cyls, mpfi, 4-valves/cyl, dohc bore: 86.5mm, stroke: 100mm, c.r.: 10.1:1 V6 2656cc, petrol, V6, mpfi, 4-valves/cyl, dohc bore: 86.7mm, stroke: 75mm, c.r.: 10.0:1 transmission: 5m/ 4a tiptronic (4-cyl - manual, V6 - auto'), full-time four wheel drive, three diff's, viscous coupling on "centre" diff' suspension: MacPherson strut/ multi-link, brakes: GL disc/drum, GLS disc/disc ABS tyres: 225/70R16, fuel-tank: 65L fuel consumption: 4-cyl 6.6 - 11.6L/100km, V6 7.6 - 11.0L/100km claimed on sale (au) V6 late 2000, 4-cyl early 2001 prices: 29,990 4-cyl GL, 33,990 V6 GL, 36,990 V6 GLS ( 10/2000) rivals Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Land Rover Freelander, Toyota RAV4 (LWB)

Rear Suspension

Go to the pre-release and Hyundai pages