Hyundai Santa Fe 2009-2013 4x4 AT

Santa Fe 2009-2013 4x4 AT Review

Hyundai Santa Fe 4x4 AT is mid-size crossover SUV. Its sleek design and lavish interiors spell luxury with every inch. Currently the third generation of Hyundai Santa Fe, the car has been out since February of 2012. The third generation styling has been dubbed “Fluidic structure: storms edge”. It is slightly over-priced at Rs. 25.43 lakh with intention of targeting the richer players. The vehicle delivers perfectly on counts of power and efficiency. Its balanced handling and dynamics provide outstanding ride quality and safety to its passengers. This SUV is thoroughly equipped to withstand diverse collision scenarios. This 7-seater, diesel powered vehicle is for enthusiasts who like to reach tough and harsh places. It also has an enormous boot space which makes it perfect for long trips.

Exteriors

Hyundai Santa Fe 4x4 AT comes with lots of frills, even on the outside. The rear spoiler and alloy wheels add to the glamour of the vehicle. The headlights can be adjusted according to driver requirements. Both the headlights, at the front and rear are capable of providing concentrated beams of light, illuminating the ground even in fog or low visibility conditions. The front and rear windows have been given special attention. Even the rear windscreen gets a rain-sensing wiper, washers and defogger. It is spacious ride. Coming to its dimension, its length is 4660mm, width is 1890mm, height is 1760mm, wheelbase is 2700mm and ground clearance is 200mm. The ground clearance is optimum for driving on Indian roads. Hyundai Santa Fe 4x4 AT comes in five different colours: sleek silver, phantom black, carbon grey, crystal white and ice silver. The exterior colours have been well picked, as Indians mostly pick white and black colours. The colour variance, therefore, will attract the consumers well.

Interiors

Hyundai Santa Fe 4x4 AT has plush interiors. The air-conditioner and heater along with automatic climatic control ensure that the passengers are comfortable in all kinds of weather . Another bonus to the interiors is the air quality check which keeps the air clean inside the car. Cup holders have been provided within the armrests of the front and rear seat. The vehicle has 5 doors and a seating capacity of 7 people. A handy tachometer has been added to the dashboard; it tells the driver current output of the engine in revolution per minute. The vehicle is also equipped with a thermometer which readily tells the outside temperature. A digital clock is also present on the dashboard. As usual these days, a cigarette lighter has also been added.  The seats are made of premium leather and are quite comfortable. The driving wheel has also been covered in leather and is comfortable in terms of the grip.

Engine and performance

Hyundai Santa Fe 4x4 AT runs on a 2.2-litre, 194.3bhp, 16V CRDi diesel engine . The engine can effectively displace 2199cc of fuel in one complete cycle and is BS IV emission compliant. The 4-cylinder engine produces 194.3bhp at 3800 rpm and a peak torque of 436.4Nm at 1800-2500 rpm. The valves in the cylinders have been configured by the DOHC technique with an offset crankshaft that delivers improved power and fuel efficiency. The engine is endowed with a 6-speed manual transmission. The engine provides a mileage of 11.72 kmpl on city roads and of 14.6 kmpl on the highway. The power and torque generated by the car can readily accelerate it from 0-100 kmph in 11.2 seconds and can help it hit a top speed of 182kmph. Attached fuel tank of 70 litres can take this vehicle more than 830 km before emptying itself.

Braking and handling

Boasting the drive type as AWD, the Hyundai Santa Fe 4x4 AT runs really smoothly even on the harshest roads. It is even more comfortable for the driver thanks to the power steering.  The vehicle is well balanced for rough driving. For improved traction a McPherson strut has been utilised as part of the front suspension setup, while the rear suspension is based on a multi-link type setup. The vehicle has disc brakes for better stopping power . The front wheels have got ventilated disc brakes while the rear wheels have solid discs. The 18-inch alloy wheels add to the glamour of Hyundai Santa Fe 4x4 AT. The tyres are tubeless types and their size is 235/60 R18 .

Safety features

Hyundai Motor has made safety the top priority when designing the Santa Fe. Hyundai Santa Fe 4x4 AT comes with an Anti-lock Braking System that prevents the brakes from locking up; it is a very useful feature when driving at high speeds. The central locking is another great feature. Child safety locks are also present on all the doors . Seat belts have been provided for all the seats and the vehicle has been fitted with a seatbelt warning system as well. The airbags have been provided for the driver and front passenger along with side airbags. These are coupled with efficient crash sensors and spring up in case of damage to the vehicle. The vehicle comes pre-installed with an anti-theft alarm system as well. One of the best safety features is the day and night rear view mirror. During the daytime, the mirror works normally but at night it dims the glare of oncoming vehicles from the rear. Hyundai Santa Fe 4x4 AT has Xenon headlamps that provide more light than regular headlamps. The fuel tank has been mounted centrally. The vehicle comes with an engine check warning system as well; it reminds the driver whenever the engine needs repair or maintenance.

Comfort features

The leather seats, fitted in the vehicle, are quite comfortable even on long journeys. Hyundai Santa Fe 4x4 AT comes with individual AC vents, even for the rear seats. These are extremely comfortable for the passengers. The rear seats have been provided with head rests and individual reading lights. The vehicle is even equipped with power outlets for charging accessories like mobiles, iPods, etc. The parking sensors are dead useful when parking. The cruise control technology is useful as well. The presence of power windows and central locking further enhances the usability of the SUV. A cup holder is present at the front and rear arm rests. Both the wing mirrors can be adjusted electronically. The music system is quite amazing; it features speakers both in front and at the rear of the vehicle .

Pros 

Hyundai Santa Fe 4x4 AT is an amazing vehicle and a power house for the enthusiasts. It has the capacity of reaching extreme locations with ease.

Cons  

The fuel efficiency could have been better.