Hyundai Santa Fe 2000 test drive - 2004 SUV

Plus minus jeep

The main thing is that the suit is sitting. The autopilot tried on the fashionable news of the Toyota Rav4 and Hyundai Santa Fe season.
       
In the automotive market of Russia, in the niche of all-wheel drive Sport-Utility, a kind of hierarchy has already developed-there are recognized leaders and obvious outsiders. And then the Korean company Hyundai is actively breaking through into this niche with its first its own development in this class - Santa Fe.
Various patterns. If we consider the appearance of competitors from the point of view of whom there is more than a jeep, then Santa Fe wins. The muscles of the front wings with a convex flat nose between them, a rounded but aggressive front bumper, which is, as it were, one whole with a plastic frame of the decorative grate of the radiator, frying the waist and pumped hips of the rear wings - well, directly a fighter. The elegant, with elegant faces of the door panels, the appearance of RAV4 makes a milder and cozy impression, almost family minivan.
The appearance of the appearance, and using the RAV4 reserve suspended on the back door is more convenient than climbing it under the bottom on Santa Fe. In Russian freezes, at least. But the rear door of Santa Fe is solved in a more practical version: it, like traditional station wagons, opens in a vertical plane and, moreover, only the rear window can be opened separately. Accordingly, loading and unloading are more convenient than with a swing, from left to right, the door at RAV4.
 
Various confection. The interior of Santa Fe is an original alloy of SUV and Sportsup styles. A large central console with convex ribs at the edges, massive doors lining, with the edges of the torpedo, in which ventilation deflectors, are very similar to the salon, are very similar to the hockey side around the driver. Which simultaneously creates comfort and a kind of fighting mood. The atmosphere inside RAV4 is completely different. The interior is decorated and richer. Moreover, some design elements, such as a sports steering wheel, a dashboard with an illuminator-tachometer in the very center, the framing of the central part of the torpedo and tunnel under the front console with material for the titanium, it would seem, are also designed to create a sports atmosphere. But a cozy, comfortable, with a friendly location of all the buttons and streams, the RAV4 interior, especially in comparison with the block -like Santa Fe trim, is more likely to set up a complacent way than to the competition.
Santa Fe trunk is longer and more voluminous than that of RAV4. Under the trunk rug in both machines, a plastic container with several sections is found. What caused the joyful assumptions of colleagues about the convenience of these guts for pickling barbecue right on the go. The fact that the rear seats in such machines should be folding is already the norm. The advantage of RAV4 is that the rear seats move in the longitudinal direction, and if necessary, they are easily seized completely.
 
 
Similar accessories. Santa Fe is equipped with a complete electric packet, with the exception of the drives of adjustment of seats and steering wheel. ABS, four airbags, air conditioning, a microfilter, cruise control, leather seats with front heating, heating of external mirrors, an electrochromatic intra-saline-all this is included in a standard configuration of a 6-cylinder engine and automatic checkpoint of the STEPTronic type. Radio training with six speakers has been carried out, but the audio system itself is offered as an additional option. No less richly equipped with RAV4. There is no cruise control, but there is a standard radio integrated into the front panel with a multifunctional liquid crystal display, where information from the radio is displayed, air temperature overboard and the indications of the simplest tripletter.
 
The choice of style. Unlike RAV4, which is offered with only one type of engine, Santa Fe is equipped with a 2.7-liter completely aluminum six and a 2.4-liter 150-horsepower four-cylinder engine, and cars will soon appear with a 2-liter turbodiesel. But while we have 2.7 V6 against the in-line 2-liter four.
The difference in power and traction characteristics is felt, but not as much as it would be possible to assume. Of course, the dynamics of the Korean is better, but RAV4, if it loses, is not with a crushing score. Santa Fe is still heavier than its brother, and the checkpoint of it is a little more lazy, especially if you try to quickly accelerate in the movement, but the presence of a manual control regime allows you to make it react faster. In imitation of mechanics, you can promote the engine to maximum revolutions in each gear, and in this case, switching occurs automatically. At manual mode, Santa Fe slows down well with the engine, and when stopped, the box automatically switches to the first gear. Which, by the way, is not always found even on more expensive analogues of European manufacturers.
 
Both cars are all -wheel drive, but the principle of operation is different. RAV4 is equipped with a constant all -wheel drive with an equal distribution of torque through VISKOWT along the axes. And Santa Fe in normal road conditions is, in fact, a front -wheel drive. In the case of slipping the leaders, controlled by the electronics of Wytock, it transfers part of the torque to the rear bridge, but not more than 40 percent. Hence the noticeable difference in car behavior. This is especially manifested with provocative discharge into skidding on a slippery surface. Santa Fe in the first seconds seems to be amenable, but management is restored very quickly. RAV4 resists to the last, and we must try very hard to force it, for example, to write out a snake with lateral slides. At the same time, control over the car is not lost for a second, and the reactions on the steering wheel to the last remain very clear.
 
Jummet and not click. The suspension of a heavier Santa Fe is softer, but within reasonable limits. The controllability has not yet been sacrificed, although the Korean responds to the sharp movements of the steering wheel with a slightly greater buildup than RAV4. The Japanese is tougher and a little more acute in reactions to the steering wheel. In combination with a hard suspension, this provides a driver with a more distinct connection with the road. But this property turns into discomfort on our, as if underfielded, spring roads. Santa Fe filters all these small dirty tricks much better, and the noise level in the cabin is significantly lower. As for the exchange stability and predictability of reactions to the actions of the driver as a whole, the Korean newcomer does not cause significant criticism. Santa Fe’s landing is more convenient, thorough, but in RAV4, visibility is better - the massive middle stand of Santa Fe worsens the review when traveling from the side roads.
Naturally, the price of a new product, when it only appears on the market, is significantly higher - the fee for exclusive. We assume that when Hyundai begins more large -scale supplies of this model, the price will decrease. From $ 28 thousand for the simplest version with mechanics up to $ 34 thousand for the top -end, like the one that visited our test. And then, in combination, Santa Fe becomes a very attractive car.
Text Andrey Timofeev, photo Alexey Ilyin
       
Cars are provided by Europulus, (095) 937-5724. Insurance is carried out by Ingosstrakh, (095) 956-5555.
       
Alexey Khornochkov, Director of the Toyota Sales Department Center Silver Bor
Toyota dealers in Moscow see in the new compact SUV from Huyndai a serious competitor RAV4. In an interview with our correspondent, Alexei Zorochkov, director of the Toyota Silver Bor sales department, greatly appreciated the technical and consumer qualities of Santa Fe. He also noted that the success of this machine will also be determined by the price, which is a traditional trump card of Korean automakers. Due to its appearance and size, Santa Fe, in his opinion, will attract more male buyers. Meanwhile, noted Mr. Hories, the quality of the assembly and materials, in comparison with the RAV4, clearly leave much to be desired. But in general, Santa Fe creates the impression of a well -thought -out car that has been worked well on. And the ergonomics of the salon, a powerful motor, worthy of running qualities and a rich Santa Fe set, with greater confidence, say that this car can seriously complicate the RAV4 position in Russia, pulling a considerable part of the potential customers of Toyota.
       
Sergey Perezhogin, Director of the Motor Show Trade Motors, an official Hyundai dealer
He considers Toyota Rav4 the most serious competitor of the novelty from his company. Original design, high quality, reliability, an extensive service network - all this is in the Japanese asset. In addition, Rav4 took strong positions on the Russian market and is well known to the consumer. However, with all its advantages, Mr. Perezhogin believes, Rav4 is more belonging to the category of the so-called female cars, that is, the circle of its buyers is limited. It is not in favor of RAV4 that it is also written that it is equipped with just one engine option, and our person for such money still prefers something more powerful. Also in the RAV4 there is no version with an automatic checkpoint with manual mode - Testronics. Of course, the bias in relation to Korean cars playing in the hands of RAV4 so far among Russians. At the same time, the director, the high total cost of operation (service prices, materials and spare parts) on Toyota services is a serious argument in favor of competitors. Hyundai dealers evaluate their chances of success very optimistic.

 

Source: "Autopilot"