Hyundai Santa Fe 2006 test drive - 2009 SUV

A Farewell to Arms

Once in the vague centuries, the hundred thousandth army of the Japanese landed on the banks of Korea. The warriors of the country of morning freshness showed such resistance to the invaders that hardly the fifth of the samurai returned to the islands ...

Hyundai's debut in the crossover market was more than successful. Firstly, the Koreans did not exchange a compact class, in which there were already a lot of strong players, but immediately swung on the segment of medium-sized crossovers. Secondly, Hyundai, by the time of release, Santa Fe has achieved the excellent quality of its cars. Thirdly, a competent pricing policy ensured steady sales. Finally, years of operation showed that Santa Fe is one of the most reliable crossovers in the market, which says a lot. In the disadvantages, one could write down only a peculiar appearance, pushing brutally tuned customers who came to the salon behind the jeep, and perhaps some simplicity of the decoration and materials of the salon. Presenting the new Santa Fe, Hyundai employees sang it as a completely new car in every sense. A new platform, forced engine, style, shape, interior, concept, controllability, price ... with the fact that the price is new, we agreed immediately - few people allows ourselves, releasing a new generation of the model, so lifting the price tag. They usually try to maintain the previous level, well, or raise it not much, at least for the simplest versions. And here: the former Santa Fe began at 27 thousand, and the current one at once with 36 ... if we talk about V6 engines and machine guns, then the jump turned out from $ 31 190 to $ 37,990. Almost eight thousand. The marketers had to be very hard to squeeze out of the designers everything that they would be capable of. And from artists, and from technologists, and from testers. Marketers wink: they say, they succeeded. We can only confirm or refute their optimism.

Only a five -seater version is delivered to Russia and so far only with a gasoline engine. This is strange, because in the same Belarus, diesel engines with a new 5-speed automatic box and three rows of seats in the cabin are already sold. Whether the crossover will reach us in this performance is not known for certain. Nevertheless, we tried to take the most sophisticated version of Santa Fe, which we could only find: with a machine gun, a leather interior, protection of a motor compartment, a hatch and a separate climate. There is such a Hyundai almost 43 thousand dollars! The same is asked for the full SUV Ssangyong Rexton, and Ford Explorer with a 4.0-liter engine will cost only a little more, and Chevrolet Trailblazer is even cheaper. What is going to fight back from competitors Santa Fe? He has an asset of passenger control, comfortable move, dynamics, a cozy salon, a high level of passive and active safety, as well as acceptable cross -country ability. So say product promotion experts. The test revealed this ...

Young dragon

The new Santa Fe was unexpectedly large. Its dimensions grew in all directions, especially the length and wheelbase increased. In addition, despite the smooth contours and squat silhouette, this Hyundai does not seem small, and inside it is completely seen by a native of a much higher class. What can I say if it is wider than the BMW X5! The style, character of Santa Fe became completely different. The ridiculous Pokemon turned into a pretty dragon. At the same time, his narrowed eyes do not scare. The front of the car came out not angry, but rather concentrated, and the miles of stamping, cutting out the hood, emphasize the similarity with the dragon. In addition, they, like the shape of the false film of the radiator, hint at the community of style solutions with some other models of the company, for example, the new Sonata. But with the former Santa Fe, the novelty stylistically does not bind anything, except perhaps the opening handle of the fifth door. The Hyundai Santa Fe style contains solutions that are already introduced on other crossovers and SUV. I have never heard that this detail, like Subaru Tribeca, but this one resembles Volkswagen Touareg. Alas, for modern automotive, this is more than normal.

A salon is also made to match the appearance. In our version, it is three -color with a long narrow insert under the tree. Most decoration elements are very concise, and controls, devices and indicators are intuitive. The central console is slightly turned towards the driver, which makes the front panel look slightly strain, catching the barely noticeable asymmetry. From a driver's point of view, everything is in perfect order. Santa Fe has two rather voluminous boxes, glove and cooled boxing between chairs. The steering column is adjusted by departure and tilt, however, without scope. The chairs have good support, but only in the hips. With a quick change in the direction of movement, you swing like a Chinese blank.

The lumbar pumping does not support the back, but rather the sacrum, so that its value is doubtful. But with a place for the legs, heads and shoulders, everything is in perfect order. And both in front and behind. Since we did not have a third row, I can only say from the words of colleagues from other countries that he was completely childish, and I would not fit there at all. It remains to believe them ... But instead of seats in the trunk, huge burns hidden under the floor were found in the trunk. They are really big, more than I have ever seen. There you can place not only all car junk, but also half the luggage for travel. At least that part that is wet or not very clean. And also at the fifth door of Santa Fe at once two handles for closing - one loop, the other in the form of stamping. Maybe that a weak woman can, with two hands ...

Nothing constantly

Structurally Santa Fe is not too different from its predecessor. Carrying body, completely independent suspension, front -wheel drive with automatic or compulsory connection of the rear axle, electronic anti -wings system. In expensive versions, the ESP exchange rate system is installed and the brake pedal compressor mechanism for emergency braking is installed. Ahead of the car McPherson rack, and behind a complex and heavy multi -link suspension. When lying beds are passing, it is clearly felt that the front end exceeds the obstacle much softer than the back. However, at high speeds of differences in the work of the front and rear suspensions, it is almost not noticeable. But in the turns, on the snake and the rearrangement, the difference is precisely noticeable. We even had a dispute about whether the rolled Santa Fe car or not. The comparative test of the two pilots revealed that to certain speeds, the amplitude of the roll is small, but upon reaching 70-80 km/h, Hyundai begins to roll more noticeable. In general, quick maneuvers at high speeds are not for Santa. He can make them quite safe, but there is no pleasure. In an extremal turn, Santa Fe is trying with all his might to hide the trajectory with the demolition of the front axle. In this situation, ESP helps, but not immediately, allowing the pilot to feel and realize the mistake.

With a solid, measured driving style, Santa Fe is controlled impeccably. The steering is sensitive and accurate, the pedal effort is perfect, the sightseeing is good, and even the feeling of dimensions is present, despite the licked forms. At high speeds, stability is magnificent, there is practically no aerodynamic noise and engine sound, but the tire is heard clearly. But 160-180 km/h on this Hyundai on the highway you can go without straining for a long time.

The engine that is equipped with the new Santa Fe is the good old 2.7 -liter V6, which is placed by almost half of the Hyundai models, but pretty forced and modernized. Now he gives 188 liters. With. Against 172 l. With. the previous version. Additive of 16 liters. With. It was possible to obtain with the help of a variable geometry of the intake manifold, which is amusingly whirling on the discharge of gas, and the mechanism for changing the phases of gas distribution, without which the modern motor is not conceived. It is also interesting that from this generation Santa Fe, the V6 engine is joined with an automatic machine and with mechanics. It used to be available only with automatic transmission. With a machine gun, a crossover is not bad and it can be a smoothly, like a well -fed snake, or it can become fast as a hungry snake. Only now this transformation takes some time - it all depends on what intensity and how long it is to put pressure on the gas ... The transmission has come out somewhat thoughtful, and the manual regime does not save it. At the same time, the automatic transmission style can be called otherwise - say, comfortable. Acceleration is smooth, confident, completely without jerking. The engine pulls very smoothly, demonstrating a noticeable pickup only after 4000 rpm.

What Santa does not like

Santa Fe does not respect off -road. In the standard, it is not protected, and geometric cross -country ability is so -so. On rough terrain, you need to constantly hold your hand on the pulse, and the leg on the pressed gas pedal. To make the anti -wings system work hard, the motor has to be kept in the range of at least 2000 rpm. Otherwise, the wheels will rotate helplessly in the air, and the car roll back, it is worth releasing the brake. The button that blocks the distribution of traction efforts along the axes is good in winter, and in the sand and in the rut from it there is little use. The Santa Fe suspension move is very small, the diagonal hanging occurs instantly, only PBS and the adhesive properties of tires are helped out.

The angle of the congress of this crossover is small, there are more cars more, so that you have to follow the roads not only behind the bottom and thresholds, but also the rear overhang, under which the spare wheel is suspended. With the corner of the entrance, everything is much better. The front bumper, by the way, is made modular. Its lower front can be replaced in case of damage separately.

Our first acquaintance showed that in Hyundai they tried to fame. In almost all parameters, the new Santa Fe can be made perfectly - if, of course, do not forget that we have a crossover. We did not like the hard plastic of the front panel of the salon, sharply increased rolls with quick rearrangements and thoughtful transmission. However, this is so - nit -picking. The plastic looks decent, and there are other cars for a rally style driving. No, that's what we did not like: the price. It is too expensive for Hyundai ... It is clear that the car puts almost all of its direct competitors on the shoulder blades, including the recently presented Toyota Rav4, but if the price, the main weapon of Koreans until recently, was five thousand lower, then the victory would become the same Propagent, as in the battle in those very vague times.

Text: Igor Gubar
 

A source: Magazine 4x4 [July/2006]