Hyundai Santa Fe 2006 test drive - 2009 SUV

Good Santa

Do you know what is 24/7? This is a formula. The only true success formula is twenty -four hours a day seven days a week. Work, work, and work again. It was as a result of its use that a new generation of Hyundai Santa Fe appeared.
 

In fact, 24/7 is the name of the production plan, the essence of which is this: 24 months 7 models. Seven new products in two years such a schedule for the Hyundai output to the leaders of the world auto industry was approved by the company's management in 2004. Today, the bosses can gladly report to each other the plan is fulfilled completely. For the allotted 24 months, completely new Grandeur, Tucson, Entourage, as well as the next generation of Sonata (what was received by NF), Accent, Elantra and Santa Fe were born. The market success of each of these models is fundamentally important for Koreans, but more important than the other success of the Santa Fe crossover, the main weapon of Hyundai in the North American market.
 

However, Koreans also have considerable hopes for the rest of the world, not without reason Santa Fe, who debuted at the beginning of the year at Detroit, appeared at the end of March at Russian Hyundai dealers. And, by the way, the buyers have received an enviable recognition in the queue, and, having ordered a car in a popular configuration today, it will have to wait for it for two to three months.

 
Why is the new Santa Fe so attractive? Perhaps the lack of associations with the old: designers, inspired by the 24 -hour formula and hardened with tireless labor, seemed to create a new face of Hyundai Santa Fe continues the stylistic series begun NF. The Hyundai car is everything easier and easier to recognize in the stream according to the head of the head optics, by whimsical curved body surfaces, in the shape of a radiator grill, which on Santa Fe is already a kind of family shield. Designers should be praised for the works of appearance is pleasant, but still there is more work, work, not inspiration in it.
 

For example, the interior is everything in place, everything is convenient, everything is thought out and filled exactly as the laws of ergonomics and canons of automobile business are ordered, and there seems to be no problems with quality. But something is missing some kind of highlight. Perhaps its role was assigned a plastic imitation of wooden decoration and purple backlight? Indeed, with the onset of Twilight of the Key and the Climate Control monitor, a rather pleasant soft glow acquires a rather pleasant soft glow on the central console. The panel of the instrument with a blue edging is especially noticeable, it looks much more fun (in daylight, a combination of three large dials looks modest). There are no complaints about the convenience of reading the testimony. It is a pity that the on-board computer is offered only for the top complexation, without it, for example, it is difficult to monitor the appetite of the motor (fuel consumption seems to be more serious than 10.4 liters per 100 km).

 
For Santa Fe, a regular air conditioner is provided in standard configuration, and in two richer separate climate control. He organized just a few keys and two rotating temperature selection handles. But the display, which displays information about his work, is more intricate. Although it is matrix, the graphics are clear, and the silhouette of the car and the arrows of the blowing direction depicted on it are very elegant. True, the belonging of this silhouette is uncertain with the Santa Fe profile, it has no much in common.
 

Only a version with the richest equipment has a full -time stereo system, but this is an entire audioocombine here both radio and CDs (including MP3) and cassettes. When this luxury is not provided, dealers offer to complete the car with an emergency head and even a DVD player (attached to the ceiling) on \u200b\u200bthe test car just it was.
 

As practice shows, you quickly get used to the features of the design and stop noticing them, and convenience comes to the forefront, it is quite difficult not to pay attention to the fact that somewhere something is pressing, it will take it, the Santa Fe cuts from such troubles are insured to sit in broad Soft chairs are convenient, the location of the steering wheel, pedals and the checkpoint selector is optimal. A wide platform is provided for the left leg, however, the parking brake pedal is very inappropriate above it. This is a reminder of the American roots of the car. Another such reminder is a huge luggage compartment (969 l); In the American version of Santa Fe, it houses a third row of seats that fold on the floor. In the Russian only two rows, and seven -seater modification is not provided for us in principle. The rear sofa is very spacious, with the possibility of adjusting the back of the back, the legs for the legs in excess, and the transformation of the cabin is surprisingly easily, in one action. Before taking on the folding back, the pillow drops a little, and thus a flat loading surface is obtained. By the way, on the back door there is a detail connecting the two generations of Santa Fe, a large handle under the natural grip on the right side.
 

There is another connecting link of the engine. Under the hood, as before, a well-deserved worker, a 2.7-liter V6. In its latest version, he acquired a system of changed phases of gas distribution and now develops 188 hp. and 284 Nm (before it was 173 hp and 252 nm). In this regard, Russia, as always, was less fortunate than the rest of the world, the Americans, for example, have the opportunity to get a 3.3-liter power unit (233 hp) with a machine, and a progressive diesel engine with a turbine of changed geometry is provided for Europe. , with a volume of 2.2 liters, it produces 153 hp.
 

The Russians are still content with a single motor. It is not bad, but the picture spoils the conservative 4-speed automatic with stretched gear numbers (for example, in 2nd gear, the machine reaches 120 km/h), so acceleration from the place seems phlegmatic. Most likely, on cars with a 5-speed mechanics, the situation is different (such a box is provided only for the cheapest version of Santa Fe). With automatic checkpoint, intensive acceleration is possible only with a completely open throttle and at increased speeds. But not in elevated colors, noise insulation is cool, at idle engine speeds it is not heard at all, and everything that is higher is captured by an ear after passing through the exhaust system with two solid diluted pipes.
 

As for the all -wheel drive transmission, nothing unexpected here Santa Fe has brought. The place of viscous coupling in the latest fashion was taken by electronically controlled, the team for its blocking arrives at the first signs of the front wheel slipping. There is also a 4WD Lock button in the cabin; in the mode it activated, the coupling is forcibly blocked to make light raids on off -road. True, the magic of all -wheel drive will lose strength as soon as the speedometer breaks 40 km/h, from that moment Santa Fe will again become a front -wheel drive car.

 
Which, in fact, is unlikely that anyone will ever ever set up tasks larger than a border stone and more complicated than the summer country and the winter court. Therefore, Santa Fe is made with a passenger accent. This is noticeable, and it is nice. The reactions of a high machine to rotation of the steering wheel are accurate, delighted with the lack of significant delays. And the rolls in corners are also the most passenger. Everything is in order and with a hydraulic wrap, there is a confident zero and an increase in effort with a deviation from it. Just fast work by the steering wheel, he does not like to shut up and forces to apply more strength.

 
The second Santa Fe was erected on a new platform, in which multi -leash is used instead of the rear two -leaf suspension, and this gave a good result. On the road you can not be afraid of even the largest pits, the car swallows them without bothering to chewing. Worse, oddly enough, small irregularities with sharp edges are given, information about them reaches passengers in the form of small shocks and vibrations. But in general, the smoothness of the move is worthy, and, importantly, handling is not sacrificed to it. Koreans go the right road.
 

However, buyers are primarily interested in the level of configuration, the amount of car and the price that remains a serious advantage of Korean cars. Nevertheless, in Hyundai they work on other arguments in their favor. They work according to the only true success formula of 24/7.
 

Hyundai Santa Fe prices and configurations
 

By tradition, the Korean brand Santa Fe crossover is proposed in fixed trim levels. Three options. The first and most affordable GL with mechanics and equipment that includes ABS, EBD, hydraulic power, alarm, central castle, 6 pillows, air conditioning, front and rear fog lights, tissue finishes, heating the front seats, electric windows (automatic mode only in the driver Only on opening), electricrope, 17-inch cast discs, tires 235/65R17. Santa Fe GL will cost $ 36,490. It costs a GLS with an automatic machine, velor salon, leather steering wheel, separate climate control, on-board computer, heating mirrors and other amenities more expensive. Finally, the top version of the Santa Fe, estimated at $ 41,790, additionally has ESP, cruise control, driver's seats, a standard audio system with the control buttons on the steering wheel; Salon leather.
 

Text: Sergey Knowemsky
 
 

 

A source: Motor magazine [June 2006]