Hyundai Santa Fe 2006 test drive - 2009 SUV

Consumer basket

It is unlikely that the new Santa Fe is designed to become a fashion legislator in Europe or America. A thoroughly changed car, rather, the collective image of the large alternate of the SUV segment. In clear relief lines of the body, the look easily finds a lot of analogies. But the family features ...
Hyundai Santa Fe
The five -seven -seven -sector of the SUV segment was first represented by the public in Detroit in January 2006 and is already sold in Russia.
Engines: gasoline 2.7 liters (189 hp), a turbodiesel 2.2 liters (150 hp), the latter is not supplied to Russia.
Gearboxes: 5-speed mechanical, 4-speed machine with manual switching.
Complete: GL, GLS.
Price: $ 35 99040 990.
Test car: 2.7 l, automatic, GLS equipment,
$ 40 990.
Of course, you can cling to the bend of the wing, the proprietary cladding of the radiator with a large emblem, a characteristic neckline in the front bumper. To see a familiar large handle on the back door. Perhaps, we will finish everything else in the design, it is said on a car Esperanto.
The company does not hide its intention to present to the public a large, spacious and practical car. And from these positions, Hyundai Santa Fe is very attractive. Full -wheel drive with an electronic coupling automatically connecting the rear axle, new gasoline and diesel engines. A spacious, well -equipped salon, and in separate versions a third row of seats appeared. Agree, the consumer already has something to seduce. And the creators, meanwhile, press the comfort of a multi -link rear suspension, note improved handling, brakes, active and passive safety. And now the novelty picks glasses right before our eyes.
Moderate route
At the presentation, journalists from Europe stand in line for diesel engines. It’s easier for us, such motors will not take such motors; By the way, a seven -seater car will appear with us a little later. Therefore, no matter how impressive the line of brand new cars is, the choice is obvious: the five -seater Hyundai Santa Fe with a gasoline six.
In a thoughtful and balanced interior, you will not find original stylistic dashes. Perhaps this should be a modern average car? Spacious, leather-sooty, to the maximum equipped with the benefits of civilization. In general, he sat down and went, or rather, gently rolled in the right direction under a muffled muttering of a non -poor stereo system, under the unobtrusive care of a separate climate installation. And he went out and forgot.
It doesn’t matter that the look, without lingering for a long time, slides through the smooth contours of a solid front panel. As old acquaintances, he perceives a combination of instruments, toggle switches, levers. Rather, Hyundai Santa Fe must be evaluated differently: from the point of view of practicality. He looked into the luggage compartment and admired the grandeur of the opened space. He sat down in the back seat and felt the very extra centimeters for which the car was redrawn. Better yet, slow down somewhere next to the predecessor’s fellow, and he suddenly seems small, modest, even unpretentious. Here it is evolution!
Submitting to the same consumer ideology, on the go the beginner looks very balanced. Great smoothness, good acoustic comfort, calm and at the same time confident reactions. Do something against the driver’s expectations? God forbid. He pressed the accelerator at the box smoothly chose the desired gear, the engine changed the tonality a bit, and the car flew, as if without touching the road. You look, so imperceptibly, slowly the speedometer arrow exceeded all the permitted marks. I took the pedal, and again enjoy the idyll of measured movement in space.
But racing ambitions are definitely alien to this car. It is worth truly spurring almost two hundred horses, something is changing inexorably. The machine becomes thoughtful, the capabilities of the motor seem inexpressive. A newcomer seems to gain weight, reacting with a laziness to the movements of the steering wheel in quick turns. No, nothing is an extraordinary happens, the Hyundai Santa Fe is still good to hold on to the road. But at the same time it makes it clear time to reduce the pace, such a driving style is not suitable.
But on a bumpy gravel path, the car is again on top. Pits, potholes almost silently disappear under the wheels, causing only small swaying the body.
The family will be satisfied
I will not shout my soul acquaintance with the novelty did not cause a storm of emotions. Yes, Hyunde Santa Fe became noticeably larger, more spacious, spacious. In comparison with the predecessor, outwardly and inside it looks much more thorough. But the highlight is not enough. Without it, it is just a universal car for family holidays, long -distance travel or corporate service.
The first cars in the GL and GLS trim levels appeared in the interior of official dealers. Prices are defined: from $ 35 990 to 40 990.

Hyundai Santa Fe is not enough bright, memorable solutions, but at least the practicality and spaciousness of more than enough. All this is backed up by the most solid driving abilities and comfort.
+ Spacious salon and trunk, good smoothness, brakes, balanced handling.
- a low -seat pillow in relation to the floor, the suspension is harsh in small irregularities.
 
 

 



Sergey Voskresensky
 

A source: The magazine "Driving"