Hyundai Santa Fe Test drive since 2012 SUV

Embrace immense

Santa Fe (Santa Fe), a city in the south-west of the United States. Administrative Center for the state of New Mexico. Founded in 1609.
Hyunde Santa Fe was presented in Detroit in 2000.
It is produced with four -cylinder gasoline engines 2.0 liters, 100 kW/136 hp.; 2.4 l, 110 kW/150 hp.; V6 2.7 liters, 125 kW/170 hp, as well as a turbodiesel 2 liters, 82 kW/112 hp, in all -wheel drive and front -wheel drive versions.
There are all -wheel drive versions with 2.4 and 2.7 liters, the latter only with automatic transmission are delivered to Russia.
The price range in Russia is from $ 27,990 to 31,690. The cost of a test car is 31,690 dollars.

Do you know where New Mexico is located? It is easy to guess that near the border with Mexico. Hyunde Santa Fe was designed specifically for the US market. Muscular appearance, powerful V-shaped six, automatic, leather finish everything is in American taste. Her Hyunde Santa Fe did not become a bestseller, but he did not go without attention from all the SUVs, it was he who was the first to boast of a six under the hood.
Even from geography, now ours: do you know where Solvychegodsk is located? No, not at all where Solikamsk is very far from Soligalich. This is in the very south of the Arkhangelsk region, on the banks of the River of Vychegda. What is this town famous with the population of one metropolitan quarter?
The glory of local salt barners remained in the distant past. From a recent story, I recall, perhaps, only Joseph Stalin, who was sent here, was driven by the objectionable even further, however, quite about sad. Have you heard about the Kozma Prutkov humor festival in Solvychegodsk? We vouch, no. True, the holiday happens in July, and on the calendar of February. Well, nothing, because this character is fictitious and known much more than his litter paternal paternalists. So do not forget to refer to Kozma Prutkov

Where is the beginning of that end
which the beginning ends? The starting point of any of our travels lies in the editorial office in Seliverstovaya Lane, which is only a couple of hundred meters from the beginning of the road to Yaroslavl. That's why the way to the north is more convenient for us. They hoped to leave in the middle of the day, but lingered a little, and in the evening the path from the center to the outskirts of the capital took more than two hours. When the illuminated highways and traffic jams on them were left behind, and the speedometer's arrow finally took up the vertical position, the clock had already eight thought of early night. Instead of Vologda, a closer Yaroslavl was chosen.

Eat wishes will always be full
We did not order the hotel, but we recorded the addresses just in case. The first, second, third answer is one place. Only in the anniversary they immediately offered to fill out the profiles. Three thousand per night with each? No, such comfort is not affordable. However, an unofficial service is ready: for 100 rubles we are promised the only (!) Room at the departmental hotel, as well as a secret card with its location. Alas, we lost rally-raid on the night Yaroslavl. When Hyunde Santa Fe drove up to the indicated structure, there were already two minutes as Ford Skorpio winners was noted, and his crew calmly filled the registration forms. Bad luck! Having failed two more attempts, they decided to go to Vologda.

It happens that zeal overcomes and reason
Nearly two hundred kilometers flew quietly: rare oncoming cars with an almost complete absence of passing. The road frozen to whiteness is perfectly visible in the light of headlights. For greater importance, add to the nearby light of the fog light now snowy curbs are visible to the full width. The high beam is not bad, but such large headlights could be better. However, at the seventh hour of work, there are more claims to the seat. Even the driver of small heights get their feet and back. A colleague of more impressive complexion is forced to move to the stop, and although the pillow is lowered as much as possible, the eyes are almost at the level of the upper edge of the glass. In general, those whose height exceeds 185 cm, especially in combination with completeness, in the appearance of Hyunde Santa Fe will be inconvenient.
Vologda, we are looking for a hotel-2. The result of forty minutes with the fourth attempt without a card. The price is 210 rubles, amenities in the corridor, but luxurious parking. Sleep! Already the fourth hour
The morning meets with twenty -degree frost, ice water in the tap and an invigorating atmosphere in the room. Cold, however! Hyunde comes to life on the second attempt at the first motor starts and stalls. No, it is better than a short -leaf than transfusion with a good battery
Inspection of the car brings into discernment. It was necessary to get so dirty. At the gas station, Slavneft is washed for a long time, inexpensive and casually. On a wet car, stains cannot be seen, and when I dried up, I had to recall the skills of an extreme sink from a bucket in the cold. This is how to ride a bicycle is not forgotten.
Honestly, they expected more from local attractions. The photographer always interferes something: the sun is not bad, the sun is not shining there. And urban architecture does not want to pose in any way
Again, the road, another hour and turn to the Totma. Santa Claus smiles from a large advertising shield: he invites to visit the great Ustyug, to which 377 km. Frost grows stronger, darkens. After dinner, we arrange a small adventure for ourselves: we turn off the main route to Nikolsk from him to the great Ustyug, another road leads. The ice under the wheels finally wins the asphalt, the land hinges the edges of the canvas must be more closely. To road signs too. Local traffic inspectors told us about their problems, not forgetting to write out a decree on an administrative offense. The 72 km/h accelerated in the village! It’s guilty, I do not argue.
The autonomy of the car depends not only on the size of the gas tank and the economy of the engine. It was time to stop by another pressing necessity. The built -in thermometer Santa Fe shows already -25s, above the head is a magnificent starry sky, which cannot be seen in the capital lit by lights. What a beauty! And the truth is just a few meters from us a pointer with the name of the village: Beauty. Not so easy to find her
Again, the road, ice under the wheels and silence for kilometers around. From Nikolsk to Veliky Ustyug 160 km, which fly in an hour and a half even on the bare ice of Santa Fe is stable, like a steam locomotive on rails. But you should not abuse it. Behind the facet of the rail regime, a sharp and difficult to control drift, so that when entering the turn it is better to play it safe. On the descent in front of the bridge, a gazelle went into the ditch, a peasant in a sheepskin coat squats around it. He refuses our help, although, to be honest, we can’t stretch the loaded gazelle on the ice. Drive to the village? No, I was going to wait for the timber truck. Dressed warmly, in felt boots, from the locals this one will not freeze. The bridge over Sukhona, the post of traffic police, on the right is a great Ustyug, on the left is the residence of Santa Claus. Again, there is only snow, a forest and stars around. But the mobile phone no longer shows an empty civilization screen close. A few minutes and comes to life of the FM reception of the receiver. There are only fifty kilometers to Kotlas. Another half an hour, and ahead of the orange chain of lanterns: a bridge over the Northern Dvina. And an hour later, a well -deserved dream in the warm issue of the Koryazhemsky Perechegda.

Referring to any enterprise
thoughts if you will definitely succeed. Wow, and here in the morning all thirty! For Muscovites, the frost is rare. I recall the heat -loving Hyunde accent, which flatly refused to start below 25C. Our Santa Fe is covered with hoarfrost, like a Christmas ball. Start key! At first, it is reluctant, but then the starter scrolls the engine faster: the first flashes, a pause to rest, confident startup stalled, the motor is still a motor and briskly mutters at increased speeds. Get out of the seat as soon as possible! Leather chairs frostbitten overnight are felt even through warm linen. It is better to turn on the heating of the seats and wait on the street in a couple of minutes you can take places.
We thresh in the place for another five minutes and touch the nearby Solvychegodsk. The pointer promises the crossing, and we were absolutely sure that we would meet a frozen ice road on the right bank. Imagine our surprise at the sight of an imperishable deductible and the current ferry! True, the latter, it seems, decided to take a break. And we went to a pontoon crossing to Koryazhma, this is the nearest path to the other side.
The air in the cabin warmed up, but from the frostbitten front panel it blows with ice cold. It takes several hours of non-construction driving so that Santa Fe becomes truly warm with frost.

No one will hug the immense
Behind 2811 km and four days of the journey. 328 liters of AI-92 gasoline have passed through the neck of the tank on average 11.7 l/100 km.
Is Hyunde Santa Fe able to change the approach to choosing a route? We did not leave the shutdown roads. The meter thickness of the snow virgin lands will stop any wheel car, and the rut from the Urals or tractor-coat soaks the alternate of any brand unprepared to extreme. But an increased suspension energy intensity of the suspension compared to cars, when you suddenly fall on wavy asphalt or ice influx. Entrances-sites for pontoons and ferries for an imported car is a serious problem. For the whole trip, we have never struck a belly. And one more thing: all -wheel drive and studded tires allow you to defeat any, even the most icy rise.
New Mexico, say? Hhende Santa Fa successfully showed himself in the homeland of Santa Claus, and even a little north. So do not pay attention to the southern name, they will not freeze.

This is not the Moscow Ring Road on the bridge over the North Dvina.
Moskovslavl Vologdawell Ustyug Kotlaskorizhma Solvychegodskkotlas Kostromamoskva 2811 km
First day 495 km
Second day 786 km
Third day 488 km
Fourth day 1042 km
Vologda is almost a postcard.
Cold and darkness beauty?
Steam working at -20C? Yes, this is possible.
The most expensive AI-92 gasoline is 12 rubles in Kotlas.
Towards and along the way there are only timber trucks.
The interior distinguishes coziness rather than scope.
The possibilities of the trunk are very great.
Devices are simple and clear.

SUMMARY
+ Comfortable and energy -intensive suspension, low noise level, spacious interior, large transformable trunk, good launch in the cold.
- Inconvenient seats with a small range of adjustment, sharpness in critical modes, moderate accelerated dynamics.

Solvychegodsk
City in the Kotlas district of the Arkhangelsk region. Located on the right bank of the Vychegda River (North Dvina tributary), 830 km southeast of Arkhangelsk.
The population is 3.9 thousand people.
Known since the XIV century as a settlement by a salt lake.
At the beginning of the 16th century, the industrialists Stroganov founded near Usolsk the first salt barnits.
In the XVIXVII centuries. The trade, craft and cultural city in Northern Russia.
In the XVIIIXVIII centuries. Solvychegodsk is one of the prominent centers of Russian art.
Since the beginning of the XVIII century, in connection with the closure of salt barners and the movement of trade routes, the economic life of Solvychegodsk fell into decay.
At the end of the XIX beginning of the 20th centuries. Place of political link.
 
 
Anatoly Fomin. Photo: Konstantin Yakubov

A source: The magazine "Driving"