Test Drive Hyundai Santa Fe since 2012 SUV

Plus minus jeep

The main thing is that the suit is sitting. The autopilot tried out fashionable new items of the Toyota Rav4 and Hyundai Santa Fe season.
       
In the automotive market of Russia, in a niche of all-wheel drive Sport-Utility, a peculiar hierarchy has already developed - there are recognized leaders and obvious outsiders. And this niche is actively breaking through the Korean company Hyundai with its first own development in this class - Santa Fe.
Different patterns. If we consider the appearance of competitors from the point of view in whom more jeep, I wins Santa Fe. The muscles of the front wings with a convex flat nose between them, rounded, but an aggressive front bumper, which makes one piece with a plastic frame of the decorative grid of the radiator, torturing the waist and pumped hips of the rear wings - well, right fighters. Elegant, with elegant faces of door panels The RAV4 appearance produces a softer and cozy impression, almost a family minivan.
The appearance of the appearance, and to use the RAV4-hased door to the back door more convenient than climbing it under the bottom on Santa Fe. In Russian hlybians, at least. But the rear door itself at Santa Fe is solved in a more practical version: it, like traditional station wagon, opens in a vertical plane and, moreover, you can separately open the rear window. Accordingly, the loading-unloading is more convenient than when swing, from left to right, the door of RAV4.
 
Various confection. The interior of Santa Fe is an original alloy from the SUV styles and a sports accuma. A large central console with convex ribs on the edges, a massive door casing, with the edges of the torpedo, in which ventilation deflectors are located, are, in which ventilation deflectors are located, - all this together looks like a hockey side around the driver. Which simultaneously creates comfort, and a kind of fighter mood. The atmosphere inside the RAV4 is completely different. The interior is decorated elegant 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 the tunnel under the front console material under Titan, it would seem also called upon to create a sports atmosphere. But cozy, comfortable, with a friendly location of all buttons and handles Interior of the RAV4, especially in comparison with the Santa Fe body trim, is rather tunes on a complacent way than on the contest.
Santa Fe trunk is longer and more volume than RAV4. A plastic container with several sections is found under the trunk rug in both machines. What caused joyful assumptions of colleagues about the convenience of these things for marinating kebabs right on the go. The fact that the rear seats in such machines must be folding, has become the norm. The advantage of the RAV4 is that the rear seats are moved in the longitudinal direction, and if necessary, it is easily covered at all.
 
 
Similar accessories. Santa Fe is equipped with a full electric car, with the exception of drives for adjusting the seats and steering. Hydraulifier, ABS, four airbags, air conditioning with microfilter, cruise control, leather heated seats, heated, heating external mirrors, electrochromatic intra-alone mirror - All this is a standard version of the version with a 6-cylinder engine and automatic PPP of Steptronic type. Radio preparation with six speakers was carried out, but the audio system itself is proposed as an additional option. No less richly equipped with RAV4. There is no cruise control, but there is an integrated regular tape recorder with a multifunctional liquid crystal display, where information from the radio, air temperature overboard and the appearance of the simplest trip computer is displayed.
 
Selection of style. Unlike RAV4, which is offered only with one type of engine, Santa Fe is equipped with both a 2.7-liter fully aluminum six, and a 2.4-liter 150-strong four-cylinder engine, and soon machines and with a 2-liter turbodiesel will appear. But while we have 2.7 V6 against a row 2-liter four.
The difference in power and traction characteristics is felt, but not so much as it would be assumed. Of course, the speaker of the Korean is better, but RAV4 if loses, then not with a crushing account. Santa Fe is still heavier than its fellow, and the checkpoint is a little more lazy, especially if you try to quickly accelerate in motion, but the presence of a manual control mode allows you to make it react quickly. In imitation of mechanics, you can spin the motor to maximum revolutions on each transmission, and in this case the switching occurs automatically. On manual mode, Santa Fe is well hampered by the engine, and when the box is stopped automatically switches to the first transmission. What, by the way, does not always meet 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 full-wheel drive with an equal distribution of torque through the Viscounts on the axes. And Santa Fe in normal road conditions is, in fact, the front-wheel drive. In the case of slipping the leading, controlled by electronics of the Vussofta transmits a portion of the torque to the rear axle, but not more than 40 percent. From here a noticeable difference in the behavior of cars. This is especially manifested when provocatively discharged into skid on slippery surface. Santa Fe in the first seconds seems to be amenable to, but management is restored very quickly. RAV4 resists to the last, and it is necessary to try to make it, for example, write a snake with side slides. At the same time, control over the car is not lost for a second, but the reactions on the steering wheel to the last remain very clear.
 
Summer does not hurt. The suspension of heavier Santa Fe is softer, but within reasonable limits. Handling has not been sacrificed to the comfort, although Korean responds to sharp movements of the steering wheel with a slightly greater body of the body than RAV4. The Japanese is tougher and a bit sharp in the reactions on the steering wheel. In combination with a rigid suspension, this provides a driver more distinct link with an expensive. But this property is wrapped in discomfort on our, as if attached to shelling, spring roads. Santa Fe All these smallquarters filters much better, and noise level in the cabin is significantly lower. As for the course stability and predictability of the reactions to the actions of the driver as a whole, the Korean beginner does not cause substantial criticism. The landing behind the wheel of Santa Fe is more convenient, it's more convenient, but RAV4 is better visibility - a massive middle Santa Fe rack worsens an overview when departure from side roads.
Naturally, the price of a novelty, when it only appears on the market, is significantly higher - fee for exclusive. We assume that when Hyundai begins larger delivery of this model, the price will decline. From $ 28 thousand for the simplest version with mechanics to $ 34 thousand for the top, like the one that visited our test. And then for the aggregate Santa Fe becomes a very attractive car.
Text Andrei Timofeev, photo Alexey Ilyin
       
Cars are provided by Europlus, (095) 937-5724. Insurance is carried out by Ingosstrakh, (095) 956-5555.
       
Alexey Skorchkov, Director of the Toyota Department of Toyota Center Silver Bor
Toyota dealers in Moscow are seen in the new compact SUV from Huyndai serious competitor RAV4. In a conversation with our correspondent Alexey Okorokkov, director of the Toyota Department of Toyota Center Silver Bor, very highly appreciated the technical and consumer qualities of Santa Fe. He also noted that the success of this car will also be determined by the price that is the traditional goat of Korean automakers. Thanks to its appearance and sizes, Santa Fe, in his opinion, will attract more male buyers. Meanwhile, Mr. Skorchkov, the quality of assembly and materials, in comparison with RAV4, are clearly left to desire the best. But in general, Santa Fe creates the impression of a well-thought-out car, which worked well. And the Ergonomics of the cabin, a powerful motor, decent running quality and a rich package of Santa Fe, make it possible to say with a greater share of confidence that this car can seriously complicate the RAV4 positions in Russia, drawing on a considerable part of the potential buyers of Toyota.
       
Sergey Sergey, director of car dealership Trade Motors, official dealer Hyundai
He considers Toyota Rav4 the most serious competitor of new items from his company. Original design, high quality, reliability, branched service network - all this in the asset of the Japanese. In addition, RAV4 took the robust position on the Russian market and is well known to the consumer. However, with all its advantages, Mr. Nezogogol believes, RAV4 more refers to the category of so-called female cars, that is, the circle of its buyers is limited. It is not in favor of RAV4 that it is equipped with only one engine option, and our person for such money still prefers something more powerful. Also in RAV4 there is no version with automatic gearbox with manual mode - tiptronic. Of course, there is still bias among Russians in relation to Korean cars to the RAV4 hand. At the same time, the director notes, the high total cost of operation (prices for service, materials and spare parts) on Toyota services - a serious argument in favor of competitors. Hyundai 'dealers are very optimistic about their chances of success.

 

A source: "Autopilot"