New Hyundai Santa Fe review, test drive

With the new Santa Fe, Hyundai will attempt to lift brand perception and dethrone the current segment king, the Toyota Fortuner.

Published on Oct 01, 2013 03:59:00 PM

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Hyundais have never been known for exemplary ride and handling, and sadly, the Santa Fe is no exception. Though it’s safe to say that this SUV is dynamically the most sorted car Hyundai has produced, it still isn’t quite close enough to the peerless standards of European cars. Though the steering is light and doesn’t call for too much effort, it feels listless and weights up in a very inconsistent way. The ride on the UK-spec car that we drove was soft and quite comfortable on most surfaces, but the flipside is a fair amount of body roll and some sloppiness through corners.

However, Indian customers won’t be too fussed if the Santa Fe doesn’t deliver class-leading dynamics. That’s never been a priority for Indian SUV owners. What they want is looks that stop traffic, a cavernous interior, loads of equipment and an effortless driving experience. The Santa Fe delivers in all these areas.

But will it deliver on price? With the rupee going sharply south, it’s not clear if Hyundai will manage to achieve its price target. But the Santa Fe still has what it takes to dethrone the basic Fortuner and become the new king of the class. And there’s a steely determination within Hyundai to do just that.