The 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe has been upgraded to fit the active lifestyle of families and offers enhanced standard of comfort and convenience equipment.
It has already scooped a number of international awards for being family car of the year.
And it remains one of the fastest selling vehicles from Carpenters Motors, the dealers of Hyundai in Fiji.
This week we decided to test drive the 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe, the seven-seater SUV which was the top of the range in GLS model.
It is available in the Fijian market in either 2.2 litre diesel or 2.4 litre petrol.
The engines use six-speed automatic transmission which has been carried over from the previous model.
But those wanting a bit more hand exercise, can switch to using triptonic as well.
Features
The 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe comes with an audio set comprising of AM/FM radio system, single CD player, AUX and USB connection.
And then of course there is the Bluetooth which seems to now be a standard feature in all new vehicles these days.
The audio control is available on the steering wheel as well as dialing out is possible using the steering wheel.
A sharper and more sophisticated supervision cluster, with its 4.2” colour TFT LCD, makes it easy to view a wide range of driving and vehicle status information and completes the futuristic interior design of the Santa Fe.
The 12-way driver’s seat can be optimised in eight different positions on top of which the lumbar support can also be adjustable in four different ways to provide greater driving comfort.
With all the superb features, the 2015 Santa Fe could not be left behind in smart key and engine start/stop button.
The smart key is easy to use to lock and unlock doors while the engine can be started conveniently at the touch of the engine start button.
Not only this, but you can get into your vehicle, start it, drive, reach your destination, get out and lock your vehicle without even touching your key. Surely one of the best feature.
The door can be locked using the button on the door handle on the driver side. But your key will need to be on you – in your pocket or handbag would be fine.
The vehicle comes in fabric or leather seats and is available in either as a 5-seater or a 7-seater.
As we approach the hot season (our summer so to speak) – this next feature will surely interest those who travel a lot.
The glove box has a cooling area which is large enough to store and refrigerate drinks. So you don’t have to keep stopping over to buy something cold to drink on a long drive.
Safety features
Nowadays everyone is concerned about the safety features before buying any vehicle.
The 2015 Santa Fe will not let you down as it comes with dual front airbags (one on driver and one on passenger side).
In addition, there are six side and curtain airbags placing great emphasis on safety.
The SUV has rear parking camera which shows on the rear-vision mirror. This offers safety especially when reversing and/or parking.
The vehicle also has down-hill brake control which is a system that automatically controls Santa Fe’s speed on steep declines to control braking.
It is one of Santa Fe’s features that ensures stable driving under a variety of road conditions.
Weather can be a factor which restricts visibility at times. The 2015 Santa Fe has built-in heat coils in the outside mirrors which improve visibility even in bad weather.
The electric parking brake is automatically activated when the vehicle stops, preventing it from rolling as well as sliding when restarting on a hill.
Interior
The 2015 Santa Fe has a spacious interior with a lot of legroom space. There is a sense of comfort and luxury not only in the front but also the back so the entire family can enjoy the ride.
There is generous storage space which makes it possible to load large voluminous items. A cargo compartment screen helps make the interior look tidy.
We test drove the leather seat version and indeed the interior looked really amazing.
Now, it’s not necessary that if the driver prefers cold AC settings then the passenger also prefers this.
So for maximum comfort, there are two separate AC setting options – one for the driver and one for the passenger.
Exterior
Almost forgot to mention – the panorama sunroof.
So those who love a bit extra style, the 2015 Santa Fe comes with a glass panoramic sunroof.
This can either be opened to get a feel of fresh air or be able to look out through the glass by sliding the cover.
Either way this adds to the style of the vehicle.
The drive
The Santa Fe provides a smooth ride without much noise vibrations.
Given our sometimes bumpy road, the vehicle rides well over bumpy and uneven road and the noise levels transmitted inside are minimal.
Technical side
Now onto the more technical side which interests a lot of the male.
As mentioned earlier, the Santa Fe is available in two versions. It comes in either 2.2 litre diesel or 2.4 litre petrol and comes in 6-speed automatic transmission with triptonic feature.
Verdict
Overall, the 2015 Santa Fe is a great choice for those looking to buy a family-friendly, feature-packed, luxurious and extremely safe SUV.
After our test drive, we know it surely does give value for money.
Feedback: rachnal@fijisun.com.fj