Hyundai announced the addition of the new Santa Fe XRT trim in the U.S. market, which features a rugged and bolder appearance as compared to the standard model. It gets variant-exclusive exterior styling details that make it look like it is shying away from the nameplate’s usual premium appearance.
A more rugged-looking finish
Upfront, the Hyundai Santa Fe XRT comes with a new face thanks to its new black lower bumper, dark silver skid plates, and matte-black grille. This new front fascia replaces the plain-looking silver trim found on the standard model.
The sides are added with XRT-exclusive black door side moldings, XRT-exclusive side steps, XRT-exclusive 18-inch dark alloy wheels, and black mirror covers. Meanwhile, the rear-end of the XRT bears a new black lower bumper fascia molding and dark silver rear skid plates.
New XRT features are added all around the exterior
But the upgrades are not only for cosmetics that make it look more like an off-roader. Hyundai also included black roof side rails and cross rails up top so drivers can haul more cargo on the go. These complement the blacked-out features found on the rest of the XRT’s body.
Under the hood, the new trim will be using the same engine as the Santa Fe SEL, which is a 2.5-liter Smartstream GDI/MPI 4-cylinder gasoline engine that makes 191 hp and 181 Nm of torque. It sends power to either the front wheels or all wheels through an 8-speed automatic transmission with Shiftronic, a system that allows drivers to override the system and shift to manual gear function.
A new impression to the Santa Fe
The Hyundai Santa Fe XRT is now out in the U.S. market. Hyundai Philippines, on the other hand, currently shows no plan in adding the XRT to the local Santa Fe model. It could be a great option for those Filipino car buyers who are looking for a rugged-looking midsize crossover.
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