Next-gen 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe enters PH market with three variants

Hyundai Motor Philippines, Inc. (HMPH) has launched the next-gen 2024 Santa Fe crossover SUV for the local market. It comes in three different variants, there’s the Calligraphy AWD as the top-spec trim, the mid-spec GLS AWD, and the entry-level GLS 2WD. 

2024 Hyundai Santa Fe

Of note, this is the Philippine-spec fifth-generation Santa Fe which was initially unveiled in South Korea on August 2023. It gets a bold new exterior design, an improved gasoline powertrain, and loads of amenities. 

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe replaces the old fifth-gen model which ran on diesel. The new one is still classed as a mid-sized crossover, and it can seat up to seven occupants. 

What can buyers expect from this all-new version of the Hyundai Santa Fe? Let’s find out. 

Exterior

From all angles, the next-gen 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe is a very striking-looking crossover SUV. It assumes a boxy but modern body that oozes road presence.

The all-new Santa Fe flaunts a boxy but modern exterior design

Up front, the vehicle gets a pair of distinct H-shaped LED daytime running lamps which are linked together with an LED light bar that bisects a slim upper grille. The lower sections get additional geometric designs with more vents, while the top of the front end is capped by a hefty-looking hood. 

Over to the side, the vehicle’s assertive boxy silhouette is enhanced by a set of angular wheel arches. This goes along with black-colored pillars and a set of 21-inch or 20-inch alloy wheels, depending on the variant. 

The rear then continues the “H” motif on its taillights. These interestingly enough, are positioned quite low on the tailgate slightly above the clean-looking rear bumper. 

2024 Santa Fe from the rear

Standard exterior equipment present on the Santa Fe includes a power-tilting sunroof, a power tailgate, an LED-lighted rear spoiler, roof rails, rain-sensing wipers, and power-folding side mirrors. 

In terms of size, the Santa Fe GSL variants are 4,830mm long, 1,900mm wide, and 1,770mm in height. The Calligraphy is as long and as wide as the GLS, but it is slightly taller at 1,780mm. All trims have a wheelbase length of 2,815mm and a ground clearance of 177mm. 

Interior

Step inside the all-new Santa Fe and you’ll be greeted by a premium cabin with space for up to seven occupants. 

Starting with the front cabin, this all-new model is fitted with a well-arranged dashboard that’s dominated by two wide digital displays. Spread all around are physical controls for the vehicle’s amenities and features, while a chunky center console sits on the space between the driver and the front passenger. 

A peek inside the Santa Fe's second row 

Available driving features on this ride include a push-to-start button, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, an electronic parking brake with auto hold, automatic climate control, a drive mode selector, an electrochromic rearview mirror, an LED overhead console lamp, as well as a heads-up display (for the Calligraphy variant). 

As standard, the seats of this model are wrapped in leather. On the top-spec Calligraphy, the driver’s seat gets a heating and cooling function. On all trims, the second row gets 60:40 split-folding functionality, and sliding adjustment. The standard third-row seats meanwhile, can be folded down with a 50:50 split. 

This crossover offers lots of interior space

Other interior bits present in the Santa Fe are a total of 12 cupholders, four bottle holders, a center armrest (front cabin), two front and four rear USB ports, and rear window curtains. 

Tech & Safety

Handling the on-board entertainment needs of the Santa Fe is a 12.3-inch touchscreen display. This screen features Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth connectivity, as well as voice recognition functionality. For all trims, this screen is linked to a six-piece speaker system. 

This all-new crossover model features a 12.3-inch central touchscreen display

The aforementioned central display is seamlessly linked to a 12.3-inch TFT LCD instrument cluster. 

As mentioned, the Santa Fe gets loads of USB ports, but powering up one’s smartphone is done easily thanks to a wireless charging pad. On the Calligraphy variant, this feature can accommodate two smartphones. 

Handling safety aboard the Santa Fe includes multiple airbags, anti-lock braking, stability control, hill-start assist, tire pressure monitoring, and plenty of other standard safety features. 

The digital driver's display is seamlessly linked to the central display

Those are also reinforced with a wide array of standard advanced driver-assist systems (ADAS). Notable among these are adaptive cruise control, forward collision avoidance, reverse parking avoidance, a 360-degree monitor, blind-spot monitoring, lane keep assist, and many others. 

Engine

Propelling the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe is the 2.5-liter inline-4 Smartstream gasoline engine. On the GLS trims, this engine is naturally aspirated and it can churn out 191 horsepower and 246 Nm of torque. On the top-spec Calligraphy trim, this engine is turbocharged, and it can push out 277 horsepower and 422 Nm of torque. 

The top-spec trim uses a 2.5-liter turbocharged Smartstream gasoline engine

The GLS versions both use an eight-speed automatic transmission. Plus, there’s an all-wheel-drive variant and a front-wheel-drive variant. The top-spec Calligraphy trim meanwhile, exclusively comes with all-wheel-drive, and it uses an eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox. 

For suspensions, the Santa Fe uses a McPherson strut for the front and a multi-link suspension for the rear. Braking is handled by disc brakes for all four wheels. On the Calligraphy, the said brakes are 18 inches and 16 inches in diameter for the front and rear respectively. The GLS gets smaller 17-inch front brakes and 16-inch rear brakes. 

Price

As of its launch, the entry-level Santa Fe GLS 2WD AT is priced at Php 2,410,000. The GLS AWD AT meanwhile, retails at Php 2,540,000. Last but not least, the top-spec Calligraphy AWD DCT is priced at Php 3,100,000. The all-new 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe comes with a 5-year or 200,000-km warranty (whichever comes first).

Meanwhile, Hyundai Philippines said that the all-new Santa Fe equipped with a hybrid powertrain will be introduced by the second half of 2024.

Next-gen Santa Fe from the side

For more car news and automotive industry updates, keep it here on Philkotse.