2006 Santa Fe

[The General]

Next generation Santa Fe.

What do you think?

http://www.thecarconnection.com/images/gallery/8748_image.jpg

A little to Japanese... maybe?


Link: http://www.thecarconnection.com/index.asp?article=7857&sid=178&n=158

Merci Stone Cold

[woohoo!]

Looks like a cross between a Honda Odyssey and a Cadillac SRX... I can't recognize Hyundai's corporate "face"... but this is just a mock-up, so we'll see

[The General]

That's what I mean. What ever happened to the Waterfall grilles that they are so famous for.

[Laspalmas]

Well, at least it's a clean modern look without the weird dent in the door the old one had. I think they will be dropping the 4cyl option, leaving that to the entry-level model of the Tucson, and offering the 2.7 V6 and the new 3.3 V6. They may also offer both Traction and Stability control like the Tucson.
It seems every new model they produce is increasing in quality and giving the japanese serious competition, which can only be good, causing the japanese not to rest on their laurels and forcing them to give us more value for our hard earned dollars. Maybe the industry may start offering better warranties, to match these guys too.

[The General]

I pray that you are correct. It would be awesome for us consumers to get better products because of the stronger competition from the Koreans.

[Laspalmas]

Can you believe what Hyundai is doing? First, their decision to not include the side/curtain airbags on Candian models was bothering me..but now they decide to drop their 7yr/120,000 powertrain warranty for 5yr/100,000 across the board!
I know it's still a better warranty than everybody but Kia and Mitsubishi, but that was one of the things that set them apart and a big reason I purchased from them.
This is not the time for them to pull a move like this, especially while they are desperately trying to establish a reputation for quality and equality with the best on the market. It will scare some people away and make them buy Kia or Mits instead.
The only solace for me is that any vehicles that were purchased before the upcoming change will still have the 7yr/120k warranty...
Bad move, Hyundai!

[The General]

Makes me wonder why they did this... Long term quality problems?

[woohoo!]

In my opinion, automakers always have to make financial decisions for their cars on sale in Canada. If they didn't put the curtain airbags in, it could be to keep a lower price tag, since we Canadians have less money to spend on cars.

The same can be said for the bare-bones Matrix, for example. You can't get a A/C-less Matrix in the US.

I would gladly buy a car with ZERO airbags for a lower price, if it was possible.

[The General]

Well, thanks to the US, that will never happen. I would also love to buy a new car with no airbags.

Because our market is smaller, the financial risk (i.e. # of claims and $$ spent on warranty repairs) is much smaller than that of the US. Climate issues are moot as the northern part of the US has the same conditions as we do. I agree that we have less buying power but if the vehicle is already produced for the US, there is still a cost involved in deleting features and making changes.

I remain concerned about long-term durability.

[chelios_24]

I like it. It does remind me of the PILOT or even the ACURA MDX. Something about it. It looks way better than the old version.

The old version was horid looking.

[woohoo!]

The old version was horid looking.

It still is... heehee

[The General]

I find the new Sonata much more attractive but less distinctive than the old one. I guess the same could be said about this Santa Fe.

[chelios_24]

It really looks like an ACURA...the front grill especially...and there is a little MATRIX in it too..

I think it looks great. It looks solid!

[The General]

Chelios, when you get rid of the Pilot, you can always get a Santa Fe...

[chelios_24]

ahhh no! I don't think so! :)

I'm keeping the PILOT till the end...but if it let's say it got scrapped today...I would probably go with the MDX...

BTW...any spy shots on how the next generaton of the MDX is going to look. Aren't they coming out in 2006?

[The General]

Honda is very secretive. We will probably only know about it at the last minute.

[chelios_24]

I know. My friend when to the auto show...and the HONDA section is usually the most boring he said...there's never anything new.