To look at the optional perforated leather seats, complete with contrasting piping (a very British touch) in the first
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| The Santa Fe's optional perforated leather seats were as impressive tolook at as they were comfortable to sit in. (Photo: Hyundai Auto Canada) |
photos of the Korean-spec prototype that initially showed up on blogs across the net, was impressive enough, but I think that the solid grey of the example unveiled in Detroit is better suited to North American tastes (contrasting piping should be left to Aston Martin and Bentley, after all). Nonetheless, the seats feel extremely comfortable to sit in, whether in front or the second row, although the rearmost third row is a bit on the cramped side if you measure above five feet eight inches tall (my hair was touching the ceiling and, you guessed it, I'm five eight. Still, there was ample room for my legs and feet when someone larger
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| The new Santa Fe seems on par with the Azera as far as choice of materials and build quality go, which is high praise indeed. (Photo: Hyundai Auto Canada) |
was sitting in the second-row seat in front of me, with his seatback canted rearward at a satisfying rake. Also, most pleasant was the amount of hip and elbow room available, reducing the claustrophobia most adults feel when forced into the steerage compartment of rival vehicles. I was surprised to see separate vents integrated into the rear quarters, and even more shocked that Hyundai had thought of individual fan speed controls way back in the rear. Yes, the new Santa Fe truly is a cut above. What's more, all the seats in the show car were covered in leather that is higher grade in texture than Hyundai has used in the past - Azera aside. Actually, the new Santa Fe seems on par with the Azera as far as choice of materials and build quality go, which is high praise indeed.
I noticed that the steering wheel is different in design to that in the Azera and the Sonata, more upscale in appearance and featuring attractive
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| The steering wheel is different in design to that in the Azera and the Sonata, more upscale in appearance and featuring attractive circular and oval buttons for cruise and audio functions. (Photo: Hyundai Auto Canada) |
circular and oval buttons for cruise and audio functions (including a seek feature which can't be had with the Sonata) on the spokes, while the CUV's centre stack is a really nicely sorted interface, filled with high-end goodies such as a DVD-navigation system, if so equipped, Infinity sound system with a six-disc in-dash CD changer and MP3 compatibility, plus all surrounding surfaces are covered in an aluminum-like substance and "environmentally friendly" (i.e. fake) woodgrain. Despite not being real, the metal and woodgrain feel substantial (i.e. the thick wood-like plastic doesn't bend when you push on it) to the touch, while still appearing attractive enough to give off an air of respectability.
The same goes for the metal and woodgrain surfaced power window controls integrated into the door armrests, and faux aluminum transmission faceplate, even nicer than that on the Sonata and featuring a handy rectangular dish on its right side for a cellphone or PDA (and there's a nifty 115-volt plug just above it on the centre stack for items like laptops, PDAs and cellphone chargers) plus, of course, the automaker's smooth-operating five-speed automatic transmission with manual mode actuation. OK, I haven't tested it in the new Santa Fe yet, but as used in the Sonata it's fabulously refined.
This
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| The gearbox, a sophisticated five-speed unit with the top-line 230+hp 3.3L V6, features a handy rectangular dish on its right side for a cellphone or PDA. (Photo: Hyundai Auto Canada) |
gearbox is the top-line optional unit, however, which connects through to the Sonata's 3.3-litre V6, adequately rated at "more than 230" horsepower and "more than 220" lb-ft of torque, according to the press kit's spec sheet. Unless the CUV has gained an inordinate amount of weight, this drivetrain should be more sufficient to pull or push and pull the Santa Fe to highway speeds in spirited fashion - the pulling or pushing and pulling relating to whether the car is equipped with front-wheel drive, standard, or electronically-controlled all-wheel drive; the latter of which automatically apportions power to the tires with the most traction. For light-duty off-road applications, the Santa Fe features a driver-selectable AWD lock that delivers a continuous 50/50 torque split between front and rear axles.
