But even if equipped with the Santa Fe's base 2.7-litre drivetrain, a reworked all-aluminum powerplant boasting Variable
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| Hyundai's 3.3L V6 is ultra-smooth as applied to the Sonata, and is expected to be adapted to the Santa Fe unchanged. (Photo: Hyundai Canada) |
Valve Timing and Variable Intake System resulting in "more than 180" horsepower and "more than 180" lb-ft of torque, it should pull away from the stoplight with reasonable athleticism. The base engine features either a standard five-speed manual or optional four-speed automatic transmission, and dealing with slippery roads shouldn't be too much of a problem even without the optional all-wheel drive, thanks to standard traction control and Electronic Stability Control (ESC), the latter a truly important active safety net to help aide drivers who might otherwise lose control of their vehicle and potentially crash - said to result in 63 percent fewer fatalities in single-vehicle crashes.
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| Hyundai highlighted the Santa Fe's safety features during its Detroit introduction, which include six standard airbags. (Photo: Hyundai Canada) |
Standard traction and stability control means that antilock brakes are also part of the standard package, along with disc brakes all-round.
Hyundai highlighted the Santa Fe's safety features during its Detroit introduction, which makes sense being that a vehicle's safety is definitely one of the key selling points any family considers when opting for a new vehicle. Those moms and dads will take heart that the new Santa Fe will come standard with six airbags, which include the two bags in front, of course, plus side-curtain airbags for all three rows of occupants. Side impact bags are included too, this combination said to be optimal in surviving rollover collisions with the least amount of corporal damage, reducing fatalities by up to 45 percent, according to Hyundai. The automaker also was sure to mention that most of its competitors made side-curtain airbags optional.
