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Jeff Moloi
First impressions are indeed right up there with the best! But get inside the SUV and you will feel the quality and comfort. Nothing spared to give you that class feeling. Press the start button and the Santa Fe is ready for action but it is very silent. Drive off and once you get past the 40km mark, the engine kicks in with it’s low and soft purr! I had the opportunity to test drive the much awaited and revamped Santa Fe and it lived up to all the expectations one could ever hope for. I made my way out of the city and hit the open national roads in KZN and all the while experiencing this soft, smooth and comfortable ride. And just for good measure, I took the Santa Fe on gravel roads and here too the ride was fantastic. Average fuel consumption was an impressive 7.3 1l per 100kms.
Pic: Naresh Maharaj
Worldwide Car of the Year
The Hyundai SANTA FE, including its hybrid variant, has been globally recognized as the overall winner of the 2025 Women’s Worldwide Car of the Year award. The award is voted on by a distinguished jury of 82 women motoring journalists from 55 countries, across five continents. Additionally, the Hyundai SANTA FE has been recognized as the Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) of the Year at the recent TopGear.com Awards.
Performance: 10 out of 10
The Hyundai Santa FE Hybrid is a three-row SUV with seating for up to seven passengers. With dimensions featuring an overall 1 900 mm width, a 2 815 mm wheel base and 4 830 mm overall length, this eco-friendly SUV comes with a high-powered 132 kW/265 Nm turbocharged 1.6-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine with a 44kW/264 Nm electric motor.
To mark its territory as one of the high performance SUVs in the world, the hybrid powertrain produces a total system output of 175 kW and 367 Nm all-wheel-drive system. As a hybrid system, you can also expect smooth acceleration and responsive performance across various terrains.
Stunning Interior and Exterior
Aesthetically, the Santa Fe is a delight to see. Sleek countered lines on the outside that gives the SUV that boxy yet bold looks. It’s a real stand out. The front grille has been re-imagined to produce that flowing look with the “H” shaped headlights set in almost seamlessly. The back panel has also been re-engineered to lend to a very stylish but straight look and feel.
Step inside the all-new Hyundai SANTA FE Hybrid and discover an interior of comfort and sophistication. The vehicle’s design is trimmed in H-Tex®, a synthetic leather material, including heated and ventilated front seats as well as second row heated seats.
The radically transformed SANTA FE Hybrid introduces a high hood, eye-catching H-shaped LED headlamps and bold, sharp fenders – a powerful exterior that creates a sense of splendour. With adjustable seat height and ergonomic design, this award-winning SUV delivers a smooth, luxurious ride tailored for every passenger and every adventure.
Raising the bar in Hybrid Performance
This spacious and versatile all-wheel drive SUV sets a new standard in hybrid performance. The electric motor provides a boost in power during acceleration, thus enhancing the driving experience. The combination of the engine and electric motor helps to reduce fuel consumption, resulting in 7.3 litres per 100km.
With the steering wheel paddles, the level of regenerative braking can be adjusted to the user’s preference, allowing the user to recover more kinetic energy as needed or opt for smooth operation for an internal combustion engine. Regenerative braking converts the vehicle's kinetic energy back into electrical energy, thereby assisting greatly to the average fuel consumption.
Safety Uncompromised!
The new Hyundai SANTA FE Hybrid offers multidimensionality. It comes with a myriad of safety features and a broad range of advanced convenience technologies. Fitted with 20-alloy inch wheels, it offers the best in advanced efficiency, safety, comfort, and eco-conscious innovations. Families will appreciate the inclusion of 6 airbags as well as upper and lower ISOFIX points in both the second and third rows.
Convenience is further improved with driver and passenger-controlled central door locks and automatic safety locks. We have included various Smart Sense Safety features, including: 360-View Monitor, Drive-Attention Warning, Blind Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist, Blind-Spot View Monitor, Rear-Occupant Alert, Forward-Collision Avoidance Junction as well as the Lane-Follow Assist, amongst others.
Bose Premium
The Hyundai SANTA FE Hybrid features a large touchscreen display, with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto available as standard, all of which can pair wirelessly with your mobile device. The instrument cluster has been upgraded to a large 12.3-inch display and the Bose® premium audio will make your favourite music sound better than ever. There is no messing about with the sound system with a crisp and clear sound.
Verdict
It’s a winner from the Hyundai stable. An SUV in the ‘large’ segment, the Santa Fe really knocks it out of the park. It’s very pleasing inside and out. The ride is top class and with the Hybrid offering, the Santa Fe puts itself right up there with the competition. It just ticks all the boxes and when you compare the price, you will be pleasantly surprised. Work day or weekend adventures, the Santa Fe is a great offering. It’s comfortable, stylish and then some. Certainly gets my vote!
Final Words
Speaking at the launch, Stanley Anderson: Sales and Operations Director at Hyundai Automotive South Africa underscored the iconic vehicle’s family proposition. “The Hyundai SANTA FE Hybrid is family-friendly, tech-savvy and sustainable. It is the ultimate choice for drivers who demand more adaptability, luxury and innovation from their vehicle. No matter the destination, this vehicle turns every drive into an adventure to remember.”
Pricing and Warranty
The Hyundai SANTA FE Hybrid Elite AWD is priced at R 1 249,900 – and comes with Hyundai’s legendary 7-year/200,000 km warranty. This includes coverage for the engine, transmission and other key drivetrain components. Furthermore, the hybrid battery pack is covered by a separate 8-year/160 000 km warranty.
