Hyundai catches up in soft roader race

Soft roader buyers are the hardest to please. They want style, practicality, reliability, safety and performance in one package.

The stakes are even higher than before since niche manufacturers like Mercedes, Land Rover and BMW are now jostling for the same piece of the soft roader pie.

Hyundai has not been left out of the equation. As a matter of fact, its flagship soft roader the Santa Fe has transformed from the perennial underdog to a contender to the throne.

But the biggest question is: will it manage to challenge the competition? I got in touch with Silvanus, the sales guru at Hyundai East Africa and he offered me an to sample the Santa Fe in all its glory.

Visually the Santa Fe is an eye candy. Hyundai has employed what it calls Storm Edge styling, credited to the input of Peter Schreyer, head of design and president of Hyundai.

It is a bold look with a bold hexagonal front grille, xenons with a striking eyelash, gloss black finishes across the body, rear diffuser, and very cool 19- inch wheels in range-topping Premium spec.

The interior layout is simple and logical, which is nice in the sense that buttons are used for exactly what they are intended for. Just like the rivals, it has optional extras like a full colour display, satellite navigation and power tailgate to mention but a few. Cabin finishes are Germanic top-notch with leather seats, soft finishes, subtle silver badging, and piano black surfaces, which all create a premium feel.

The top-of-the-range Santa Fe I tested had a 5-inch neat screen display that houses the dual zone climate control, a premium audio system and the vehicle information system that incorporates the rear-view reverse camera.

The Santa Fe range is powered by two engine derivatives: a muscular 145kW/436Nm 2.2-litre Turbo diesel and a smooth 135kW/228Nm 2.4-litre petrol unit. Locally, we get only the petrol version, as the quality of diesel in the market does not meet the Hyundai standards.

Faster Corners

Power is delivered to all four paws via a quick shift 6 speed autobox with tip-tronic facility. It allows the driver to fully utilise the 135kW to the maximum, while ensuring that the engine delivers an average fuel consumption figure of 8l/100km.

It is not your track day weapon but handles reasonably well for a soft roader of its size.

The independent suspension is tuned for smooth tarmac and long drives, but tended to feel a little wallow and top heavy through faster corners.

When you want to unleash the devil in you, the “Sport” setting offers accurate feedback and beefs up nicely at higher speeds.

If bundu-bashing is your thing, the on-demand, all-wheel drive system will engage the rear wheel on demand while the 4WD Lock mode splits torque to the front and rear axles evenly.

For the Santa FE to compete effectively, Hyundai loaded it with intelligent safety kit to keep the occupants out of harm’s way.

The active safety package includes a smart cruise control function (adaptive cruise control), which maintains a set distance from slower-moving vehicles ahead by automatically decreasing speed, and then accelerates back up to your chosen cruising speed when the traffic eases up again.

Safety nets include ESP, Hill-Start Assist, Rear Park Assist, Traction and Stability Control and six airbags.

With a starting price of Sh 4.8 million for the entry level Safari and Sh 5.9 million for the range-topping Premium package, I reckon the Santa FE is a winner. Fun to drive, dripping with technology and top notch fit and finish to boot. Hyundai’s five-year/150,000km warranty gives the owner peace of mind