TIME FOR FULL CHANGE

Hyundai Motor Philippines has confirmed the arrival and start of sales of the All-New Santa Fe in the country starting today. For this mid-size SUV's first full model change since 2018, it undergoes a radical exterior transformation and enhances its signature adventure-meets-city appeal.

The "Open For More" concept for this fifth generation Santa Fe took inspiration from its wider tailgate opening, which happens to be the starting point of its design rebirth.

Created with a terrace-like living space to provide plenty of room and seamless transition between urban life and the great outdoors. Unique and with bold SUV Typology, the All-New Santa Fe has a distinct, boxier and bolder silhouette and is 45-millimiter longer and 95-mm higher than its predecessor.

It has a shorter overhang allowing the wheelbase to be extended by 50-mm and the tailgate to be 145-mm wider so that interior space is maximized both for passengers or loads. Limiting the coefficient drag, given its now larger body, has also been prioritized to ensure improved driving comfort and fuel efficiency.

Which is why angled side mirrors, active air flaps in both the top and bottom of the front bumper, skid plates on the front and rear bumpers and a spoiler at the rear, have been strategically placed.

A bridge-type roof rail has also been incorporated alongside the dual sunroof to allow greater versatility in mounting accessories or additional storage. For easier access to this, and other purposes such as car washing, a C-Pillar Assist Handle has been added. It can withstand up to 200-kilogram and is sized generously so the safety of users getting up and down can be guaranteed.

The built-in glass cover is both sleek-looking and functional, as it can be locked when not in use. Seen from the side as well, is the All-New Santa Fe's sharply defined wheel arches are coupled with 21-inch black ink wheels with Continental tires.

H-shaped elements are evident all-throughout the exterior such as the LED horizontal lamp with daytime running lights, front bumper garnish and radiator grille, as well as rear taillights. These are carried over to the inside specifically the front dashboard's mood lights and aircon-vents and the stitching of the seats.

This motif is a reinterpretation of Hyundai's 'H' emblem made to complement the All-New Santa Fe's new design identity."Plus Alpha" Space ExperienceThe All-New Santa Fe has a refined and up-scale interior in contrast to its strong exterior. At the heart of this is the philosophy of a "plus alpha" space experience which connects outdoor-indoor living. Starting with the fully foldable second and third row seats to make it possible for users to repurpose it as a cargo bed whether for groceries, home projects, sports and recreation, or camping trips.

When at the driver's seat, there is a 12.3-inch panoramic curved display for the instrument cluster and infotainment screen. To the left of it is a fingerprint recognition system that is easy to use and more importantly secure. A first for the brand, which supports seat memory customizing and access to a personalized infotainment system. It was in 2019 when Hyundai showcased this technology and has always taken proactive efforts towards the expansion of software-defined vehicles.

Since some users still prefer wired connection, 6 USB-C ports and a 12-volt socket are also present. Moving to the center which has been ergonomically designed with thoughtful storages. Not only is there a bottom space in between the front row seats but also a bi-directional console box with a lower sliding tray.

The latter, is a world-first, which enables a variety of uses especially since it can be opened from both ends and has a removable divider.

City-Friendly and Adventure-ReadyThe All-New Santa Fe is powered by a 2.5-liter turbocharged engine, mated to an 8-speed dual clutch transmission — producing a maximum output of 281-ps and torque of 422-nm. It employs a column-type shift by wire system, similar to the brand's electric cars, the Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6. Together with these are drive and terrain settings that can be adjusted based on user preference on the engine power map, transmission patterns, stability control and braking.

A total of eight modes can be selected, namely, Normal, Eco, Sport, Smart, Auto, Sand, Mud and Snow. Moreover, it comes with Hyundai Traction, the brand's All-Wheel Drive system, as well as a Downhill Brake Control, that supports sudden changes in weather or difficult terrains. The All-New Santa Fe was made to keep up with the users active lifestyle and empower them through added peace of mind.

Blindspot View Monitor, Reverse Parking Collision Avoidance, Parking Distance Warning, Manual Speed Limit, Rear Occupant Alert and Surround View Monitor.

These have been placed to help reduce user fatigue and reinforce the confidence of users on daily commutes or weekend trips." The wait is over, we are excited to be offering the much-anticipated All-New Santa Fe to our Filipino customers. This model holds a special place in Hyundai's history books as it is actually our first ever in-house SUV. It has been serving as the centerpiece of the brand's growing SUV portfolio and has sold over million units as well as gained a loyal following globally," according to Dongwook Lee, president of HMPH.

The full specifications for the All-New Santa Fe can be found at the Hyundai Motor Philippines' website. A hybrid trim will be made available by the second half of the year.