Grime time in the Hyundai Santa Fe

PRICE: from £25,850

THE previous Santa Fe was the car that really lit a fire beneath Hyundai’s sales in the UK. It became the company’s best-seller - and remained so even after the arrival of newer models like the i20 and i30 - and did much to cement the Korean company’s reputation as a purveyor of fine motor cars.

However, the old Santa Fe had a foot in both Hyundai’s past and its future. Although it was fine to drive and conspicuous value for money it’s anonymous blob-like looks (which improved after a 2009 facelift) and stick-on plastic cladding owed more to a time when you only bought a Hyundai if you couldn’t afford a Japanese car.

The new Santa Fe is very much a product of Hyundai’s future.

Its bold new looks firmly erase memories of its mundane predecessor and Hyundai’s laser-guided focus on quality means there’s nothing cheap about the cabin. This is the product of a company that’s on the up.

ON THE ROAD: The UK accounted for a third of all European sales of the old Santa Fe. That’s why Hyundai’s engineers have paid special attention to tuning the new one’s ride for Britain’s abysmal road network. They have stiffened the dampers to cope with the bumps and potholes that are more common here than in Europe. The chassis is 15 per cent more rigid than its predecessor, too.

It’s still no Range Rover Evoque, though. Through switchback B-roads the Santa Fe always feels like a big heavy car, and the long-travel suspension means it keels over a bit when you whip it into a corner, but the ride is very comfy (thanks, in part, to those big tyres) and the chassis feels perfectly serene cruising an A-road at 60mph.

There’s only one engine choice - a 2.2-litre turbodiesel - but it’s a good ‘un. A torquey diesel is a perfect fit in a big SUV - the diesel’s low down heft makes them easier to drive (both on and off the road) and their generally bullet-proof feel is reassuring in a vehicle that weighs the best part of two tonnes.

The test car was fitted with an automatic gearbox (Hyundai expects 70 per cent of all sales to be slushboxes) which only added to the Santa Fe’s laid-back appeal. Gear changes were almost imperceptible at small throttle openings.

Noise is well suppressed, and I felt precious little vibration in the cabin even from cold.

The test car came in four-wheel drive guise - there’s a cheaper 2WD version - which shuffles the power between front and back according to the conditions. Below 25mph the Santa Fe can be locked in 4WD mode if you need to ascend a muddy hill or a snow-covered slope.

ON THE INSIDE: The Santa Fe can seat seven adults thanks to a couple of pop up seats in the boot area. These fold down flat when they are not required. The second row of seats also have adjustable back rests and tumble easily when extra luggage space is required.

In some markets, Hyundai sells a seven-seater long wheelbase Santa Fethat nearly a foot longer bumper-to-bumper but the standard model felt plenty big enough to me.

Anyway careful design has liberated an impressive extra 45mm of legroom in the second row so you’re hardly being short-changed. One thoughtful feature is the heating/fresh air blower controls for passengers sitting in the, er, boot area.

The front occupants sit in heated leather seats and have an excellent forward view.

WHAT DO YOU GET: The Santa Fe’s seats are clad in leather and the front two are heated. There’s a useful touch-screen 12-speaker sat nav-stereo that’s easier to operate than most, a handy reverse parking camera, a 12V accessory socket beneath the centre stack and a cruise control for preserving your leg muscles on boring motorway runs.

In the event of an accident the bonnet pops up 6cm to help “cushion” the impact of a pedestrian’s head; it’s hardly a pedestrian airbag but better than nothing.

RUNNING COSTS: The engine has been reworked to provide better fuel consumption and lower exhaust emissions. If you tick the automatic option you’ll pay a premium at the pumps (our week-long tenure averaged out at 36mpg) and an extra £45 annually to the Treasury because the CO2 rises from 155g/km to 178g/km.

VERDICT: Better-looking, better-equipped and more grown up, the Santa Fe has come of age. It’s an improvement on the original in every way and looks set to continue Hyundai’s raging UK sales success.

SPEC:

Engine: 2.2-litre turbodiesel.

Max power: 194bhp@3800rpm.

Max torque: 311lb/ft@1800-2500rpm.

Top speed: 118mph.

0-62mph: 9.4 seconds.

Av fuel cons: 47.9 (combined official fig).

Emissions: 178g/km.

Tax: £220.

Equipment: Electric windows, power steering, leather upholstery, heated seats, central locking, colour touch screen satellite navigation, CD player, MP3 connectivity, alloy wheels, air conditioning.

ALTERNATIVES:

RANGE ROVER EVOQUE: Surprisingly short on space inside but looks the business and drives like it looks.
HONDA CR-V: Competes with the Santa Fe on build and reliability but feels more at home on the road.
KIA SPORTAGE: Sister company Kia does a neat line in SUVs, too. Looks rather more sporty than the Santa Fe.