Hyundai Nishat Motor (Private) Limited has rolled out the all-new Santa Fe; a breakthrough, to say the least in the automobile industry of Pakistan. The sports utility vehicle (SUV) was unveiled at the inauguration ceremony of Pakistan’s first digital showroom by Hyundai. Before taking too long, let’s quickly check out what Hyundai has offered in their Santa Fe in Pakistan.
Santa Fe is named after the city of New Mexico by the South Korean auto manufacturer, which was first introduced back in 2000. The 4th generation of the SUV successfully made its way to the automobile markets around the globe in 2018, the one introduced by Hyundai Nishat Motors in Pakistan as a 2019 model. The 4th generation of Santa Fe is a two-row SUV, offered in 7 different variants in the USA while 3 of them have been launched by the manufacturer in Europe. However, only one variant is being launched in Pakistan with a vast choice of specifications to pick from.
Check the specifications and features of Sante Fe here
Power Train:
The SUV is packed with 2.4-litre (2359cc) MPI Atkinson Cycle engine under the hood that produces 172 hp at 6000 rpm along with a 225 Nm of torque at 4000 rpm. The variant launched in Pakistan comes in 6-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters that supposedly provides the comfort of taking control of the gear shifting pattern. The all-wheel drive (AWD) Santa Fe is also equipped with the Hyundai’s intelligent Traction Control System (HTRAC) that offers the maximum traction to the driver, regardless of the condition of the road. With a maximum speed of 190 km/h, Santa Fe is simply an undeniable option.
If we talk about the rest of the world, the variants of Santa Fe offered in the USA are as follows:
• Santa Fe SE 185 hp 2.4-litre 4-cylinder engine
• Santa Fe SEL 185 hp 2.4-litre 4-cylinder engine
• Santa Fe SEL Plus 185 hp 2.4-litre 4-cylinder engine
• Santa Fe Limited 185 hp 2.4-litre 4-cylinder engine
• Santa Fe Limited 2.0-litre 235 hp 2.0-litre turbo GDI DOHC 4-cylinder engine
• Santa Fe Ultimate 185 hp 2.4-litre 4 cylinder engine
• Santa Fe Ultimate 2.0-litre 235 hp turbo GDI DOHC 4-cylinder engine
Hyundai offers Santa Fe in Australia in the following versions:
• Santa Fe Active 2.4-litre GDi AWD
• Santa Fe Active 2.2-litre CRDi AWD turbo diesel
• Santa Fe Elite 2.4-litre CRDi AWD
• Santa Fe Highlander 2.4-litre CRDi AWD
In India, Santa Fe comes in 3 variants:
• Santa Fe CRDi 194 hp 2.2-litre 2WD Diesel engine
• Santa Fe CRDi 194 hp 2.2-litre 2WD Diesel (Automatic)
• Santa Fe CRDi 2.2-litre 4WD Diesel engine
Exterior:
Let’s get started with the dimensions of the vehicle. The all-new SUV is a 7-seater vehicle that has a body length of 4770 mm and a width of 1890 mm. Santa Fe stands at 1705 mm height with a considerable wheelbase of 2765 mm. The vehicle has a fuel tank capacity of 70 litres which is enough for a long trip. This vehicle is a combination of the aggressive and muscular front looks provided with sleek yet stylish LED projection headlamps with a feature of daytime running lights.
The front radiator grille is a mix of black and chrome coating with Hyundai’s logo in the middle. Fog lights are provided underneath the headlamps inside the natural two-tone front bumper which adds to the elegance of the vehicle. Furthermore, the turn signals are installed in the side mirrors which are electrically adjustable and retractable. Hyundai has followed the similar design language on the rear side as the two-tone bumper brings a classy rear look to the vehicle. The rear combination LED lamps are a superb inclusion with a chrome garnish in between. The rear fog lamps are also present at the bottom. Moreover, the SUV is provided with a rear screen wiper and a spoiler with a high mount stop lamp. Santa Fe is equipped with stylish alloy rims with a tyre size 235/55 R19.
The SUV sold in other parts of the world has approximately the same dimensions with minor variations depending upon the variant. The vehicle introduced in Pakistan is equipped with all the upgraded exterior features present in the top of the line variant of Santa Fe around the world.
Interior:
As one can expect from the South Korean auto giant, the interior of this particular SUV is an exceptional one. First of all, when you get into the vehicle, it gives you a spacious cabin feel courtesy to the panoramic sunroof provided by Hyundai.
The iconic dashboard of Santa Fe provides with extreme comfort to the eyes due to its light tone colour. The ample interior space is perfectly complemented with comfortable seats to make your journey a pleasant one. The vehicle has a feature of steering wheel adjustment so, the driver can either tilt it manually or a telescopic adjustment is also available. The steering wheel itself has several controls including the multimedia and cruise control option. Keeping in mind the comfortable posture for the driver, there is considerable lumbar support on the driver’s seat. Moreover, the driver’s seat is also electrically controlled which is achieved with the help of a set of small electric motors controlled using a switch. Automatic air-conditioning is provided with a climate control feature to keep the cabin temperature in accordance with your needs. Another exciting feature of this vehicle is an automatic rain sensor, which triggers the operation of windscreen wipers in rainy conditions. The glove box of Santa Fe is auto-cooled and a front personal lamp is also installed. The vehicle has a central door locking system and keyless entry with an immobilizer. Furthermore, it provides three types of driving experience controls; comfort, eco, and sports for the convenience of the driver.
Connectivity:
In terms of connectivity, the SUV is equipped with modern-technology USB, AUX, BT, CD and even voice recognition connectivity feature. An Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatible high-quality 7’’ touch screen infotainment system is installed in the SUV. The instrument cluster of Santa Fe has analogue rpm meter along with fuel and heat gauge. In the middle, is another 7” TFT LCD that provides all the essential information including the speed of the vehicle!
The model produced in the USA is also provided with a device charging pad which allows you to charge your phone in the easiest way possible without having the need for extra cords. A heads-up display is also present right where a driver would desire. The feature provides all the necessary real-time information including the speed in the driver’s line of sight just above the steering wheel. It’s an exciting feature with the help of which the driver has no need to take off eyes from the road.
Safety features:
The auto manufacturer has ensured state of the art safety features in the Santa Fe introduced in Pakistan. Two SRS Airbags have been provided in the front; one each for the driver and the passenger. Both the front and rear wheels are equipped with disc brakes which enhances the braking experience to avoid any collision. Moreover, features like ABS, ESC, HAC, DBC, and EPB are also present along with a back view camera with parking guidelines. A parking sensor is also installed in the SUV to ensure safe and accurate parking. Nonetheless, Hyundai’s Santa Fe is an incredible mixture of style, comfort, convenience, and safety. The bold and high-tech SUV is a complete family unit, to say the least.
Santa Fe available in the automobile market of USA has several more safety features included by the South Korean auto manufacturer. A few of them are as follows:
• Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian Detection
• Blind-Spot Collision Warning
• Lane Keeping Assist feature
The above-mentioned safety features help keeping the driver alert about his surroundings as an alarm triggers if the vehicle is in close proximity of an object on the road. But as a matter of fact, these features would not have been of much use while driving in Pakistan, a country where traffic flows in close proximity almost all day long.
Price comparison:
According to an official of Hyundai Nishat Motors, the price of Santa Fe starts from PKR 16 million going up to PKR 18.5 million. Since, there is only one variant of Santa Fe introduced in Pakistan, the variation in price is entirely based upon the inclusion of features by the customers. Let’s discuss whether the price tag of this particular SUV does justice in accordance with the features provided. As we discussed earlier that Santa Fe comes in 7 different variants in the USA, 4 in Australia and 3 each in Europe and India. These different variants have already been mentioned in the article above. Next thing is the price at which these variants are offered in these countries as compared to the one introduced in Pakistan. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Santa Fe comes with a price tag between PKR 3.3 million to PKR 4.9 million. The 7 variants of Santa Fe produced in the USA ranges between PKR 3.4 million to PKR 4.9 million whereas it costs as high as PKR 6.1 million in our neighbouring country, India. The price of this SUV in Australia lies in between PKR 4.3 million and PKR 6 million.
The variants of Santa Fe produced around the world have more or at least the same features as introduced in Pakistan. However, the all-new SUV costs nearly 3 times more in Pakistan than what we can see from the price comparison with other countries which, in my humble opinion doesn’t justify the price by any means. Although Santa Fe is not currently being produced in Pakistan and comes as a completely built unit (CBU) with all the additional customs duties and taxes, Hyundai Nishat Motors need to look into the matter to stay ahead in the local market competition. The potential buyers, unlike the past, have numerous options in the market with new entrants making their way into the automobile industry of Pakistan.
What is your opinion about the newly introduced Hyundai Santa Fe in Pakistan? Let us know in the comments section below. Stay connected with PakWheels for all the latest updates on the automobile industry.
