Hyundai South Africa has released a fresh-faced version of the Santa Fé and spruced up the mid-sized SUV's image with several new cosmetic and functional additions.Hyundai South Africa has released a fresh-faced version of the Santa Fé and spruced up the mid-sized SUV's image with several new cosmetic and functional additions.

The Santa Fé was originally designed by Hyundai specifically for the US market and uses a reworked version of the existing Sonata compact saloon's platform. The South Korean product is said to offer the traditional virtues of a softroader... on-road comfort, luxury, added ride height and greater visibility.

"SUV buyers are very clear and vocal about what they want in their vehicles," said Hyundai Automotive SA managing director, Alan Ross. "The result is visible in the new-look 2,7-litre V6 Santa Fe with traction control."

Exterior changes to the Santa Fé include a new grille, a new rear bumper, new taillights and a redesigned tailgate handle. On the inside, the SUV receives a redesigned instrument console, new leather seats and a richer two-tone colour scheme.

The SUV comes with airbags including seat-mounted side airbags for the driver and passenger and pretension seatbelts at the front. It also receives a power-operated sunroof, an electro-chromic rearview mirror, climate control and ABS with EBD and traction control. The Santa Fé is equipped with permanent four-wheel drive with a dual drive differential designed to deliver 60 per cent of the power to the front wheels and 40 per cent to the rear.

Powered by Hyundai's all-aluminium 2,7-litre, 24-valve, DOHC V6 powerplant, this engine produces maximum power of 130 kW at 6 000 r/min and 255 N.m of peak torque at 4 000 r/min. It is designed with a four-speed automatic transmission with Shiftronic manual controls.

Suspension is via MacPherson struts with coil springs and an anti-roll bar at the front and a fully independent trailing-arm design with multi-links, coil springs and hydraulic shock absorbers at the rear.

New 16-inch aluminium alloy wheels are fitted as standard equipment to give the SUV more purposeful stance. It has a voluminous cargo area and offers more than 840 litres of flexible load space.

The Santa Fé costs R259 900 and comes standard with a three-year / 100 000 km factory warranty and a three-year / 60 000km maintenance plan.

Original article from Car