Hyundai’s core performer in New Zealand goes big and bold.

BOXING on, squaring up to the opposition, cutting a new corner … yup, there’s high chance the look of the new Santa Fe Hyundai has revealed to the world overnight is going to send the punsters into overdrive.

The first look is just that; an event in Seoul has been about the styling story, with technical detail beyond a few basics being kept back until a big event in August.

Hyundai New Zealand has said the new, fifth generation line will release here in early 2024. It acknowledges the current car and its predecessors have been very much volume mainstays, so is keen to continue that success run.

As much as Santa Fe has always tended to start a new design story in each successive chapter, this new one is certainly set to stand as an especially bold departure. 

Has anything beyond the letter fonts carried over? Actually, are they still the same as previously?

Hyundai’s side of the story is that the more upright, blocky styling is intended to allow it to lean more into the off-road, adventurous parts of its personality.

"The all-new Santa Fe is an SUV that finds a perfect balance between city life and the great outdoors, handling everything from busy family itineraries to car camping adventures," said SangYup Lee, whose official title is Executive Vice President and Head of Hyundai Global Design Centre but is better described as the make’s head of design.

"With its longer wheelbase, roomy interior and terrace-like tailgate space, the new Santa Fe leans into its SUV strengths to offer more versatility than ever before as well as a premium customer experience.”

Whether Santa Fe might step into the fully electric realm seems very uncertain. the probability is that, insofar as battery involvement is concerned, it’ll go no further than the current offer, which stops with a plug-in hybrid. 

The car on show has a 2.5-litre turbo-petrol for starters that Hyundai has said is for domestic South Korea and North America.

Overseas’ reports suggest petrol and diesel engines from the current model will cotinue in service, in addition to hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions. The latter are expected to retain 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engines, with electric motors of different power outputs.

In New Zealand Santa Fe offers with a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder with all-wheel drive and a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol hybrid with all-wheel drive. It is unclear if these will specifically be retained.

There’s design reference with the latest Ioniq Series cars, notably the Five. It would look comfortable parked alongside the battery-fed sports utility hatchback.

The interior design also takes cues from Ioniq, in respect to how it has the EVs’ dashboard design with that signature curved, conjoined double screen housing. A Range Rover-style steering wheel and a large open centre console with minimalist controls are also implemented.

While the display car is big on luxury trimmings, with wood-style trim and Nappa leather for the seats, Hyundai has impressed it has gone big on using recycled material inside. The suede headliner, floor mats and second-and-third-row seatbacks are made from recycled plastic, while the door trim covers are made from eco-friendly leatherette.

A longer wheelbase should add additional room to a car which, in current form, is spacious. The rear overhang has also been extended to allow a bigger boot and more seat space in the third row. The front overhang has been shortened. It’s imagined the overall length should not be all that different from the current model. But, again, details are short.

At the rear, framing a larger tailgate, is a set of H-shaped lights echoing those at the front.

Inside, Hyundai says that the Santa Fe's two rear rows of seats both fold flat to give a 'terrace-like' ambience, allowing space for work or relaxing. The space inside, says Hyundai, makes the Santa Fe ‘a scene stealer’ when it comes to "shopping, home improvement projects, sports and recreation, gardening, family outings and pet transportation.”