Santa Fe: Hyundai makes its SUV Beast, Bigger, Better

Image: Adnan Abidi / Reuters

B S Seo, MD and CEO of Hyundai Motors India Limited (HMIL), C H Han, senior executive director HMIL and Rakesh Srivastava, senior vice-president sales and marketing of HMIL (L-R) pose with Hyundai's Santa Fe car during its launch at the Indian Auto Expo, in Greater Noida on the outskirts of New Delhi, February 5, 2014

The country’s second largest carmaker, Hyundai, introduced the redesigned Santa Fe SUV for India, two years after it was first showcased at the New York Auto Expo.

The seven-seater is bigger and wider than before with optimum headroom, generous front and rear legroom, besides large luggage space of 585 litres.

It also brings enhanced safety measures, including six airbags and dual seatbelt mechanism, as well as a new look with a three-bar hexagonal front grill, striking headlamps and LED daytime running lights. The headlamps cluster has unique features, which include fog lamps to boost safety, Hyundai officials said.

The Santa Fe comes with an upgraded third generation 2.2-litre diesel engine, promising better efficiency, lower emissions and a high mileage of 14.74 kmpl.

Other features include a smart key, with push button start-and-stop for keyless entry/exit and ignition push button start and rear parking sensors. Also, you could listen to your favourite music with an orchestra effect from six speakers.

The vehicle is priced in the range of Rs 26.3 lakh to Rs 29.25 lakh.

Hyundai India, like most automakers, witnessed sluggish sales in the last quarter ended December. Its total sales edged up 2.58 percent at 49,069 units, against 47,833 units in the same month of the previous year.