Hyundai Unveils A Small Teaser For the New Santa Fe

Hyundai unveiled a small glimpse of the new Santa Fe. Only a teaser photo of the front got shown, but Hyundai claims the design to be rugged yet refined. We hope that doesn’t mean slapping on some black plastic cladding all over the body like a lot of the new SUVs that are out right now.

What the new Santa Fe could potentially be

Since Hyundai is using terms like “The ultimate family adventure vehicle,” to describe the new Santa Fe, this could be an excellent opportunity for Hyundai to come out with a Toyota RAV4 rivaling vehicle. The new RAV4 is currently the most “off-road” capable SUV in the segment, which has been enhanced further with its new TRD model. Toyota is one of the few companies that chased after off-road capabilities rather than trying to dress up its front-wheel-drive platform SUVs as “sports cars.”

Hyundai can be one of the few compete with the new RAV4’s all-wheel-drive system to make for a decent off-roader. Now I understand that the buyers of this segment will never truly off-road, and most of the claims made are marketing gimmicks. However, consumers who are up north that experience very rough winters can appreciate a front-wheel drive-based SUV that is good on gas and can tackle some severe inclement weather instead of paying for a body on frame SUV. For this reason, it would be smart of Hyundai to go after a similar market as Toyota has gone after.

Looks of the new Santa Fe

Regarding the looks of the new Santa Fe, only a part of the face got displayed, but the vehicle comes equipped with T-shaped LED day time running lights. Hyundai also claims that these T-shaped DRLs hint at technological advancements. Not sure how the two correlate, but I will take their word as Hyundai does a phenomenal job offering consumers almost every safety tech as standard and making sure all their features are easy to use.

The new Santa Fe will predictably get a larger grill, the trend in every new car today. The picture shows that the front end does look rather aggressive but with a cohesive design. I am excited to see the whole vehicle revealed, Hyundai’s latest designs may be bold, but the models do look of quality. They can change the public’s perception of Hyundai moving forward.

Driving improvements for the next-generation Santa Fe

Striking designs aside, I would like to see Hyundai improve on their driving dynamics for the new Santa Fe. I recently reviewed the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited 2.0 Turbo, and I did genuinely fall in love with how polished and comfortable the car was. The quietness and ride quality rivals luxury vehicles, not only in the entry-level segment but also in some mid-level luxury SUVs. I’ve said this numerous times, but the primary job of an affordable vehicle is to be quiet and comfortable.

The 2020 Santa Fe was very stable out on the highway as well, but I noticed that it begins to fall apart when you push the Santa Fe into a corner. I did have the most potent 2.0 turbo model with front-wheel-drive to test, so it wasn’t the best spec for handling. I said in my review that if you only want front-wheel-drive, getting the naturally aspirated 2.4l four-cylinder would help to alleviate the plowing sensation the Santa Fe would demonstrate. If the 2.0l turbo power is an absolute must, then the all-wheel-drive option would be mandatory to help balance out the power.

If Hyundai can sort out the handling characteristics in the upcoming Santa Fe, I think they have a real winner. Even the current generation Santa Fe is a winner for being as quiet and comfortable as it is, especially since it undercuts the competition in price. On top of that, most buyers will never drive hard enough to notice the handling deficiencies.

More news to come regarding the newly announced Santa Fe

Hyundai is a car company that continues to grow by listening to the consumers that buy their products. I am positive that the new Santa Fe will continue to be a great product and will continue to build from where the current model leaves. Anticipate a follow-up article once more details get released for the new Hyundai Santa Fe.

Kevin Meyn is an automotive journalist for Torque News concentrating on Hyundai content. Kevin is the founder of Exhaust Sports Auto Youtube channel, where he does professional car reviews on new and used vehicles. Through the use of various resources and extended Automotive expertise, Kevin documents the latest in automotive news revolving around Hyundai. Kevin graduated from NC State University studying Supply Chain Management but has had a passion for cars since he was a child. Follow Kevin on Twitter and Instagram @exhaustsports.