If you’re like most people, a shockingly tiny percentage of your mental awareness has been devoted to the Hyundai Santa Fe. That’s understandable; for the past 23 years or so, the Santa Fe has been a reasonable if not terribly interesting family-hauler SUV option. It appears Hyundai has done some self-reflection and decided it’s time for a change, because the new Santa Fe has just been revealed, and it feels pretty radically different. Gone is the old smooth, rounded river stone/suppository look and in its place is something boxy, angular, and butch, something that feels a bit like the result of mating a Land Rover Discovery with Robocop.
Hyundai’s press release states that the
“All-New Santa Fe Boasts Bold New Design Optimized for Effortless Outdoor Lifestyles”
…and no, I’m not really sure what “effortless outdoor lifestyles” unless that just means people who don’t mind doing things outside as long as they don’t have to, you know, do anything to be there.
Look at it in that picture up there; it looks a bit shy. Come on out, fella! It’s okay!
They also have an interesting bulleted list that gives hints as to what Hyundai feels is important and will resonate with SUV buyers now:
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The all-new midsize SUV’s exterior and interior display a radical transformation made possible by a lifestyle-based design typology that maximizes rear cargo capacity
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The new concept connects city and nature in a seamless way offering ‘expansion of experiences’ in the everyday life
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Robust exterior design with fine details makes a powerful statement; H-lights harmonize Santa Fe’s front and rear, creating a differentiated presence on the road
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Large tailgate and spacious interior offer best-in-class terrace-like space that’s great for urban life and even better for the outdoors
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Interior and exterior feature unique H-shaped design cues and eco-friendly materials
Man, there is so much absurd PR-speak in there. “Lifestyle-based design typology?” The hell does that mean? And the alleged connection of city and nature for “expansion of experiences?” Excuse me a moment while I WD-40 my eye sockets to facilitate more effective rolling.
The lighting graphics front and rear do clearly show that H-based design theme, and they look quite good. In fact, I think the whole thing looks pretty great, with those 45° angle wheelarches and crisp flat surfaces and sharp detailing. It does feel capable and rugged and modern, all at once.
Though now that I look at it closer I see the wheelarches are actually round, they’re just black and inset into the angled outer wheelarch, which is an interesting bit of visual trickery.
I mean, just look at the progression of the Santa Fe from its 2000 introduction to now:
That’s a pretty dramatic evolution of character right there. It’s like going to your high school reunion and seeing that the doughy kid who occasionally peed uncontrollably in the gym showers is now a cybernetically-enhanced security guard. Not exactly a soldier, mind you, but still a shocking transformation.
The rear end treatment I think is especially interesting, with the low-set horizontal taillights. It’s funny, but the rear end really reminds me of another car that I can almost certainly say was not on Hyundai designers’ mood board:
That tailgate/taillight setup really reminds me of the Volkswagen Type 4 wagon. Also, I wonder if the indicators are in that long strip inset into the bumper, as has been Hyundai’s recent practice that nobody likes. I hope not.
This tailgate setup is quite deliberate, because that large and wide rear hatch seems to be a big feature of the SUV, with Hyundai describing it in pretty breathless terms:
The more accommodating tailgate creates a spacious interior with a terrace-like feel at the rear when open. The fully foldable second- and third-row seats provide class-leading interior space. All of these attributes make it possible for users to enjoy the outdoors in the easiest way possible.
This feature also makes the all-new Santa Fe a scene stealer in urban settings, allowing young families to use the rear area for a wide variety of purposes, such as grocery shopping, home improvement projects, sports and recreation, gardening, family outings and pet transportation.
And, yeah, it does make for a nice little sitting area back there, as those seats fold to make a nice flat floor:
Those little string lights are a nice touch, too.
It’s not clear if that roof tent or the little dining set there or even that wicker teepee thing will be official options or accessories, but that is a pretty nice camping setup for a daily-drivable SUV.
Other interior features appear to be equally well-designed. For example, this dash shot shows a really useful thing, side-by-side wireless phone charging pads in a little walled enclosure that will keep them from sliding off into the unknowable depths of the Realm Between And Under The Seats:
Also, that is a handy place to keep wet naps up there.
The instrument cluster and center stack displays are all on one long, unbroken unit, for a very sleek and upright look to the dash:
So far Hyundai hasn’t released any details on drivetrain or other technical specifics, but they did send out at least one picture suggesting the new Santa Fe should at the very least be able to blast through some sand:
There’s also no pricing details just yet, but I’d expect all of those to be revealed in August at the world premiere. The current Santa Fe starts at $28,750 and has engine options that range from 191 to 277 horsepower, so I’d probably guess for higher numbers on both of those metrics for the new one.
This new Santa Fe is a good reminder that Hundai/Kia is still killing it on the design front lately. This feels modern and capable and handsome, and is a nice dramatic shift away from the blobby and fussy current Santa Fe. Park this next to a new Land Rover Defender and I suspect most people would have trouble telling which was the more up-market car.
I’m really curious to see this thing in person, and expand my experiences effortlessly with lifestyle topology or whatever.
The marketing material cracks me up. They make it sound like they are redefining the segment. I could save them a lot of words: “We made it boxier and tougher-looking. Enjoy some actual usable space behind the second row.” Of course, this just illustrates why I am an engineer and not a salesperson.
Ridiculously large wheels and low profile tires add to its off-road prowess.
Option packages include: An off-leash dog, a new brewery down the street, a friend who calls all appetizers tapas, a used Santa Cruz 5010, memories of that time you backpacked the PCT for a couple days.
Looks like a Discovery that discovered the Bad Brains discography and is thinking about getting a tattoo. Good move to borrow from Land Rover/Range Rover/Discovery SP Autobiography. You need Lawyers to sue, and those people like being paid. Which requires money, which they do not have or make. It’s the perfect crime.
Pardon me, but I had tattoos before discovering the Bad Brains’ catalog.
Well, one tattoo anyway. But I got to see them for the first time at the Superbowl of Hardcore in 2000 D.C. The show ended during their set because someone got stabbed if I remember correctly.
Pretty much everyone could learn a thing or two from Hyundai at this point. Absolutely killing it.
Edit: Just looked at photos of the new Traverse. Look how dumb that thing looks. It’s all weird angles and lines that split and end up nowhere, A weird fin c pillar, wtf is that? The whole design and all of its 45 degree techno squiggles all over, it looks like the designer was watching too many 00’s space flicks. And this stuff is rampant across the industry. Hyundai’s take is not only refreshing, but great looking.
The new Traverse looks alright until you get to the C pillar….what in the name of god and all that is holy is going on there?! From the front it looks like a mini Tahoe, which is fine….but the side profile and rear are unsettling.
Everyone is desperately trying to out-aggro each other with strange forms that look like they came out of alien movie. And when an automaker doesn’t do this, the car gets called “boring” or “vanilla” (look at Atlas reviews). It’s a damn FWD 3 row family crossover. It’s just today’s version of a minivan. Let it be what it is. Prioritize outward vision and usable space instead of trying to make it look like the cars DNA has been blended with a deadly space fungus, Annihilation style.
The Hell, Who’s giving the design department the bad seventies tonka acid. It looks like they prioritized cheap tooling. Even the IP looks like a sticker. 45° angle wheel arches are a hideous trend. The Toyota FJ was the only good tonka take. When i read terrace like, i expected split tailgate/hatch, possibly with mounts for removable seats.
Seems most people like Hyundai/Genesis/Kia’s current designs, and I personally think they’re killing it, but I guess there’s going to be a counterpoint. Just keep in mind, it’s a Hyundai Santa Fe, and we’re actually talking about it. We’re critically considering the merits of a Santa Fe’s design. They aren’t a joke anymore, and twenty years ago you never would’ve guessed – that’s gotta count for something.
I think it looks great, miles ahead of last generation, and that wasn’t a terrible design either.
I agree this looks terrific, but I think the last gen was as boring as watching paint dry.
Looks kinda like the new GX, which isn’t a bad thing
Is it really “bold” to just square off the round lines? yeah, it’s better, but it’s still a big, square SUV.
I’m with you. Yes, it’s attractive, but nothing new or “bold”.
Is it “bold” in terms of the automotive industry? Not really. Is it bold for a freaking Hyundai Santa Fe?! Uhh…yeah.
I like the interior, and don’t hate the outside, certainly an improvement. Some of the shots gave me the impression that the body is a “cover” sort of like a phone case you clip on your phone. It’s almost as if there is another car under it, and someone put on their off roading protective skin for the day, and will take it off after. Revealing a similar, but slightly sleeker version.
I liked everything about it, until I saw the rear. Just move the lights up to the next flat face, and it will look much better.
Oh, and if they want to fix the slow sales of the Palisade vs Telluride, carry this design style over. Problem solved.
Oh look, the new Hyundai Suburban … er Santa Fe is here! How original!
Well, the pic of the back end of the copper one says 2.5T, so we have an idea of at least one engine.
Not sure sbout the taillights. Mebbe higher and more vertical would look better?
And if this is what the Santa Fe looks like, how will the next Telluride top it?
It looks gigantic compared to the old one. Is it actually bigger or is that just an illusion? (Yes I know the inset picture of the old one is teeny tiny on purpose. I don’t mean that.)
With the lights being built into the tailgate, the turn signals are most assuredly mounted in the bumper. But Hyundai is really leaning hard into the Robocop dystopian future design.
Trying way too hard to be faux masculine/cybertrucky. Just gonna look funny/corny in a few years. Then again American buyers have broken brains, so I bet it plays well in some places.
The interior looks pretty good, but I will personally be waiting until it’s done rendering so it can fully support my “effortless outdoor lifestyle” wherein I drive from my $5M modern home into the forest for ~100ft. and fall asleep in the driver seat. I need something more lubricious than WD-40 to help my rapidly rolling eyes to stay lubed from the PR-speak.
Is this the reliable Land Rover Disco the world deserved?
I really like some portions of this design, but put it all together and it doesn’t work for me. The wheel arches, and the rear hatch angle are my biggest problems with this.
Also : why have SUVs lost their rear protruding bumpers? I’m aware the laws only indicate the protruding bumper for cars, and not SUVs, but comeon! A minor collision will result is so much unnecessary extra body work to be replaced just because you backed into a bollard in the Walmart parking lot.
Absolutely absurd to mount energy absorbers where they can’t function, should be outlawed.
Are the rear turn signals still in the bumper? If so, hard pass.
They are not. They are part of the hatch, but they are very low on the car.
From the pictures I see its even worse, there is no bumper. The lights are in the hatch that will act as a bumper.
It looks damn good for what it is and I think the fact that they’ve taken function into account when it comes to the rear hatch, trunk, etc is good. The amount of space in the third row/trunk is more or less what makes or breaks these vehicles for a lot of people. My one gripe would be that it looks quite rugged and almost certainly is not, but that’s an enthusiast gripe that matters to maybe .01% of the people who would actually buy one.
This could prove to be pretty appealing, especially if you need more space but don’t necessarily need to go as big as a Telluride, Palisade, Pilot, etc. I know that a lot of folks here bemoan people buying too much vehicle, and I do too…but the fact of the matter is that if you have a kid or two and/or furry friends the extra space needed balloons quickly. This should provide it without necessitating going up to a full family boat.
All that said I find it curious that they didn’t announce powertrains yet. That extra space between the driver and passenger suggests to me that the model shown is either an EV or a hybrid, because there’s not enough space for a traditional all wheel drive setup. If this is a full EV the wife and I will be considerably less interested…but if there are hybrid options count us in. I think all family haulers should be hybrids at this point. Maybe this is a hybrid with an electric motor powering the rear wheels Toyota style. That could potentially be pretty neat.
I see a tailpipe, so at least some form of ICE/hybrid
I was just commenting here two weeks ago how few three-row hybrids there are, so if this is actually a midsize three-row and a hybrid, then it has shot to the top of my list. If it’s just a gasser, then I would still at least look at it.
It always kind of bugged me that the Santa Fe never offered a third row, while the platform-mate Kia Sorento did. The Sorento’s 3rd row is surprisingly roomy considering the overall dimensions of that car. But I like the styling of this new Santa Fe more than the current Sorento.
getting a strong Flex vibe.. but yeah its looking good! I’m loving my ’23 Niro
Same, it was the first thing I thought of. This is a good thing to me.
Was thinking same thing, glad I checked before posting.
Was thinking unlicensed video game version of a Flex.
IIRC the current one has been available with a 3rd row, just not in this market, but I imagine they could offer it here again without stepping on the Palisade.
I am now dreading the influx of content that will accompany photos of this next to a Discovery all over the interwebs with captions like “can I copy your homework / yeah just change it a little so it doesn’t look obvious” or “mom can we get Land Rover? / we have Land Rover at home / [the Land Rover at home].”
Edit: I think I speak for everyone on this site that I wonder how that taillight setup is going to work since the current one is an offender of bumper-mount signals – almost surely that will be the case again especially with the main lights in the hatch, although they’re at least sort of closer together.
“Mom, can we get Range Rover?”
“No, honey, we have Range Rover at home.”
Range Rover at home:
The timing…
Love the front end look but not sold on the rear, going to have to see that in person
Agree. The rear looks too upright maybe?
I agree they are killing it design-wise.
Now… can someone _please_ convince them to bring the pop-top Staria van to the US? Because it’s a much better re-imagining of the Westfalia Vanagon from my childhood than that stupid, overpriced idBuzz…
A new era of rectilinearity and the Koreans are absolutely crushing it. All other automakers should be quaking.