You already know the superbly designed 2013 Santa Fe, we wrote you about it quite a lot. Now, the lineup expands through the LA Auto Show with the addition of a longer, more roomy 6/7 passenger Santa Fe (2014 model year).
It’s no secret that Hyundai is going more and more upmarket, and this car is a proof of that. Instead of making a single body for both the two-seat row and the three-seat row, Hyundai decided to distinguish the three-seat row with a different tail design, a longer wheelbase (+10 cm) and an overall bigger length (+21.6 cm) , to improve interior space.
There’s only one choice of engine, a 3.3-liter GDi V6 Lambda II unit, producing 290 hp and 252 lb-ft (341 Nm) of torque, the best in its class. Equipment levels are good too, with Active Cornering Control AWD, Driver Selectable Steering Mode, electric and heated front seats, panoramic sunroof, Hyundai Blue Link infotainment system, power rear liftgate and another bunch of safety, security and comfort amenities, all as standard.
The shorter Santa Fe (now referred as ‘Santa Fe Sport’) fills the need for a midsize crossover, while the longer Santa Fe (referred as ‘Santa Fe’) replaces the outgoing Veracruz as an upmarket, 7-seater crossover. The new Santa Fe is 320 lb (145 kg) lighter than the outgoing Veracruz, which is a great improvement in a car this size.
This car is set to be launched in early 2013.
