2013 Santa Fe

Late last year, I was looking at the Hyundai Santa Fe for Monique, now that she has already started driving.  Vicky is convinced that getting an SUV is the way to go, since the recent rains have made it very clear that flooding will be a part of Metro Manila living for the next few years to come.  The old Santa Fe model looked good in white, and Monique was almost convinced that was the vehicle of her choice.  But before we could purchase the vehicle, the new Tucson was launched.  We marveled at its sleek lines and gaped at its fluid body shape.  It dawned on us that the Santa Fe was already due for a body change, and we wisely postponed our decision to acquire the SUV.  That was an opportune postponement, as we had some chance to consider the new Honda CRV, the MItsubishi Montero and the Chevy Orlando as alternatives.  Now that the 2013 Santa Fe is out, it seems that we'll be having a harder time making the purchase decision.

Monique & I went over to the Hyundai showroom over the weekend to satisfy our curiosity--indeed, the new Santa Fe is definitely a big brother of the Tucson.  The same sleek lines are there, the body is wider, longer, and the styling has a more elegant feel.  I understand it is available with a 2.2 liter VGT engine, which is supposed to pack a lot of wallop (I don't remember how many horsepower, however).  The 4x2 model comes in both M/T (P1.5 million) and A/T (P1.7 million).  The designers put in a few nice toys too--drive assist from inclined hillside parking, keyless ignition, rear view camera, USB ports and auto-fold side view mirrors.  I think the 4x4 models come with wider tires and a sun/moon roof.  The vehicle isn't as high as the Fortuner, Montero or the Everest, and therefore, climbing in and getting out feels more car-like than SUV-like.  The only drawback for me is the lack of headroom, which was probably sacrificed by virtue of its fluidic design.  Getting in and out of the 3rd row, is also a drag; I think Hyundai engineers should rethink the way the 2nd row folds to allow improved ingress & egress.  Can't say much about the handling and the ride; we will probably assess the purchase after a test drive.