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2007 Hyundai Santa Fe Preview

Does Hyundai Have Another Award-Winner in the Making?

As you know, I like what Hyundai did with its new 2006 Sonata. I talk about it all the time in our bimonthly long-term updates, including how Hyundai refined everything from styling to perceived quality and driving dynamics, while it pumped up performance to near premium levels. As you can imagine, Ive already put in a request for a 2007 Santa Fe when it becomes available.

I took extra time at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit to poke around the all-new crossover SUV, and after careful examination came away beyond impressed.

When it was unveiled a chorus of oohs and ahs could be heard, and just one look makes it easy to understand why. It looks superb! Much like the Sonata, only SUV-like. Such styling updates are especially noticeable up front where the sculpted hood

Hyundai unveiled its new 2007 Santa Fe at the Detroit auto show last month, to a chorus of oohs and ahs. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

lines flow effortlessly into the larger, three strake ovoid grille opening. An athletic looking front fascia integrates twin circular fog lamps and a racy bumper extension protruding out of the lower air intake, a very stylish addition. Flush, softly shaped headlamp clusters meld in with the front fenders, which rise slightly before being pulled rearward over broad shoulders, bisected by elegant chrome embellished body-color door handles.

A secondary waistline, more sharply cut, blends the CUVs (crossover

The new Santa Fe features styling that should be more appealing to a broader audience than its predecessor. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

utility vehicle) rear quarter panels into the tailgate, meeting up directly with its taillights, which are shaped and angled downward in unison with the rear window outline as they meet up with the license plate cutout, much like the headlamps are shaped and angle down toward the grille. The only reminder of the old Santa Fe, at least all that I could immediately see, is the seemingly reincarnated hinge-like tube that previously stretched from the outer liftgate panel to the license plate recess, but now it has a purpose beyond styling, its the door handle, and,

Inside the new Santa Fe, its all about refinement. (Photo: Hyundai Motor America)

like the side door handles, is highlighted with chrome and painted body-color. Very nice.

Inside, its all about refinement. I find the basic design more elegant, bordering on stunning, with all of the previous generations alien-like dash moldings replaced with classy curves, upscale woodgrain and brushed metal accents. Hyundai isnt trying to reinvent the wheel here, but rather do a better job than its Japanese rivals at a far lower price. The business model has worked in the past, and should continue to do so as long as the South Korean-based manufacturer can continue to maintain high levels of productivity in its Montgomery, Alabama plant, where the Sonata is built, soon

Not only does the new Santa Fe feature higher grade plastics than the norm, but all interior panels fit together snuggly. (Photo: Hyundai Motor America)

joined by the new Santa Fe. Before we jump to conclusions about the new Santa Fe sharing its "platform" with the Sonata, it doesnt. Rather, Hyundai has created an all-new purposely built architecture just for its upgraded midsize CUV.

But getting back to Alabama, gone are the days where Hyundai had the competitive advantage of cheap South Korean labor and direct access to cheaper South Korean suppliers, at least when it comes to its large vehicles. Now, Hyundai needs to compete head on with the domestic manufacturers, as well as Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Mitsubishi, and other Asian carmakers that have set up shop on North American soil, so the fact that they can build cars so

The Santa Fes optional perforated leather seats were as impressive to look at as they were comfortable to sit in. (Photo: Hyundai Motor America)

well and still bring them to market at a greater value than their rivals is mystifying to say the least.

Not only was I amazed to see that the new Santa Fe features higher grade plastics than the norm in this entry-level midsize CUV class, but I also found that all interior panels fit together snuggly, while dash-mounted buttons click in and out with a nice precise feel, and theres no sloppy play in between either. The same goes for all the dials, which have a nice damped feel to them. Again, the only wiggles within the audio interface, or anywhere else inside the vehicle, will be the four cheery Aussies entertaining the kids - thats a parent-only reference if there ever was one.
To look at the optional perforated leather seats,

The new Santa Fe seems on par with the Azera as far as choice of materials and build quality go, which is high praise indeed. (Photo: Hyundai Motor America)

complete with contrasting piping (a very British touch) in the first photos of the Korean-spec prototype that initially showed up on blogs across the net, was impressive enough, but I think that the solid grey of the example unveiled in Detroit is better suited to North American tastes (contrasting piping should be left to Aston Martin and Bentley, after all). Nonetheless, the seats feel extremely comfortable to sit in, whether in front or the second row, although the rearmost third row is a bit on the cramped side if you measure above five feet eight inches tall (my hair was touching the ceiling and, you guessed it, Im five eight. Still, there was ample room for my legs and feet when someone larger was sitting in the second-row seat in front of me, with his seatback canted rearward at a satisfying rake. Also,

The steering wheel is different in design to that in the Azera and the Sonata, more upscale in appearance and featuring attractive circular and oval buttons for cruise and audio functions. (Photo: Hyundai Motor America)

most pleasant was the amount of hip and elbow room available, reducing the claustrophobia most adults feel when forced into the steerage compartment of rival vehicles. I was surprised to see separate vents integrated into the rear quarters, and even more shocked that Hyundai had thought of individual fan speed controls way back in the rear. Yes, the new Santa Fe truly is a cut above. Whats more, all the seats in the show car were covered in leather that is higher grade in texture than Hyundai has used in the past - Azera aside. Actually, the new Santa Fe seems on par with the Azera as far as choice of materials and build quality go, which is high praise indeed.

I noticed that the steering wheel is different in design to that in the Azera and the Sonata, more upscale in appearance and featuring attractive circular and oval buttons

The gearbox, a sophisticated five-speed unit with the top-line 230+hp 3.3L V6, features a handy rectangular dish on its right side for a cellphone or PDA. (Photo: Hyundai Motor America)

for cruise and audio functions (including a seek feature which cant be had with the Sonata) on the spokes, while the CUVs center stack is a really nicely sorted interface, filled with high-end goodies such as a DVD-navigation system, if so equipped, Infinity sound system with a six-disc in-dash CD changer and MP3 compatibility, plus all surrounding surfaces are covered in an aluminum-like substance and "environmentally friendly" (i.e. fake) woodgrain. Despite not being real, the metal and woodgrain feel substantial (i.e. the thick wood-like plastic doesnt bend when you push on it) to the touch, while still appearing attractive enough to give off an air of respectability.

The same goes for the metal and woodgrain surfaced power window controls integrated into the door armrests, and faux aluminum transmission faceplate, even nicer than that on the Sonata and featuring a handy rectangular dish on its right side

Hyundais 3.3L V6 is ultra-smooth as applied to the Sonata, and is expected to be adapted to the Santa Fe unchanged. (Photo: Hyundai Motor America)

for a cellphone or PDA (and theres a nifty 115-volt plug just above it on the center stack for items like laptops, PDAs and cellphone chargers) plus, of course, the automakers smooth-operating five-speed automatic transmission with manual mode actuation. OK, I havent tested it in the new Santa Fe yet, but as used in the Sonata its fabulously refined.

This gearbox is the top-line optional unit, however, which connects through to the Sonatas 3.3-liter V6, adequately rated at "more than 230" horsepower and "more than 220" lb-ft of torque, according to the press kits spec sheet. Unless the CUV has gained an inordinate amount of weight, this drivetrain should be more sufficient to pull or push and pull the Santa Fe to highway speeds in spirited fashion - the pulling or pushing and pulling relating to whether the car is equipped with front-wheel drive, standard, or electronically-controlled all-wheel drive; the latter of which automatically apportions power to the tires with the most traction. For

Hyundai highlighted the Santa Fes safety features during its Detroit introduction, which include six standard airbags. (Photo: Hyundai Motor America)

light-duty off-road applications, the Santa Fe features a driver-selectable AWD lock that delivers a continuous 50/50 torque split between front and rear axles.

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