Fluidic Hyundai Verna Test Drive Review
Car tested: 2011 Hyundai Verna Fluidic 1.6 CRDi SX (Opt)
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 11,79,062/-
The Hyundai Verna has been on the scene since a few years now. It did undergo a cosmetic upgrade last year, which unfortunately did not go well with prospective customers. The Verna Transform was not a bad car but the competition was so good that not many looked at it. However, things have changed drastically as Hyundai has launched the all new Fluidic Verna, which has received tremendous response already. For starters, the Fluidic design of the new Hyundai Verna is eye catching, something which goes well with our aesthetic loving country but does the 2011 Verna have what it takes to be a segment leader?Exteriors – What a car! Yeah my last Review was exactly opposite regarding the styling of this vehicle, Hyundai has addressed this issue in a fashionable way. The car has clocked bookings past 20,000 already since its launch. Right from the front to the rear, the whole car looks superb and very stylish. The Fluidic Verna carries Hyundai’s new design language at the front, similar to the refreshed i10. Gone are the bland unexciting looks and in comes the stylish, bold as well as planted look, the car looks more European now.
The first noticeable thing about the car are the sharp headlights with superb detailing, the hexagonal front end and distinctive L- Shaped fog lamps sitting pretty low on the bumper, Hyundai may disagree but if you look sideways the area just behind the rear windows looks similar to the Mercedes CLS. Rear-end stance looks clean and planted, the wraparound tail lamps look smashing but have a strong resemblance to the older City seen exactly from the rear. The New Verna looks nothing like its predecessor and that’s the best part of the design. The bold feature lines on the side profile give the car a strong character and purposeful look, though the bottom feature line does seems to be scooped out a bit more, it could have been little subtle in appearance. We personally liked the feature lines on the side extending upto the front fog lamps, look very nice and different even the prominent “V” on the bonnet looks nice and adds to the muscular look of the car.
The chrome tipped dual exhaust pipes look nice and give additional character to the overall rear stance of the vehicle.The ORVM’s(Outside Rear View Mirror) have integrated turn indicators and are electrically adjustable and foldable, a feature which is common to all Hyundai cars these days. The wiper washer slots are rectangular in shape rather than circular which we normally see in most of the cars, unique feature again.The car also gets rear parking camera mounted just below the chrome strip on the boot lid.
Interiors – The interiors of the car are brand new but do not go in synch with the exterior styling. The interiors are rather conventional compared to the exterior styling. The dashboard has a practical layout and looks modern too.Push button start, with the button placed on the left side of steering wheel is a first for this segment, the steering wheel is carried over from i20 and has integrated audio and phone controls. The dashboard backlit displays are in white and blue, New Verna comes with a unique switch, which increases or decreases the backlit display intensity and can be decreased to a low, useful feature while driving on the highways at night.
Keep the key parked in your pocket and press the black button on the door handle to get inside. As long as the key is on you, the car will start once you clutch and hit the start button. In an event you get off the car while the engine is running, the car will beep to warn you that the key is moving out, but the engine wont shut off even if the key is taken away. A first in segment.
The MID (Multi Information Display) is packed with loads of data/readings like distance to empty, average fuel consumption, outside temperature, eco mode status,instant fuel consumption and other usual warnings like door open, press clutch pedal to start engine, seat belt warning etc., even the gear shift recommendation tool indicates in real time, the gear you need to shift up/down thus helping in enhancing fuel efficiency like in the i10 and i20. The dashboard has a nice texture and feels nice to touch as well. The front seat widened arm rest, with storage compartment below, provides comfort to the co-driver during long drives. However driver compromises for the same as he cannot rest his arm and shift gears simultaneously, the previous Verna’s driver armrest was very useful in this case, the rear seats also come with integrated armrests and inbuilt storage compartment unlike the previous generation Verna which had cupholders. The door trims are of good quality.
Front seats are comfortable and generous but the rear seats are pretty low to sit and lack under thigh support. There is an awkward bump at the center of the rear seat which can make the passenger pretty uncomfortable during long journeys.
Reverse parking camera is placed on the boot and the inside rear view mirror gets auto-dimming feature. The left hand side of the miror also doubles up as the rear parking display.
Thanks to the sloping roofline, view through the rear view mirror is compromised and looks something as meager as this.
The Verna get a set of 5 Alloy wheels. The spare tyre of the same spec as the others.
Ride, Handling and Braking – The car rides well on the flat surfaces as the suspension is softly tuned, most of the rough patches are absorbed without any complaint at low speeds and at high speeds the bumps are soft but felt. The electric power steering is light and effortless in city conditions, high speed handling is the major factor of concern where the steering feels and gives that disconnected feeling with no mentionable feedback.
The Engine, especially the diesel one is eager to pull further but the handling constraints stop from doing so, the dynamics of this vehicle are just as other cars in this segment at speeds of upto 110-130kmph, above which you don’t get the desired confidence of accelerating ahead. The New car comes equipped with disc for all 4 wheels in addition ABS with EBD while aids in stopping the vehicle to a huge extent. This car is well to city driving conditions and is not the best bet on the highway.
Performance – Here comes the real treat, Hyundai has offered the New Verna with four engine options, two Petrols (1.4 & 1.6) and two Diesels respectively. The 1.4 & 1.6 Petrols delivers 106Bhp@6300rpm and 122Bhp@6300rpm, torque ratings are 138Nm@5000rpm & 155Nm@4200rpm respectively. The real deal comes in the form of the extremely frugal and powerful Diesels, 1.4 delivers 90Bhp@4000rpm and torque of 220Nm@1750-2750rpm while the 1.6 Diesel churns out 127Bhp@4000rpm and torque of 260Nm@1900-2750rpm. The Petrols are powerful and offer good performance but are not as punchy as their diesel counterparts.
The 1.6 Diesel (Manual Transmission) is the Star of the lot and for the enthusiasts, the earlier Verna had a tendency of turbo lag upto 1700rpm after which the VGT(Variable Geometry Turbo) would come into action and the car would accelerate instantly with a small jerk. Drive the car and you would notice the difference between new and old Verna instantly, this vehicle’s acceleration is linear and gradual in comparison to the previous version. There is turbo lag in this car as well but since the acceleration is linear/gradual, its negligible unlike the previous version. Once you go past the 1900rpm mark, the VGT kicks in accelerating the car upto 3000rpm, the mid-range is punchy and overtaking was neither a problem with previous car nor this one, the gearing is on the taller side, city driving needs lot of working on the gearbox, especially in bumper to bumper traffic. Once on the highway, the car cruises quite comfortably, the additional 6th gear ratio aids in cruising and the engine feels relaxed giving enhancing fuel efficiency as well. The gearbox is slick, smooth and precise but not the best in this segment.
Fuel Economy – Both the versions (Petrol and Diesel) have good mileage figures and the diesel stretches upto 18kmpl on highways and delivers between 13-15kmpl in city driving conditions. The fuel tank has a capacity of 43 litres.
Conclusion
Here comes the real question whether to go for the New Verna or not? Well its a great looking sedan, infact one of the best looking cars sold in India, it is well packaged, offering decent amount of space at the front and rear as well. No other car looks as smashing as the new Verna in this segment. Hyundai has powered this sedan with very competent and fuel efficient engines with most of the features offered in this car are a segment first with top notch safety features in the list. The high speed handling and overall dynamics of the car are still not upto the mark. Its huge improvement over its predecessor and a brilliant effort by Hyundai, considering the current sales figures of this car, the Hyundai Verna might be the new king of the segment.
Whats Cool
* Smashing and Sporty Exterior Styling
* Well Designed and laid out Interiors
* Four Engine Options Offered, 1.4 Petrol and Diesel for the efficiency conscious and 1.6 Petrol/Diesel for the performance hungry people out there.
* Almost 10 variants offered through out the range with price difference of Rs.70,000 between each variant, its like a car for every person with required features to choose from.
* Punchy and Refined Engines and well tuned suspension for low speed rides in city and light steering for easy city maneuvering.
* Auto dimming feature for dimming the console light intensity, useful at night.
* Inner Rear View Mirror controlled by ECM which cuts the glare automatically at night.
* Top notch safety features like 6 Airbags, EBD,ABS.
Whats Not So Cool
* Ride and Handling at high speeds still an issue, not sorted out and similar to the earlier version
* 4 Speed Automatic Gearboxes. A complete NO-NO.
* Rear Seat under thigh support not good compared to the competition.
* Softly tuned suspension tends to upset the car easily and provide a wallopy ride at high speeds.
2011 Hyundai Verna Specifications : -
* Engine: 1582 cc, 4 Cylinder, CRDI
* Power: 128 Bhp @ 4000rpm
* Torque: 26.50 Kgm @ 1900 – 2750 rpm
* Transmission: 6-speed manual
* Top Speed: 190 kmph
* 0-100kmph: 10.62 seconds
* Fuel Consumption: 13-14 kmpl (City), 16-18 kmpl (highway)
* Fuel Type: Diesel
* Suspension: Independent, MacPherson strut, coil springs (Front), Non-independent, Torsion beam coil spring (Rear)
* Tires: 195/55/16 Tubeless Radials
* Brakes: All 4 discs, ABS, EBD
* Safety: ABS, EBD, 6 (Front & Curtain) Airbags
2011 Hyundai Verna Dimensions : -
* Overall length x width x height: 4370 mm X 1700 mm X 1475 mm
* Wheelbase: 2570 mm
* Ground clearance: 170 mm
* Turning Radius: 5.2m
* Boot Volume: 505 liters
* Fuel Tank Capacity: 43 litres
* Kerb Weight: 1191 kgs
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 11,79,062/-
The Hyundai Verna has been on the scene since a few years now. It did undergo a cosmetic upgrade last year, which unfortunately did not go well with prospective customers. The Verna Transform was not a bad car but the competition was so good that not many looked at it. However, things have changed drastically as Hyundai has launched the all new Fluidic Verna, which has received tremendous response already. For starters, the Fluidic design of the new Hyundai Verna is eye catching, something which goes well with our aesthetic loving country but does the 2011 Verna have what it takes to be a segment leader?Exteriors – What a car! Yeah my last Review was exactly opposite regarding the styling of this vehicle, Hyundai has addressed this issue in a fashionable way. The car has clocked bookings past 20,000 already since its launch. Right from the front to the rear, the whole car looks superb and very stylish. The Fluidic Verna carries Hyundai’s new design language at the front, similar to the refreshed i10. Gone are the bland unexciting looks and in comes the stylish, bold as well as planted look, the car looks more European now.
The first noticeable thing about the car are the sharp headlights with superb detailing, the hexagonal front end and distinctive L- Shaped fog lamps sitting pretty low on the bumper, Hyundai may disagree but if you look sideways the area just behind the rear windows looks similar to the Mercedes CLS. Rear-end stance looks clean and planted, the wraparound tail lamps look smashing but have a strong resemblance to the older City seen exactly from the rear. The New Verna looks nothing like its predecessor and that’s the best part of the design. The bold feature lines on the side profile give the car a strong character and purposeful look, though the bottom feature line does seems to be scooped out a bit more, it could have been little subtle in appearance. We personally liked the feature lines on the side extending upto the front fog lamps, look very nice and different even the prominent “V” on the bonnet looks nice and adds to the muscular look of the car.
The chrome tipped dual exhaust pipes look nice and give additional character to the overall rear stance of the vehicle.The ORVM’s(Outside Rear View Mirror) have integrated turn indicators and are electrically adjustable and foldable, a feature which is common to all Hyundai cars these days. The wiper washer slots are rectangular in shape rather than circular which we normally see in most of the cars, unique feature again.The car also gets rear parking camera mounted just below the chrome strip on the boot lid.
Interiors – The interiors of the car are brand new but do not go in synch with the exterior styling. The interiors are rather conventional compared to the exterior styling. The dashboard has a practical layout and looks modern too.Push button start, with the button placed on the left side of steering wheel is a first for this segment, the steering wheel is carried over from i20 and has integrated audio and phone controls. The dashboard backlit displays are in white and blue, New Verna comes with a unique switch, which increases or decreases the backlit display intensity and can be decreased to a low, useful feature while driving on the highways at night.
Keep the key parked in your pocket and press the black button on the door handle to get inside. As long as the key is on you, the car will start once you clutch and hit the start button. In an event you get off the car while the engine is running, the car will beep to warn you that the key is moving out, but the engine wont shut off even if the key is taken away. A first in segment.
The MID (Multi Information Display) is packed with loads of data/readings like distance to empty, average fuel consumption, outside temperature, eco mode status,instant fuel consumption and other usual warnings like door open, press clutch pedal to start engine, seat belt warning etc., even the gear shift recommendation tool indicates in real time, the gear you need to shift up/down thus helping in enhancing fuel efficiency like in the i10 and i20. The dashboard has a nice texture and feels nice to touch as well. The front seat widened arm rest, with storage compartment below, provides comfort to the co-driver during long drives. However driver compromises for the same as he cannot rest his arm and shift gears simultaneously, the previous Verna’s driver armrest was very useful in this case, the rear seats also come with integrated armrests and inbuilt storage compartment unlike the previous generation Verna which had cupholders. The door trims are of good quality.
Front seats are comfortable and generous but the rear seats are pretty low to sit and lack under thigh support. There is an awkward bump at the center of the rear seat which can make the passenger pretty uncomfortable during long journeys.
Reverse parking camera is placed on the boot and the inside rear view mirror gets auto-dimming feature. The left hand side of the miror also doubles up as the rear parking display.
Thanks to the sloping roofline, view through the rear view mirror is compromised and looks something as meager as this.
The Verna get a set of 5 Alloy wheels. The spare tyre of the same spec as the others.
Ride, Handling and Braking – The car rides well on the flat surfaces as the suspension is softly tuned, most of the rough patches are absorbed without any complaint at low speeds and at high speeds the bumps are soft but felt. The electric power steering is light and effortless in city conditions, high speed handling is the major factor of concern where the steering feels and gives that disconnected feeling with no mentionable feedback.
The Engine, especially the diesel one is eager to pull further but the handling constraints stop from doing so, the dynamics of this vehicle are just as other cars in this segment at speeds of upto 110-130kmph, above which you don’t get the desired confidence of accelerating ahead. The New car comes equipped with disc for all 4 wheels in addition ABS with EBD while aids in stopping the vehicle to a huge extent. This car is well to city driving conditions and is not the best bet on the highway.
Performance – Here comes the real treat, Hyundai has offered the New Verna with four engine options, two Petrols (1.4 & 1.6) and two Diesels respectively. The 1.4 & 1.6 Petrols delivers 106Bhp@6300rpm and 122Bhp@6300rpm, torque ratings are 138Nm@5000rpm & 155Nm@4200rpm respectively. The real deal comes in the form of the extremely frugal and powerful Diesels, 1.4 delivers 90Bhp@4000rpm and torque of 220Nm@1750-2750rpm while the 1.6 Diesel churns out 127Bhp@4000rpm and torque of 260Nm@1900-2750rpm. The Petrols are powerful and offer good performance but are not as punchy as their diesel counterparts.
The 1.6 Diesel (Manual Transmission) is the Star of the lot and for the enthusiasts, the earlier Verna had a tendency of turbo lag upto 1700rpm after which the VGT(Variable Geometry Turbo) would come into action and the car would accelerate instantly with a small jerk. Drive the car and you would notice the difference between new and old Verna instantly, this vehicle’s acceleration is linear and gradual in comparison to the previous version. There is turbo lag in this car as well but since the acceleration is linear/gradual, its negligible unlike the previous version. Once you go past the 1900rpm mark, the VGT kicks in accelerating the car upto 3000rpm, the mid-range is punchy and overtaking was neither a problem with previous car nor this one, the gearing is on the taller side, city driving needs lot of working on the gearbox, especially in bumper to bumper traffic. Once on the highway, the car cruises quite comfortably, the additional 6th gear ratio aids in cruising and the engine feels relaxed giving enhancing fuel efficiency as well. The gearbox is slick, smooth and precise but not the best in this segment.
Fuel Economy – Both the versions (Petrol and Diesel) have good mileage figures and the diesel stretches upto 18kmpl on highways and delivers between 13-15kmpl in city driving conditions. The fuel tank has a capacity of 43 litres.
Conclusion
Here comes the real question whether to go for the New Verna or not? Well its a great looking sedan, infact one of the best looking cars sold in India, it is well packaged, offering decent amount of space at the front and rear as well. No other car looks as smashing as the new Verna in this segment. Hyundai has powered this sedan with very competent and fuel efficient engines with most of the features offered in this car are a segment first with top notch safety features in the list. The high speed handling and overall dynamics of the car are still not upto the mark. Its huge improvement over its predecessor and a brilliant effort by Hyundai, considering the current sales figures of this car, the Hyundai Verna might be the new king of the segment.
Whats Cool
* Smashing and Sporty Exterior Styling
* Well Designed and laid out Interiors
* Four Engine Options Offered, 1.4 Petrol and Diesel for the efficiency conscious and 1.6 Petrol/Diesel for the performance hungry people out there.
* Almost 10 variants offered through out the range with price difference of Rs.70,000 between each variant, its like a car for every person with required features to choose from.
* Punchy and Refined Engines and well tuned suspension for low speed rides in city and light steering for easy city maneuvering.
* Auto dimming feature for dimming the console light intensity, useful at night.
* Inner Rear View Mirror controlled by ECM which cuts the glare automatically at night.
* Top notch safety features like 6 Airbags, EBD,ABS.
Whats Not So Cool
* Ride and Handling at high speeds still an issue, not sorted out and similar to the earlier version
* 4 Speed Automatic Gearboxes. A complete NO-NO.
* Rear Seat under thigh support not good compared to the competition.
* Softly tuned suspension tends to upset the car easily and provide a wallopy ride at high speeds.
2011 Hyundai Verna Specifications : -
* Engine: 1582 cc, 4 Cylinder, CRDI
* Power: 128 Bhp @ 4000rpm
* Torque: 26.50 Kgm @ 1900 – 2750 rpm
* Transmission: 6-speed manual
* Top Speed: 190 kmph
* 0-100kmph: 10.62 seconds
* Fuel Consumption: 13-14 kmpl (City), 16-18 kmpl (highway)
* Fuel Type: Diesel
* Suspension: Independent, MacPherson strut, coil springs (Front), Non-independent, Torsion beam coil spring (Rear)
* Tires: 195/55/16 Tubeless Radials
* Brakes: All 4 discs, ABS, EBD
* Safety: ABS, EBD, 6 (Front & Curtain) Airbags
2011 Hyundai Verna Dimensions : -
* Overall length x width x height: 4370 mm X 1700 mm X 1475 mm
* Wheelbase: 2570 mm
* Ground clearance: 170 mm
* Turning Radius: 5.2m
* Boot Volume: 505 liters
* Fuel Tank Capacity: 43 litres
* Kerb Weight: 1191 kgs
Hyundai Santa Fe Test Drive Review
Car tested: 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe 4WD
Price OTR Mumbai: 29,44,276/-
Hyundai, the manufacturer synonymous for value for money cars recently entered the competitive SUV segment with the Santa Fe. Named after the city of Santa Fe in New Mexico, Santa Fe made its global debut in the year 1999 and is now in its second generation. Hyundai India received overwhelming response for the Santa Fe with 535 bookings in just two weeks which led Hyundai to the close the bookings. Surely, that makes the Hyundai Santa Fe as popular as the Toyota Fortuner at launch but does the Santa Fe have what it takes to rule the urban jungle?
Exteriors – Taking cues from Hyundai’s new design language, the Santa Fe’s exterior features a body coloured front grille, rugged bumper design, roof rails, chrome accent door handles, twin exhausts, rear spoiler with high mounted stop lamp, high contrast rear combination lamps, heated outside mirrors with side repeaters and 18-inch alloy wheels, the largest in class. This makes the Santa Fe a handsome looking SUV with a good overall design. Its not to aggressive and not to muscular either, making it a good blend between a outright off-roader and a city soft-roader.
Interiors – The Santa Fe is said to be one of the most package-efficient SUVs in the market. The interiors feature an array of luxurious features and textures including leather upholstery to give the car an elegant feel and look. The blue instrument lighting is common to most Hyundai vehicles now and the instrument cluster provides vital vehicle information including the current gear, kms traveled, distance to empty, etc.
The dual-zone climate controls for the driver and front seat passenger work effectively in cooling the cabin, second and third row passengers will be left wanting for more thanks to B-pillar-mounted adjustable vents, dual rear heating ducts and third row independent blower controls which are poorly positioned. The Santa Fe offers seven-passenger seating with the third row seat is split 50/50 and can be folded flat. The second row is 60/40-split. Total cargo space is generous with plenty of storage for items of different sizes with the seats down. However with the seats up, third row is best left to children.
Other features for the driver include driver’s side power window with anti-pinch system, steering wheel mounted audio control, leather wrapped gear knob, 10-way power adjust driver’s seat with lumbar support, electrically foldable outside mirrors and cruise control and organ type accelerator pedal. The In-Dash 6 CD changer Audio system includes USB/ipod/AUX connectivity for unlimited music access. The Santa Fe also features In-car cooler, cluster ionizer –an in-built system to improve air quality, multifunction sunvisors etc. The Santa Fe boasts of ingeniously created storage spaces such as front cup-holders with grip, utility tray in front central armrest, front door map pocket with bottle holder, dual sunglass holder, storage box with lid for third row, front seat back pockets, central arm rest with adjustable cup holders in the second row.
On the Move – The Santa Fe has been awarded a Five Star safety rating by NCAP (New Car Assessment Program). It comes with a host of safety features including ESP (Electronic Stability Program), EBD (Electronic Brake-force Distribution), ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) and TCS (Traction Control System). It also is one of the few vehicles to have six standard airbags including side and curtain Airbags for all three rows of available seating. The roll-over sensor monitor vehicular angle and can predict a rollover. The front-seat active head restraints help prevent whiplash by automatically reducing the space between a front occupant’s head and the head restraint during a rear collision. The silica tyres feature a silica-based rubber compound that provides better grip on wet surfaces and reduced rolling resistance for improved fuel efficiency, which can be anything between 7-10kmpl (14.66 kmpl ARAI certified) depending on your driving style.
Ride, Handling and Braking – The Santa Fe weighs in over two tons which can degrade handling quite a bit but the Santa Fe is sharp and does not feel all that bulky. However the Santa Fe goes crazy under heavy acceleration with the traction control switched off. Accelerate hard and the steering wheel will take directions of its own without your intent to point it that way. Ride quality is good but on potholed filled roads, it can be quite jarring. The firm suspension does filter in some vibrations and the low profile won’t help one bit. Braking is very sharp and the Santa Fe stops right in its track any given time and speed.
Performance – The Santa Fe is powered by a 2.2L CRDi engine that delivers a maximum power of 197PS at 4000 rpm and 42.9 kgm of torque at 1800~2500rpm. Mated to a six speed manual transmission, with an option of 2WD and 4WD, the Santa Fe is one hoot to drive. Any gear, any speed, step on the gas and once the turbo spools up the Santa Fe moves forward with such urgency that you have to stop and check if your head is in place. The torque rush is addictive and the Santa Fe reaches 100 in just 9.4 seconds and on to a top speed in excess of 180kmph. Reaching 150kmph takes no time at all and if we have an award for the best diesel engine for power in the country, the Santa Fe would take it hands down.
The Santa Fe has very little turbo lag, a rare phenomenon in big diesel engines. The gear shift is smooth but little rigid at times. We reckon that gearbox will loosen up after sometime. The clutch is insanely heavy and the driver is bound to feel his left leg being over worked after a long drive. Even though the Santa Fe has big dimensions, with such a powerful motor at its behest, overtaking in traffic is a breeze. You just need to aim and shoot cautiously, because the Santa Fe has so much power it spins the wheels so crazily that even a car noob would sit up and take notice.
Conclusion – The Santa Fe is a very good alternative to the Fortuner. It has good presence, bucket loads of stowage and safety features. It drives well and offers an insane driving experience to people who like driving, thanks to the monstrous torque. It does have its shortcomings like high price (CBU), heavy clutch and expensive spares. But with most owners opting for a chauffeur, the Santa Fe makes perfect sense for people who like to take the road less traveled on the weekend. A CKD operation with a automatic transmission will help boost sales, but Hyundai is already capacity crunched with the Santa Fe globally, making the Santa Fe very unique on the roads.
Whats Cool
* Looks
* Features
* Engine
* Brakes
Whats Not So Cool
* Price
* Third row seats
* Insane torque steer
Hyundai Santa Fe Specifications : -
* Engine: 2199cc, DOHC
* Power: 197PS @ 3800rpm
* Torque: 421Nm @ 1800-2500rpm
* Transmission: 6 speed manual
* Top Speed: 180kmph
* 0-100kmph: 9.40 seconds
* Fuel Consumption: 7-8 kmpl (City), 9-10 kmpl (highway)
* Fuel Type: Diesel
* Suspension: Mcpherson Strut Type (Front), Multi Link type (Rear)
* Tires: 235/60/18 Tubeless Radials
* Safety: ABS, EBD, Six Airbags, ESP, TCS, Engine Immobilizer
Hyundai Santa Fe Dimensions : -
* Overall length x width x height: 4660mm X 1890mm X 1760mm
* Wheelbase: 2700mm
* Front/Rear Track: 1615/1620 mm
* Ground clearance: 200mm
* Fuel Tank Capacity: 70 litres
*Kerb Weight: 1987kgs
Price OTR Mumbai: 29,44,276/-
Hyundai, the manufacturer synonymous for value for money cars recently entered the competitive SUV segment with the Santa Fe. Named after the city of Santa Fe in New Mexico, Santa Fe made its global debut in the year 1999 and is now in its second generation. Hyundai India received overwhelming response for the Santa Fe with 535 bookings in just two weeks which led Hyundai to the close the bookings. Surely, that makes the Hyundai Santa Fe as popular as the Toyota Fortuner at launch but does the Santa Fe have what it takes to rule the urban jungle?
Exteriors – Taking cues from Hyundai’s new design language, the Santa Fe’s exterior features a body coloured front grille, rugged bumper design, roof rails, chrome accent door handles, twin exhausts, rear spoiler with high mounted stop lamp, high contrast rear combination lamps, heated outside mirrors with side repeaters and 18-inch alloy wheels, the largest in class. This makes the Santa Fe a handsome looking SUV with a good overall design. Its not to aggressive and not to muscular either, making it a good blend between a outright off-roader and a city soft-roader.
Interiors – The Santa Fe is said to be one of the most package-efficient SUVs in the market. The interiors feature an array of luxurious features and textures including leather upholstery to give the car an elegant feel and look. The blue instrument lighting is common to most Hyundai vehicles now and the instrument cluster provides vital vehicle information including the current gear, kms traveled, distance to empty, etc.
The dual-zone climate controls for the driver and front seat passenger work effectively in cooling the cabin, second and third row passengers will be left wanting for more thanks to B-pillar-mounted adjustable vents, dual rear heating ducts and third row independent blower controls which are poorly positioned. The Santa Fe offers seven-passenger seating with the third row seat is split 50/50 and can be folded flat. The second row is 60/40-split. Total cargo space is generous with plenty of storage for items of different sizes with the seats down. However with the seats up, third row is best left to children.
Other features for the driver include driver’s side power window with anti-pinch system, steering wheel mounted audio control, leather wrapped gear knob, 10-way power adjust driver’s seat with lumbar support, electrically foldable outside mirrors and cruise control and organ type accelerator pedal. The In-Dash 6 CD changer Audio system includes USB/ipod/AUX connectivity for unlimited music access. The Santa Fe also features In-car cooler, cluster ionizer –an in-built system to improve air quality, multifunction sunvisors etc. The Santa Fe boasts of ingeniously created storage spaces such as front cup-holders with grip, utility tray in front central armrest, front door map pocket with bottle holder, dual sunglass holder, storage box with lid for third row, front seat back pockets, central arm rest with adjustable cup holders in the second row.
On the Move – The Santa Fe has been awarded a Five Star safety rating by NCAP (New Car Assessment Program). It comes with a host of safety features including ESP (Electronic Stability Program), EBD (Electronic Brake-force Distribution), ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) and TCS (Traction Control System). It also is one of the few vehicles to have six standard airbags including side and curtain Airbags for all three rows of available seating. The roll-over sensor monitor vehicular angle and can predict a rollover. The front-seat active head restraints help prevent whiplash by automatically reducing the space between a front occupant’s head and the head restraint during a rear collision. The silica tyres feature a silica-based rubber compound that provides better grip on wet surfaces and reduced rolling resistance for improved fuel efficiency, which can be anything between 7-10kmpl (14.66 kmpl ARAI certified) depending on your driving style.
Ride, Handling and Braking – The Santa Fe weighs in over two tons which can degrade handling quite a bit but the Santa Fe is sharp and does not feel all that bulky. However the Santa Fe goes crazy under heavy acceleration with the traction control switched off. Accelerate hard and the steering wheel will take directions of its own without your intent to point it that way. Ride quality is good but on potholed filled roads, it can be quite jarring. The firm suspension does filter in some vibrations and the low profile won’t help one bit. Braking is very sharp and the Santa Fe stops right in its track any given time and speed.
Performance – The Santa Fe is powered by a 2.2L CRDi engine that delivers a maximum power of 197PS at 4000 rpm and 42.9 kgm of torque at 1800~2500rpm. Mated to a six speed manual transmission, with an option of 2WD and 4WD, the Santa Fe is one hoot to drive. Any gear, any speed, step on the gas and once the turbo spools up the Santa Fe moves forward with such urgency that you have to stop and check if your head is in place. The torque rush is addictive and the Santa Fe reaches 100 in just 9.4 seconds and on to a top speed in excess of 180kmph. Reaching 150kmph takes no time at all and if we have an award for the best diesel engine for power in the country, the Santa Fe would take it hands down.
The Santa Fe has very little turbo lag, a rare phenomenon in big diesel engines. The gear shift is smooth but little rigid at times. We reckon that gearbox will loosen up after sometime. The clutch is insanely heavy and the driver is bound to feel his left leg being over worked after a long drive. Even though the Santa Fe has big dimensions, with such a powerful motor at its behest, overtaking in traffic is a breeze. You just need to aim and shoot cautiously, because the Santa Fe has so much power it spins the wheels so crazily that even a car noob would sit up and take notice.
Conclusion – The Santa Fe is a very good alternative to the Fortuner. It has good presence, bucket loads of stowage and safety features. It drives well and offers an insane driving experience to people who like driving, thanks to the monstrous torque. It does have its shortcomings like high price (CBU), heavy clutch and expensive spares. But with most owners opting for a chauffeur, the Santa Fe makes perfect sense for people who like to take the road less traveled on the weekend. A CKD operation with a automatic transmission will help boost sales, but Hyundai is already capacity crunched with the Santa Fe globally, making the Santa Fe very unique on the roads.
Whats Cool
* Looks
* Features
* Engine
* Brakes
Whats Not So Cool
* Price
* Third row seats
* Insane torque steer
Hyundai Santa Fe Specifications : -
* Engine: 2199cc, DOHC
* Power: 197PS @ 3800rpm
* Torque: 421Nm @ 1800-2500rpm
* Transmission: 6 speed manual
* Top Speed: 180kmph
* 0-100kmph: 9.40 seconds
* Fuel Consumption: 7-8 kmpl (City), 9-10 kmpl (highway)
* Fuel Type: Diesel
* Suspension: Mcpherson Strut Type (Front), Multi Link type (Rear)
* Tires: 235/60/18 Tubeless Radials
* Safety: ABS, EBD, Six Airbags, ESP, TCS, Engine Immobilizer
Hyundai Santa Fe Dimensions : -
* Overall length x width x height: 4660mm X 1890mm X 1760mm
* Wheelbase: 2700mm
* Front/Rear Track: 1615/1620 mm
* Ground clearance: 200mm
* Fuel Tank Capacity: 70 litres
*Kerb Weight: 1987kgs
