LOS ANGELES (KABC) — There’s certainly nothing wrong with the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe, but Hyundai decided now was the right time for a change — a big change.
The 2024 Santa Fe was unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show last fall, showcasing a new, boxy look.
If you like angular cars, you’re in luck: this car is very different from previous generations, including the original Santa Fe from way back when.
Introduced as a 2001 model, it was Hyundai’s first SUV and made quite an impact.
Not only was the brand entering the burgeoning crossover segment, it was also coming into its own as a mainstream automaker.
While Hyundai has often been positioned as a “low-cost” brand in the past, it is now a strong contender in a highly competitive market.
This new fifth-generation Santa Fe is boxier, larger and loaded with the latest technology.
For example, there’s wireless phone charging, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, active safety systems, and even adaptive cruise control and in-car Wi-Fi service — a host of features that were barely even conceived when the first Santa Fe was introduced.
There’s also cutting-edge technology under the hood, with a standard turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing an impressive 277 horsepower.
Compare that to the first-generation Santa Fe’s optional 2.7-liter V6 engine, which produced a modest 181 horsepower by today’s standards.
As with the previous generation, a Santa Fe Hybrid is also available.
Even the Toyota Prius barely drew any attention in the automotive world when the first hybrid car was released in 2000. Today, hybrids are far more mainstream.
Hyundai’s designers haven’t just stuck to the boxy theme, they’ve also incorporated a bit of fun.
The front and rear lights have a clever ‘H’ pattern that is especially visible when the brake lights or signals are on.
It’s sure to be a rebuttal to the complaint that “all cars look the same these days.” Base prices for the new Santa Fe range from $33,950 to $48,800.
Buyer tastes have changed since the first Santa Fe was introduced as a 2001 model, at a time when sedans still overwhelmingly dominated the automotive market.
Since then, SUVs have overtaken sedans to become the sweet spot of the market, and small to midsize crossovers have become the sweet spot within that sweet spot.
The Santa Fe recently went with three rows to broaden its appeal, and it’s on the larger side for the compact SUV class. It’s loaded with technology and reasonably priced.
It’s not Hyundai’s biggest seller, but it’s an important car that’s now made in the U.S. and has all the bells and whistles buyers want.
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