AUTO

2024 Hyundai Santa Fe: Elevating SUV Excellence with Innovation

November 24, 2023

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe was developed under the ‘Open for More’ concept, which expands everyday experiences by connecting natural environments with customers’ activities.
A new, longer wheelbase incorporates third-row seating and a spacious interior.
Santa Fe features a standard 2.5l turbo powertrain with 277 hp and 311 lb.-ft. of torque; a hybrid version is available.

The reveal of the 2024 Santa Fe by Hyundai in November 2023 was a testament to their commitment to enhancing the user experience of the Hyundai lineup. Held at AutoMobility LA, the new development concept, ‘Open for More,’ was introduced to the North American media. The critical elements of this concept are the widened liftgate and the more spacious interiors, both aimed at connecting the vehicle’s interior with the great outdoors. The liftgate area now doubles as a terrace, enabling passengers to enjoy their external environment more seamlessly. Hyundai Motor Manufacturing, LLC (HMMA) is preparing for this new generation Santa Fe’s production by investing $190 million in tooling and equipment upgrades. The new Hyundai Santa Fe 2.5T model is slated for a March 2024 release, while the Hybrid model will hit the market in spring.

The 2024 Santa Fe enriches the city driving experience and bolsters its adventure-ready appeal. The vehicle’s longer wheelbase and larger liftgate opening collaborate to create a generous, terrace-like living space within the automobile. This design innovation enables users to indulge in a seamless indoor-outdoor experience, enhancing their connection with nature during their journeys. Further improving the versatility of the Santa Fe, the extended wheelbase now facilitates the incorporation of comfortable third-row seating as standard.

“The original Santa Fe was our very first SUV in the U.S. more than two decades ago,” said José Muñoz, president and CEO, Hyundai Motor North America. “Today, we have a well-recognized and respected portfolio of 14 SUV models that include internal combustion engine, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, electric and hydrogen fuel cell electric models. With the 2024 Santa Fe, we continue our impressive transformation of the Hyundai brand and the broader SUV landscape. Our newest Santa Fe will attract even more customers with its bold, distinctive design identity, spacious interior design, and unique ability to fuse urban customer lifestyles with the natural outside environment.”

The SUV’s Bold Exterior Design Is a Powerful Presence Reflecting a Popular Outdoor Lifestyle Trend

The 2024 Santa Fe adopts a unique design development strategy, starting with an enlarged liftgate concept. This innovation aims to enhance the enjoyment of the outdoors, transforming the vehicle into an open terrace when parked. Progressing from this inward concept outward, the exterior design comes into play. The Hyundai Santa Fe showcases efficient, rectangular surfacing and a long wheelbase, exuding a confident road presence that sets it apart in the SUV market. Moreover, the vehicle’s external design cues blend strength and delicacy, aptly suited for bustling urban landscapes and serene nature-oriented settings.

“The all-new Santa Fe is a SUV that finds a perfect balance between city life and the great outdoors, handling everything from busy family itineraries to camping adventures,” said SangYup Lee, executive vice president and head of Hyundai Global Design Center. “With its longer wheelbase, roomy interior and terrace-like tailgate space, the new Santa Fe leans into its SUV strengths to offer more versatility than ever before with a premium customer experience.”

Elevating Aesthetics: The Distinctive Design and Color Palette of the Hyundai Santa Fe

The front view of the Santa Fe creates a bold impression, characterized by an elevated, level hood line, H-shaped headlamp signature, and precision-detailed fenders. These design elements draw inspiration from the new flat-profile Hyundai logo, reinforcing a bold and distinctive image. The extended wheelbase adds an element of sophistication, underscored by clean side sculpting, a flatter roofline, generous fender volumes, and robust wheel arches. The front overhang is shortened, and the SUV is equipped with available 21-inch alloy wheels. From the rear, the wider liftgate opening conveys stability and is enriched by simpler, sculptural surfacing details. Like the headlamps, the H-shaped tail lamps harmonize and complement the front view to create an attractive lighting signature from all angles. The new, wide liftgate design is nearly six inches wider than the previous generation Santa Fe, further enhancing its strong presence.

In North America, the Hyundai Santa Fe offers an appealing range of 11 exterior colors that cater to diverse tastes. These include the sleek Phantom Black, the serene Serenity White Pearl, and the luminous Shimmering Silver Metallic. For those seeking a unique aesthetic, the Santa Fe also comes in Ecotronic Gray Pearl and Ecotronic Gray Matte. Those who prefer vibrant tones can opt for the striking Ultimate Red Metallic. The Earthy Brass Matte provides a rich, robust impression, while Hampton Gray offers understated elegance. Rounding off this spectrum are the adventurous Terracotta Orange and the soothing Rockwood Green Pearl.

Horizontal and Vertical Design Elements in the Interior Design Convey a Solid SUV Character

The all-new interior of the Hyundai Santa Fe matches the exterior design language, emphasizing horizontal and vertical design elements to convey a strong SUV character. The H-shaped design motif, incorporated into the upper instrument panel and air vents, echoes the exterior design and enhances a sense of openness within the vehicle.

The new interior design of the Santa Fe also boasts an array of available convenience features that enhance the user experience. Notably, it includes a UV-C sterilization compartment that ensures a hygienic environment by eliminating bacteria and viruses, bolstering the health and safety of its occupants. Additionally, Santa Fe is equipped with a dual, wireless charging system (15W) for smartphones, making it easier for passengers to keep their devices powered up on the go. The vehicle also features a first-in-class Panoramic Curved Display, which integrates the 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and infotainment system.

Sustainable Comfort and Versatility: The Interior Innovations of the All-New Hyundai Santa Fe

Leveraging the longer wheelbase, the all-new Santa Fe offers superior interior space, ensuring passenger comfort. The fully foldable second and third-row seats create a terrace-like space at the rear liftgate opening, enabling users to effortlessly enjoy the outdoors. This innovative design concept used lifestyle data to identify consumer interest in the latest outdoor lifestyle trends. The Santa Fe is thus ideally equipped for car camping and gear-intensive outdoor adventures, meeting the modern consumer’s desire for versatility, comfort, and the freedom to explore the great outdoors.

Eco-friendly materials play an integral role in defining the interior aesthetics of Santa Fe. Soft surfaces like the headliner, seatbacks and various covering materials such as the instrument panel, door trim, and seats are made from sustainable materials. The commitment to environmental preservation extends to the exterior as well. The glossy black paint applied to exterior trim panels incorporates recycled carbon materials. Regarding the exterior colors, the Ecotronic Gray for North American markets is produced using a natural bamboo charcoal-coating method. The Santa Fe is available in an array of interior colors, beautifully exemplifying its commitment to sustainability without compromising on style or comfort. The options include Obsidian Black, Supersonic Gray, Pecan Brown, and Forest Green.

The SUV’s Practical Body Profile Facilitates Both Urban and Outdoor Activities

The all-new Hyundai Santa Fe provides impressive cargo capacity, a benefit for urban lifestyles and outdoor adventures. There is plenty of room for everything from sports equipment to camping gear to travel luggage, making this SUV a versatile choice for active individuals and families. Roof storage access is further enhanced by a self-concealing grab handle within the exterior C-pillar, eliminating interruptions to the vehicle’s sleek, flush exterior surfacing.

Santa Fe prioritizes living space, providing increased second- and third-row legroom for a more comfortable ride. The SUV offers best-in-class third-row legroom and improved rear headroom, making it the ideal choice for long journeys. The Santa Fe 2.5T second-row legroom length has increased by 1.4 in., and the hybrid model second-row legroom length has increased by 0.8 in., ensuring a comfortable ride for all passengers, irrespective of their seating position.

Santa Fe’s Premium Features Enhance Convenience and Comfort in the City or Outdoor Environments

To elevate user experience to new heights, the all-new Santa Fe teems with a rich suite of premium comfort and convenience features. It boasts a first-row Relaxation Comfort seat with a leg rest option, which allows passengers to recline in a supremely comforting position that mimics a weightless experience. In the six-passenger Santa Fe variant, second-row power-reclining captain’s chairs are available, providing unparalleled comfort to the rear passengers. Adding second-row power fold-and-dive seats is noteworthy, introducing a world-first cushion-angle adjustment for a second-row fold-and-dive seat. In a bid to revolutionize in-car storage, Santa Fe also pioneers the world’s first bilateral, multi-console storage space, conveniently accessible by both front and rear passengers.

With its dual wireless smartphone charging system, Santa Fe ensures that staying connected on the move is effortless and convenient. Now standard, the Wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto® integration means all your favorite apps are just a tap away. A powerful USB-C terminal with a maximum charging rate of 27 watts and a third-row USB port cater to all your charging needs and are readily available. Safety and cleanliness are taken a notch higher with Santa Fe’s UV-C sterilization compartment on top of the glove compartment that uses ultraviolet light-based sterilization for frequently used items like cellphones, wallets, glasses, and comparable items. For music lovers, an available Bose® 12-speaker premium sound system ensures a premium audio experience, turning every ride into a concert on wheels.

Advanced Technology for a Safer and More Convenient Driving Experience in the Hyundai Santa Fe

To ensure that your Santa Fe always operates at its best, Hyundai offers Over-The-Air (OTA) updates. This cutting-edge feature enables the vehicle’s systems to be updated with the latest available software, wirelessly updating key controllers without needing a service center visit. Your car’s systems stay up-to-date, ensuring optimal performance and a seamless driving experience.

Additionally, Santa Fe now offers the innovative Digital Key 2. This feature allows owners to access, start, and control their vehicle remotely via their smartphone. It utilizes advanced communication protocols such as near-field communication (NFC), Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), and ultra-wideband (UWB).

Should the rear view be obstructed temporarily by items in the cargo area, the available digital center mirror allows the driver to see behind the vehicle. This feature enhances safety by providing a clear, unobstructed view of what’s behind your vehicle, even when traditional methods fall short. It also helps the driver to see better at night by providing a brighter image in dark environments, eliminating the need to strain your eyes or adjust your vision. The Santa Fe also has a Radar-based Rear Occupant Alert (ROA). This safety precaution kicks in after the engine is turned off, reminding the driver about the presence of rear occupants, such as children and pets. This technology goes a long way in preventing unfortunate incidents and ensuring the safety of those who matter most.

Safety Features and Active Driver Assistance Provide Driving Confidence and Enhanced Safety

The Santa Fe additionally offers a suite of driving assistance and safety features designed to reduce driver fatigue and ensure a comfortable driving experience, whether commuting or embarking on a weekend adventure. Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist is one feature capable of issuing a warning and initiating emergency braking if the leading vehicle suddenly slows or a forward collision risk is detected. Lane Following Assist employs a windshield-mounted camera, helping the vehicle to maintain its position in the center of its lane. The Driver Attention Warning (DAW) system meticulously analyzes driving inputs, providing warnings to alert the driver to potential lapses in attentiveness. Moreover, the Forward Attention Warning (FAW), a first for Hyundai in North America, utilizes an infrared camera mounted on the steering column. This advanced feature tracks the driver’s eye gaze and monitors attention levels to ensure safe driving.

Enhancing Safety and Convenience: Advanced Driver Assistance Features

Santa Fe’s technological prowess continues to impress with its available navigation-based smart cruise control, designed to maintain a safe speed while seamlessly navigating various curves on primary roadways. Furthermore, the highway driving assist feature can help keep a selected speed and distance from the preceding vehicle. It also aids in lane changes on highways and can even help center the vehicle in the lane while driving.

Among other exceptional driver assistance and safety features, the Santa Fe features Intelligent Speed Limit Assist, Rear View Monitor, and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, further bolstering the driving experience. Front and Rear Parking Distance Warning ensures safer parking maneuvers, while the optional Surround View Monitor provides a comprehensive 360-degree view around the vehicle. The available Remote Smart Parking Assist offers the convenience of remote parking, a feature particularly useful in tight parking spots. Lastly, the Safe Exit Assist prevents passengers from stepping out of the vehicle if the system detects an upcoming vehicle from the rear, ensuring the utmost safety of all occupants.

City Commutes and Fun Outdoor Adventures Are Made Possible by the 2024 Santa Fe Fuel-Efficient Powertrain

The 2024 Santa Fe offers two potent and fuel-efficient powertrain options to meet various drivers’ needs. The standard powertrain features a 2.5-liter direct-injected, turbocharged engine from the Theta III engine family. This engine is paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, delivering an estimated output of 277 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and an estimated torque of 311 lb.-ft. at 1,700 – 4,000 rpm. For those with an eye on environmental impact, the Santa Fe also offers a 1.6-liter direct-injected, turbocharged hybrid from the Gamma III engine family. It is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, providing an estimated combined engine and motor output of 232 horsepower and an estimated torque of 271 lb.-ft.

The Exciting New Generation XRT Model Makes Its Debut

The New Generation XRT Model, now making its global debut, is a sports model specifically tailored to the diverse needs of outdoor enthusiasts. Designed to confidently tackle a variety of terrains, the XRT provides versatile utility for all manner of outdoor activities. Much like the Santa Fe Calligraphy trim, which caters to premium urban lifestyles, the XRT is crafted to satisfy the needs of adventure-focused customers with its robust capabilities. The latest-generation XRT model introduces dark chrome and black trim elements and cladding throughout its exterior, giving it a rugged, adventure-ready appearance. Additionally, the XRT comes with black roof rails with cross bars and a 30-inch all-terrain tire fitment featuring 245/60R18 tires. The XRT offers nearly 1.5 inches of added ground clearance and is rated at a towing capacity of 4,500 lbs when properly equipped with the towing package.