Hyundai Santa Fe Redesign On the Wild Side

The new Hyundai Santa Fe redesign definitely offers some nice features with a longer wheelbase, more cargo room, and increased luxury for the interior.

However, it’s the exterior of the Santa Fe that looks wildly different from the previous version. It’s all boxy angles and headlights with a sleek modern design. The new Santa Fe should be available later this year.

Striking Futuristic Design

The Santa Fe isn’t the only Hyundai to get a rather eye-catching redesign, but this one might make you look twice. Instead of sweeping lines, the Hyundai Santa Fe redesign boasts straight angles to create a boxy aesthetic. It’s somewhat of a throwback to more truck-like SUVs from the past, but it’s also a bit futuristic as it resembles a common aesthetic for current EV models.

The Hyundai Santa Fe isn’t all wild exterior design cues though. It also boasts a longer wheelbase and the squarish rear end actually helps increase cargo space behind the rear seats. The roofline doesn’t slope in the back and the tailgate appears at almost a 90-degree angle.

Other interesting design elements give the new Santa Fe more of an off-road look, including LED accents, chunky trim around the wheel arches, and a large roof rack. The current Santa Fe only comes with a two-row layout, but the new Santa Fe will incorporate an option for three rows.

Familiar Powertrains

There isn’t too much change in the powertrains for the Hyundai Santa Fe redesign. The new model should come with a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder and the 2.5T HTRAC AWD system. The previous Santa Fe model made 277 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. There’s also likely to be a hybrid version in the lineup. The XRT trim shouldn’t go anywhere and may get some off-road upgrades to make it more appealing to that niche.

The main difference between the new Santa Fe powertrain and the old one is that there are now only two choices versus the previous four choices. The base naturally-aspirated four-cylinder is no longer in the lineup.

More Upscale Interior

Another area where the Hyundai Santa Fe redesign succeeds is its more upscale interior. You might think you’re stepping into a Land Rover when you enter the new Santa Fe. There are more high-quality materials than before, including nappa leather and shiny hard surfaces. There’s also more tech like a dual 12.3-inch screen setup and two wireless charging pads conveniently located in the center console.

Aside from the more premium aesthetic, the main thing that stands out is the additional space. The cargo hold is massive and the rear seats now have far more room that makes them comfortable for adults.

The extra features will bring a price increase from the previous model’s $30,085 base price and it’s likely that the upper trims will be priced closer to $50,000. But the extras should help the Hyundai Santa Fe redesign rival the Palisade for looks, features, and room.