The Hyundai Santa Fe family has grown in Australia with the launch of the new Hybrid variant, the first hybrid SUV to be sold by the automaker Down Under. Powering the Santa Fe Hybrid is a 1.6-liter T-GDi Smartstream engine supplemented by a 44.2 kW electric motor that draws power from a 1.4 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery pack. Power is sent through all four wheels thanks to a six-speed automatic transmission. The SUV is good for a combined 169 kW (227 hp) and 350 Nm of torque.
Hyundai boasts that the Santa Fe Hybrid
has more torque across a broader rev range than the available 3.5-liter
Smartstream V6 and more peak power than the 2.2-liter turbo-diesel, all while
being more fuel efficient. The Santa Fe Hybrid sips 6.0 l/100 km (39.2 mpg)
over the combined cycle and 6.2 l/100 km (37.9 mpg) on the urban cycle.
The Santa Fe Hybrid benefits from a unique suspension tune designed
to suit local roads. It also features Hyundai’s HTRAC advanced all-wheel drive
system that features an electronic, variable-torque-split clutch with active
torque control between the front and rear axles.
Hyundai Australia will sell the Santa Fe
Hybrid in Elite (AU$ 63,000 / US$ 42,479) and Highlander (AU$ 69,550 / US$ 47,165)
guises. Both models come loaded with features like Remote Smart Parking Assist,
Smart Power Tailgate, Shift-by-Wire transmission, a 12.3-inch digital
instrument cluster, 10.25-inch infotainment system, 10-speaker Harman Kardon audio
system, wireless smartphone charging, remote engine start, and the carmaker’s
full suite of SmartSense driver assistance and advanced active safety
technologies.
The Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid will also be
available in six-seater guise with the Highland trim, adding a pair of
second-row captain’s seats.
