New 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe – Is it worth the wait?

After making its official Malaysian debut at the Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show late last year, the all-new 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe is here. Even while the motor show was on, the Korean carmaker had already begun accepting bookings for the latest iteration of its long-standing ‘Santa Fe’ nameplate. Now with deliveries to some customers just a few weeks away, it’s time for us to look at the 2019 Santa Fe in a more objective manner. And in doing so, answer an important question many prospective buyers might have for a car that starts at RM 169,888 - is it worth the wait, and should you actually consider buying this rather attractive 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe? Well, let’s find out.

Promising exterior styling

While looks could be a subjective matter, there’s no denying that exterior design and styling play a huge role when it comes to choosing one car over another. In a day and age where carmakers jostle with each other to compete for attention among the masses, some do better than others. Hyundai, for example, seems to have knocked it out of the park with the design of the all-new 2019 Santa Fe. While its predecessor looked fair enough, this new kid boasts Hyundai’s more striking and unabashedly extraverted styling. It all starts with the face, which gets a large “Cascading Grille” and fancy triple front lighting set-up. This, along with the chiselled bonnet, sculpted bumper, and the integrated skid plate gives this mid-size family crossover a lot of attitude.

The intrigue-arousing styling treatments continue along the sides as well - bold character lines, exaggerated wheel arches, smart 19-inch alloy wheels, tasteful chrome touches, and black body cladding all come together quite well. The rear of the new Santa Fe looks thoroughly upscale, whilst its gorgeous LED taillights, judiciously carved tailgate, and sporty looking roof spoiler and bumper add even more visual depth. At over 4.7 metres long, nearly 1.9 metres wide and just a hair over 1.7 meters at the roof, the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe has no problem gaining legitimate street cred. Its eye-catching exterior only pushes favours towards it.

Remarkably elegant and upmarket cabin

If the exterior of the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe pleased you, the classy interior would beckon you to step inside this cabin. Incorporating different materials, contrasting color tones, and multi-layered trim throughout, there’s no dearth of designer touches in this interior. It all comes together in a neat and unfussy manner without overwhelming you or leaving you wanting for more. Apart from looking up-to-date and welcoming, Hyundai can also pride itself on leaving aside many cheap materials, and also on the Santa Fe’s excellent build quality. As for passenger space, there’s plenty of it in the new Santa Fe. Plus, if tuck away the third-row, you’ll be greeted with 625 litres worth of cargo space.

Hyundai hasn’t just made the 2019 Santa Fe just look premium, they’ve also added extra insulation for lower NVH within the cabin.

The 2019 Santa Fe brings several creature comforts, too - including adaptive LED headlights, leather upholstery, power front seats, smart-entry with push-start ignition, 7-inch digital driver’s display, 7-inch head unit with Android Auto & Apple CarPlay, dual-zone A/C, automatic cruise control, wireless phone charger, power tailgate, rain-sensing wipers, and all-round parking sensors with rear camera.

Under the bonnet

The RM 211,888 4WD Premium trim of the Santa Fe gets a 2.2-litre turbocharged oil burner. This unit produces 197 hp and 441 Nm of torque - all going through an 8-speed automatic gearbox, and Hyundai’s HTRAC on-demand all-wheel-drive system. The two-tonne Santa Fe should cross 100 kmph in 9.5 seconds or so, with top speed somewhere in the region of 200 kmph. While official fuel consumption figures haven’t yet been released, expect an average burn of about 13 kmpl.

Safety features

The 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe comes loaded with crucial safety stuff such as six airbags, electronic stability control, traction control system, hill-start assist with downhill brake control, and anti-lock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and braking assist. Meanwhile, some of the higher trims also add rear occupant alert, blind-spot monitoring with collision warning, and rear cross-traffic alert and assist. It’s no wonder that this seven-seater crossover comes with an assuring five-star Euro NCAP crash safety rating.

So, is the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe really worth your while? In essence, yes. It’s a well packaged, smart looking, feature loaded, and safe family crossover SUV. Also, Hyundai recently revealed 2019 Santa Fe price, check it out as well.