The upgraded 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe has been launched in Australia. Small price increases are justified with newly-added equipment and some tasteful design adjustments outside which keep the Santa Fe looking fresh.
All Santa Fe variants are now all-wheel-drive, with the excellent 2.2-litre turbodiesel becoming the dominant engine. Only the base Active trim is available with the 2.4-litre petrol engine, or with a manual transmission.
Shared specification across the range is increased, with all models now receiving a reversing camera and rear parking sensors. All cars also continue to receive Bluetooth telephony and audio streaming, and roof rails.
Active base models start at $38,490 for a manual petrol, heading up to $43,990 for a diesel automatic. The Active gains a proper-sized 7-inch touchscreen with a six-speaker audio system, which can be activated with Apple or Google voice command technology. There’s also now a digital speedo in the gauge cluster.
The Santa Fe Elite represents better value now at $49,990, available only as a diesel automatic. Adding to its classier leather-trimmed cabin, the Elite gains an 8-inch touchscreen with navigation, paired to a 10-speaker Infinity audio system. Elites also now receive an electrically-adjustable passenger seat, and memory for the driver. That’s on top of the existing features the include an electric tailgate, climate control, and push-button start.
The Highlander is also diesel-auto only, and the price heads north to $55,990. That’s justified with Hyundai now including a suite of advanced safety systems which make their Santa Fe debut. They’re standard on the flagship Highlander, and include autonomous emergency braking, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, blind spot alert, and rear cross-traffic alert.
Top-spec Santa Fes continue to enjoy a panoramic sunroof, HID xenon headlights, front and rear seat warmers—with cooling up front, too—and 19-inch alloy wheels.
Maintaining the Santa Fe remains relatively comfortable because of Hyundai’s good capped price servicing programme. The diesel will be the most popular engine with private buyers, and they will cost $379 a year for the first three years. That’s $1,137 for three years of regular servicing.
A five year, unlimited kilometre warranty is among the best in this class. The complimentary roadside assist for a year, and a satellite navigation mapping upgrade plan don’t hurt, either.
2016 Hyundai Santa Fe: Australian price
- Santa Fe 2.4L petrol Active manual: $38,490
- Santa Fe 2.4L petrol Active automatic: $40,990
- Santa Fe 2.2L diesel Active manual: $41,490
- Santa Fe 2.2L diesel Active automatic: $43,990
- Santa Fe 2.2L diesel Elite automatic: $49,990
- Santa Fe 2.2L diesel Highlander automatic: $55,990
Pricing is still to be announced for the lightly sporty Santa Fe SR trim.
