2024 Hyundai Santa Fe: Hybrid AWD only for Australian launch

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe will launch in Australia with a hybrid all-wheel-drive powertrain initially, creating a starting price likely be more than $20,000 higher than the current entry point.

Hyundai’s fifth-generation large SUV is due to go on sale locally next April or May to take on key rivals including the Toyota Kluger and its Kia Sorento twin.

The Korean car maker has ditched the outgoing model’s four-cylinder turbo diesel and V6 petrol engines to focus on four-cylinder petrol models, including carry-over hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants.

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Pricing trends point to the hybrid Santa Fe moving closer to $70,000 before on-road costs. The outgoing petrol-electric variant costs from $63,000 in base form, though the latest Santa Fe brings an increase in size and features.

Hyundai Australia is pursuing an entry-level powertrain, though it’s unclear how close it would bring the Santa Fe’s start price closer to the current $46,050 kick-off point.

The company is yet to confirm which engine out of three options available elsewhere, though Wheels believes the target powertrain is the 2.5-litre turbo petrol four-cylinder also found in the Sonata midsize sedan.

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It produces 207kW and 422Nm, offering extra power and torque over the hybrid that produces combined outputs of 169kW and 350Nm – though it is naturally more economical.

The hybrid features a six-speed torque converter auto compared to the turbo-petrol that’s linked with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission.

Hyundai Australia would likely prefer the turbo petrol with all-wheel drive as well rather than front-drive, making for a more even distribution of those healthy outputs.

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Fuel economy figures have yet to be confirmed for Australia.

The Santa Fe’s aerodynamics have notably improved despite a dramatic design shift to a blocky, rectangular shape, though kerb weights have also increased significantly for the bigger model.

The Santa Fe now exceeds 4.8 metres after a 4.5cm stretch to its length, while height increases by 3.5cm.

Five-, six-, and seven-seater versions are again available globally. Hyundai Australia will ignore the five-seater again and is expected to stick with seven-seater layouts only. It currently offers a six-seater in the Santa Fe hybrid with middle-row captain’s chairs.

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Hyundai is claiming improvements in legroom and headroom to both the second and third rows, mostly thanks to a five-centimetre increase in wheelbase, while boot space increases by 91 litres.

Stand-out new features for the Hyundai Santa Fe include a panoramic curved display that incorporates 12.3-inch digital driver screen and infotainment screen, digital rear-view mirror, over-the-air software updates, a digital key that allows your smartphone to lock/unlock the vehicle among several functions, a UV-C sterilisation glovebox, dual phone-charging pads, and a bilateral centre console cubby that can be opened from both the front cabin and middle cabin.

Safety improvements include curtain airbags that now cover the entire third row. The third-row seats also gain top-tether anchor points to allow for the fitment of child seats.

Click here to read our first international drive of the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe.