Hyundai's first-ever Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) arrives next year (2000). Previewing that is the cheekily styled Santa Fe shown here. Under the curvy bonnet is a 2.4-litre four cylinder engine driving through a 5-speed manual gearbox. A more exciting option (in the US at least) will be a 24 valve V6.
Clarifying its position as a "lifestyle" SUV is its availability either with two-wheel drive or electronically controlled all-wheel drive - to be used for nothing more adventurous than icy roads I presume. The structure is pretty serious though, with the standard MacPherson struts up front and semi-trailing arms at the rear.
Mimicking the Honda CRV are 12 volt power outlets and even a lift-out picnic table for when you get stuck in a Detroit traffic jam! In summary, a nicely executed SUV with an evocative name, but, are we not growing out of these yet?
S.O' - (Email)
Photograph provided by Hyundai UK
