Hyundai’s Santa Fe has been a reliable performer for the automaker, topping up the company’s coffers over three generations and helping turn the crossover segment into the unstoppable juggernaut it is today.
The current generation, dating to 2013, is sufficiently long in the tooth to call for a top-down revamp, the results of which we can see in these official renderings. For 2019, Hyundai’s biggest grows bigger and bolder, but a few mysteries still remain.
As the images show, the new Santa Fe adopts a corporate grille seen everywhere from the subcompact Accent to the Elantra GT, Sonata, and new-for-2018 Kona. Illumination points now cover more real estate as the Santa Fe goes the split-headlamp Kona route: thin daytime running lights up top, main lamps below.
Overall, the crossover loses its prior shapeless form, gaining a high, distinct character line that blends into the rear taillights and adds a bit of upscale panache. Hyundai claims the new design highlights the model’s “robust, stylish and voluminous composition” — a description sure to inspire unwholesome thoughts in some readers. Given that it’s a sketch, we can forgive the exaggerated angles and oversized wheels. Last week, Hyundai teased us with a profile shot of the model that puts these sketches into perspective.
Chrome trim along the lower body and surrounding the rear reflectors signals that this model has no superior in the brand’s lineup.
Would-be buyers won’t have to wait long before the real thing appears. The next-generation Santa Fe debuts at the Geneva Motor Show in March, at which time we’ll learn many unknowns. For example: what powertrains can we expect? Surely, an obligatory 2.0-liter turbo four serves as an entry engine, with Hyundai’s 3.3-liter V6 a likely upgrade. Also, exactly how much larger this new model really is remains to be seen.
We know much less about the Santa Fe’s little brother, the Santa Fe Sport. During the early days of the brand’s crossover shakeup plan, Hyundai suggested the smaller, two-row model might forge its own identity going forward. A more rugged design and a new name (anyone want to make bets on the Southwestern locale?) would place distance between it and the Santa Fe, helping avoid confusion.
Hyundai’s U.S. sales saw a sharp downturn in 2017, even as its crossover sales reached a new high. Given that the automaker touted only the Santa Fe Sport’s volume in its 2017 sales report (up 12 percent), we’re led to believe sales of the larger Santa Fe, which Hyundai groups together with the smaller model, actually fell last year. As the priciest model in the lineup, a new Santa Fe can’t come soon enough.
[Images: Hyundai]
Is that improved Infinity grill?
Yes, an Infinity grill with Sorento’s fogs and – likely – Audi’s rear (with some Escape mixed in).
Nah.
This is the same basic hexagonal-shaped grille that Hyundai has been using for years (only change is the curved element at the 2 lower sides of the hexagon).
The Infiniti grille was a smaller/less exaggerated rendition of a spindle grille (than what Lexus has been doing).
Infiniti has since redone their grille where the spindle shape has basically disappeared (only see a hint of it), so that it is now basically a 4-sided polygon (and not 6-sided like what Hyundai uses).
That thing’s got a higher belt line than HMS Duke of York had. Ghastly.
Them housewives need to feel “safe” and “cocooned”.
Ironically what they respond to is the exact opposite.
Bonecrker knew.
Low beltlines? Ability to see all four corners of the vehicle?
What do you think this is, a GM A-body?
I always liked Garth Brooks “She’s Every Woman” where he sings about the enigma that is woman.
Modeled after the cash window at a pawnbroker in FLint.
That beltline is just the typical “artistic license” for these type of stylized renderings.
Hyundai showed a “teaser” which gave an accurate depiction of the greenhouse/beltline.
Now if the Santa Cruz gets that same nose…
Angry CUV is angry!
Thanks for the chuckle, I needed it.
It resembles an overgrown Tucson, which isn’t a bad thing.
“We know much less about the Santa Fe’s little brother, the Santa Fe Sport.”
Pretty sure this is the new 2 row “Sport”, just carrying over the Santa Fe name–the rear appears much to small to be the 7 passenger version and the rear window has the same style on the C pillar window that the current model has. The larger CUV is rumored to be called Veracruz once again.
That’s what I’m thinking as well.
This looks to be about the size of the Sorento (so adding some length).
There are already spy shots of the 7 passenger Hyundai CUV and it looks huge (as does the Kia Telluride).
Hyundai suggested the smaller, two-row model might forge its own identity going forward. A more rugged design and a new name (anyone want to make bets on the Southwestern locale?)
Death Valley?
I’d be willin’ to bet Tucumcari
Roswell.
They went Hawaiian for the Kona. So… Hyundai Maui! (No, sounds like a dealership.)
A lot of people made fun of the Jeep Cherokee front end treatment when it came out in 2014.
Apparently, the Koreans loved it. This one has a more exaggerated treatment of it. Makes the 14-18 Cherokee look downright conservative.
Yeah. Wish Jeep had kept it, too. Do hope the Santa Cruz carries this though… I need a small truck with a proper extended (not crew) cab.
Hyundai did it right – much better than on the Cherokee (goofy) and better than what Citroen has done.
Actually make the DRL’s look like sharp, razor-thin headlights.
Those on the Kona are decent, but not as good as on here.
Very little different from the Cherokee, outside of an additional pair of bulbs and a wide-open mouth.