There was a moment last week when a few TTAC minds nearly cracked while nailing down the changes coming to Hyundai’s lineup for the 2019 model year. The momentary confusion centered around the bold new Santa Fe, which replaces the Santa Fe Sport (but not the old Santa Fe, which becomes the Santa Fe XL, except in Canada, where it’s already called the Santa Fe XL).
It was touch and go there for a moment. With a wholly new two- and three-row crossover replacing the Santa Fe Sport for 2019, the existing three-row-always Santa Fe (soon to be Santa Fe XL) soldiers on unchanged, though not for long. The full-size crossover seen in these spy shots is nearly ready to step in and give Americans the really big Korean vehicle they’ve always wanted.
Now, who wants to place bets on the inevitable Southwestern name?
While the smaller 2019 Santa Fe offers five- or seven-passenger seating (always seven, if it’s a diesel), the unnamed long-wheelbase model has eight seats ready to go. This should give shoppers something to consider that isn’t a Ford Expedition or Chevrolet Suburban, though the model’s front-drive-biased layout and unibody construction makes the Chevy Traverse a more likely rival.
The largest of the Hyundais, which I’ve taken to calling the Albuquerque, is expected to gain a corporate sibling in the form of the Kia Telluride — a full-size model that exists in concept form but hasn’t yet received the official green light.
As we can see here, styling cues carry over from the Santa Fe. While a broad corporate grille follows in the footsteps of all new Hyundai models, the company’s utility line calls for over/under running lights and driving lamps. These peepers are plain to see.
We know what powerplants the smaller Santa Fe stands to gain in 2019, but guessing the Albuquerque’s under-hood trappings is a little trickier. The current 3.3-liter V6 likely has a home in the new model, but today’s regulatory environment calls for a thriftier option. It’s possible the plug-in hybrid V6 powertrain from the Telluride concept will take on production form here.
A fuel-sipping eight-seater would be food for thought for those considering an American BOF SUV for their family hauler. Whatever name Hyundai bestows upon its largest child, an official debut likely won’t occur until 2019.
[Images: Brian Williams/Spiedbilde]
Albuquerque? Nah.
How about “Rio Rancho” or “Socorro”?
Las Cruces is probably too macabre if you actually speak Spanish.
“Drive the new Sangre de Cristo at your local Hyundai dealer!”
Actually, “Hyundai Chimayo” has a certain ring to it…
The Blood of Christ? What would the nickname for that vehicle be? The Bloodmobile?
In New Mexico the Sangre de Cristo is both a mountain and a stream.
Sandia would be fine sounding other than meaning “watermelon” – lol.
Rio Rancho is a no go because of the Kia Rio. How about the Hyundai Alamogordo?
In all seriousness maybe “Taos”?
Hyundai Alamo
I’m going to call it Jerome.
Not the Hyundai Jerome, just “Jerome”.
I imagine they’ll bring back Veracruz.
Yup. Hard to see how this is anything but the new Veracruz.
May be not. Sounds like Cruze
This is an interesting development, if it actually comes to pass. How big is this thing? Is it the size of a Tahoe or Yukon, Expedition or Navigator, Sequoia or Armada, Traverse or Grand Cherokee, Highlander or Pilot?
Size matters.
The picture with the driver makes it appear this is Pilot sized. It doesn’t appear to be anywhere near the fullsize American or Japanese SUVs.
Thank you. I got the same impression.
My reference was our 2008 Highlander. Large for an Asian SUV/CUV but nowhere near the size of a Tahoe.
The Ford dealer in my town recently took to selling Hyundai products alongside Ford and Lincoln.
I wonder how he’ll do with this Biggest Hyundai Yet.
Interesting because the local competition includes all of the above I named.
Yep – this new, larger Hyundai CUV (and its Kia cousin, the Telluride) will be better suited to take on the likes of the Pilot, Pathfinder, Explorer, Traverse/Enclave, Atlas, the new Subie 3-row, etc.
Also, even if Kia hasn’t publicly made an announcement about the Telluride, pretty much can infer that it has been greenlit based on the spy shots of heavily-cladded Telluride test vehicles which have been circulating for some time now.
The Highlander is also on the smaller end of the scale of 3-row, midsize CUVs and will likely also get “super-sized.”
Looks like big box on small wheels. Eh!
A SUV called Albuquerque deserves a song called Albuquerque.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JE37e1eK2mY
As for the sauerkarut, you’re on your own.
Ha! You beat me to it.
Come on sing along:
A! (A)
L! (L)
B! (B)
U! (U)
… long pause
QUERQUE!
The Surprise? The Mesa? The Tempe? The Maricopa? The Wickenburg probably wouldn’t work, sorry folks in the high desert.
If it’s really that big, why not “Terracan”?
I think Hyundai Winslow or Gallup has a ring to it.
I’d place my money on Terracan, as it was the next step up from the Santa Fe.
This new “Terracan” needs 4 hi & lo and a decent diesel.
I’d bet it’s a platform mate to the next-generation Kia Mohave (formerly Borrego). The DLO-fail on the rear door window and the way the third side window is clumsily disguised seem to accentuate that possibility.
You mean the Telluride.
Hyundai Las Vegas. It’s going to be a gamble.
Firestorm,
I don’t think a gamble.
Hyundai and Kia made the right moves with the original BOF Sorento and Terracan. They lost the plot a little since then.
Hyundai and Kia should of had a midsize pickup 5-6 years ago.
Maybe Hyundai and Kia are a little to risk averse.
Considering the sales difference between the BOF Sorento and it’s subsequent CUV generations Kia would probably disagree with the “losing the plot” characterization.
whynot?
Outside of the US there is huge demand for proper 4×4 SUVs.
With the “Chicken tax,” wasn’t going to be a BoF midsize pick-up for the US market.
But the Santa Cruz may not be the only “pick-up” in Hyundai’s line-up in the near future.
Both H and K are contemplating developing BoF pick-ups to compete against the likes of the HiLux, Ranger, etc.
bd2,
Hyundai have been talking about this for a few years now and have done little.
I think Hyundia/Kia really need a midsize BOF SUVs and pickups.
The original Sorento was quite a well built vehicle and they were very affordable. Not the best off road, but for the price you could not complain. On the road they were very nice, except for the thirsty V6 engines. The original diesel Sorento turned out the be a great vehicle.
Hyundai hasn’t really been talking about doing BoF SUVs and pickups; in fact, most of the talk has been about whether to greenlight the Santa Cruz – which has finally been given the go-ahead and should hit the NA market in a couple of years.
Hyundai and Kia (as I’m sure you know) do have BoF models, but they are older and not suitable for the Australian market, much less for the US and Canada.
The driving force behind Hyundai (and Kia) to develop a new BoF truck has been Hyundai (and Kia) Australia.
Hyundai Australia did not have interest in the Santa Cruz and was pushing HQ to develop a Hilix/Ranger competitor.
H/K are now taking this seriously due to wanting to have a bigger presence in the SE Asian markets (in addition to adding on to their presence in Australia, NZ and India where they already do very well).
That has been more of the impetus behind H/K’s revived interest in doing a BoF pick-up rather than the NA market.
bd2,
Hyundai have been talking about this so called ghost, Santa Cruz for some time as well.
They’ve been “talking about” doing the Santa Cruz when the concept debuted in 2015.
They finally got around to greenlighting it for production last year, so we’ll probably see it in a couple of years.
A bit longer than what I would have like to have seen in terms of decision-making, but it was a difficult decision as “trucklet” has a very niche market.
I think there’s strong support for “Grand Canyonero”
Or, “carrera fronteriza”
It appears pretty much every mfgr is going with modern day Sloanism: “a CUV for every purse and purpose”
I think Mexican food naming conventions would work.
Hyundai Borrito.
Hyundai Nacho with the Guacamole touring pack.
Hyundai Enchiladas
Hyundai Quesadillas
Hyundai Fajitas
Hyundai Tamalas
Hyundai Tortillas
Hyundai Salsa
And the Hyundai Churros.
American food naming conventions would not work too well;
Ford Buffalo Wing?
GMC Smoked Ribs?
Ram Cheese Burger?
Chev Apple Pie?
Chrysler Hot Dog?
add the Hot Sauce turbo pack
Not nearly big enough, it has to be the size of a two bedroom house to be suitable for the single 40+ women who will buy it.
Hyundai Tombstone?
Hyundai Ventana
Hyundai Ventana
Tucumcari is my vote, it’s a fun name. Or if Kia has the Rio this could be the Reno.
I’ve been from Tucson to Tucumcari, Tehachapi to Tonapah.
As long as it doesn’t have a 4-pot in it, I don’t care what they call it. H/K at least still seems to put V6s and V8s into a bigger range of their portfolio than a lot of others.
The Hyundai Gila Bend
Sub-600,
If Hyundai make a midsize pickup to challenge the Ranger Raptor they could call it the Hyundai Gila Monster.
I’d go with Hyundai Manitoba or Hyundai Saskatchewan.
Those could be the names of the Cold Weather Packages.
ladies and gentlemen, the 2019 Hyundai Rancho Cucamonga!
Hyundai Huckleberry
Does Mazda still own the rights to use Navajo as a vehicle name?