The Hyundai Santa Fe has come a very long way. Now in its 5th generation, the Korean brand’s all-new midsize SUV has just been revealed. Sporting a whole new concept and design, Hyundai itself has described it as being “radically transformed”. Honestly, we cannot agree more, because, well, let’s just let these photos do the talking.
2024 Hyundai Santa Fe set for world premiere in August
Photo: Hyundai
This will be the first full model change of the Santa Fe since 2018, and it will come with what Hyundai describes as “an unconventional approach with a lifestyle-based design typology to maximize rear cargo capacity and better accommodate outdoor and urban activities”. That’s a mouthful. Meant to be as balanced as can be whether in the city or the outdoors, the Korean manufacturer’s efforts gave birth to what we see here.
First off, it’s become boxy. Very boxy. It’s also gotten a longer wheelbase and a wider tailgate, which we’ll get to later on.
On the front, the hood is high-set, with new-design H-Shaped headlight assemblies right underneath it. While we see the familiar Hyundai badge on the hood, the headlights mean to “reinterpret” the well-known emblem. Good touch there.
Photo: Hyundai
A look at the side shows a very flat and slightly-raked roofline and a lot of sharp cuts and angles on the fenders, doors, and accent lines. 21″ alloy wheels give the Santa Fe a more aggressive look, and the two-tone scheme adds just that touch of class to it, too. Again, “balance”.
But it’s at the rear that we really find ourselves “conflicted”. Hyundai used “larger” and “simpler” to describe the Santa Fe’s rear end, and we can’t say they’re wrong. In keeping up with the H-Lights on the front, the rear adopts the same design for the taillights. But in what can be either a strange or genius stroke of design magic, the assemblies are located low – very low – under the tailgate. You’ll see a clearer photo of it below, and that explains why the words used by Hyundai are rather spot-on.
While we’re sure it will serve more than just its intended purpose, we just don’t know how we feel about its overall look.
Photo: Hyundai
But moving past that, the interior of the Santa Fe looks absolutely amazing. It’s meant to be a 7-seater with 3 rows of seats, and it comes with space aplenty for either passengers or cargo. The “H” design makes its way into the interior too, particularly on the dashboard’s layout, so that’s pretty consistent.
Tech and luxurious appointments that you’ll find in the Santa Fe include a Panoramic Curved Display that merges a 12.3-inch digital cluster and infotainment system into one screen, dual wireless charging, soft-touch wood-patterned garnish pieces, and Nappa leather seats.
One noteworthy detail is that Hyundai made use of sustainable materials for the suede headliner, car mats, and second and third-row seatbacks which are made from recycled plastic. The crash pad and door trim covers are made from eco-friendly leatherette. Seeing as how the Santa Fe’s bigger cousin from Kia, the EV9, has also gone the sustainable route, this is a very good move.
Photo: Hyundai
There was no mention of the Santa Fe’s powertrain and transmission options at the time of this release, so that’s all up for us to guess. Highly likely, though, is an electrified option. Seeing as how many major marques including Kia and Hyundai have been on an electric-powered warpath, it only makes sense that the newest member of the vehicle lineup gets the same treatment.
We have just a few weeks left until its official debut, so until then, let’s all feast our eyes on these photos. Maybe we’ll get used to that rear end quicker just by looking at it often.
