Traditions, restraint, modesty - sideways! Down with all norms and restrictions! It seems that it was these ideas that made the creators of the 7-seater Hyundai Grand Santa Fe crossover fill the car to the maximum, thereby making it extremely unusual.
How Korean cars have changed over the past couple of decades! From the former gray mice, they turned into full-fledged players, if not the highest, then at least the first automobile league. Design, technology, filling with additional functions - all this is at a very decent level. Although sometimes the creators of these models still go too far: in an effort to bring the level of equipment to the maximum, they miss less catchy, but still very important car parameters.
Sim-sim, open up!
From afar, the Grand Santa Fe doesn't look too big. But it impresses with a nice, quite modern design and the right proportions. This is where the secret lies: due to the relatively low height of the body, it looks more compact than it actually is. To dispel this delusion, it is enough just to come closer. That's when you realize how big it is. Still, the length is almost five meters! Probably, with such dimensions, it will be fabulously spacious inside. Let's check?
I grab the door handle, and the car has already helpfully opened the locks and turned on the welcome backlight: I don’t even have to say a spell, just having the key in my pocket is enough. Settling inside, first of all I pay attention to the unexpectedly hard, but very comfortable chair and an impressive range of its adjustments. Well, then ... Next, I am instantly convinced that maximalism is also the desire to break all the usual stereotypes in order to achieve an effect. The front panel impresses not only with a scattering of various switches, but also with unconventional shapes: bizarre curves of lines, a mysterious combination of finishing materials of different softness and texture. But we must pay tribute: you get used to all this very quickly. And if at first the search for the right button can lead to a stupor, then after an hour or two you find it blindly.
But in this car, such a skill is very important, since there are a lot of electronics here. There is a beautiful optotronic instrument panel with a color screen of the on-board computer, three-stage seat heating, panoramic roof blind control and a huge sunroof built into it, an advanced multimedia system with navigation and broadcasting images from the parking camera, automatic climate control, auto parking system, all-wheel drive clutch lock button , downhill assistance system ... In a word, everything that can be installed in a modern car. Well, almost everything. So, for example, it would be useful to add a heated steering wheel.
However, it's time to evaluate the rear of the cabin. If we talk about space, then everything is expected: tall riders can even sit imposingly, and if your height is within the average, then you can cross your legs if you wish. As for the “comfortable” options, at first glance they seem to be few - a folding armrest and built-in curtains on the windows. But upon closer inspection, you can find other interesting “gadgets”. For example, initially unnoticed individual “climate” deflectors were discovered: the upper ones are located on the middle pillar of the body, the lower ones are hidden under the front seats. And on the door armrests there are even buttons for heating the rear sofa. Passengers of much more expensive cars can envy such comfortable conditions!
At the same time, the chairs of the third row can be safely called children's: there is not much space left, and they are installed near the floor. An adult man with his knees up will not sit long. But young passengers will be quite comfortable. By the way, some useful details were also provided for them: in the plastic of the sidewalls there are convenient molded coasters for bottles, and on the starboard side there is even ... its own microclimate control panel!
An equally interesting part of the interior space of the Grand Santa Fe is the trunk. In the 7-seater configuration, its volume is only 176 liters - only enough for a few bags from the supermarket. But the situation is saved by the rich possibilities of transformation: the chairs of the third row are easily removed into the underground, and folding the middle sofa in whole or in parts will not cause difficulties. So in a matter of seconds, an ordinary crossover can be easily turned into a small truck. By the way, not only the potential capacity of the car is striking, but also the opportunity, if necessary, to use household appliances or electronics. No, this is not a joke - a real 220-volt outlet flaunts on the starboard side skin. If necessary, it will allow, for example, not to defrost the refrigerator before transportation.
Character traits
The maximalism inherent in the Grand Santa Fe is visible not only in static, but also on the go. Its main manifestation, of course, is the power of the gasoline 3.3-liter “six”. This motor turns a large and heavy crossover into a real projectile. Fans of fast starts from the traffic lights will surely like this character: by pressing the “gas” pedal from the heart, you can easily leave far behind many neighbors downstream dumbfounded by such unexpected agility. True, the payoff for this will be astronomical fuel consumption - with such a ride, its values \u200b\u200bin the on-board computer window will begin to grow at an alarming rate. It’s better to slow down, especially since the “automatic” box will not allow you to maintain a high-speed rhythm for a long time: in normal mode, it changes gears in a timely manner and smoothly, but in “races” it starts to slow down a bit.
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However, even if you equalize your speed with the flow rate, it is unlikely that you will be able to achieve efficiency from a gasoline Grand Santa Fe. You can slowly crawl for tens of kilometers behind slow-moving vehicles, you can accurately dose the pressure on the “gas” pedal - you still have to wait a long time for the consumption to fall below the psychological mark of 10 l / 100 km. But the driver will have time to evaluate other driving characteristics of the car. For example, soundproofing. She deserves the highest score here: sound waves overcome powerful barriers with great difficulty. So nothing interferes with the comfort of riders at any speed - neither the rumble of tires, nor the soft grunt of the engine. Only a slight aerodynamic rustle is heard in the area of the A-pillars. But he rather caresses the ear, relaxes and lulls.
Alas, the suspension destroys the idyll that was created. It would suit the court of some sports modification of a powerful sedan or a “charged” hatchback, but you don’t expect such rigidity from a large family crossover. It is difficult to understand the meaning of such a setting. Yes, the car behaves well on a flat road, and rolls in fast turns are really small. But even cracks in the asphalt make the body react with a noticeable tremor, but on more serious irregularities, the suspension can be brought to a breakdown. Yes, bumps - even ruts squeezed on the track make the Grand Santa Fe rush from side to side! But all this shaking on a winter road is also accompanied by “paroxysms” of the ABS system: at times, the electronics mistakenly perceive wheel jumps as slipping and begin to slow them down.
In fairness, it must be said that adapting to these “features” is not so difficult. The driver just needs to remember that speed bumps and other potholes need to be driven carefully, without haste. And get used to a very light steering wheel. In the parking lot, the "steering wheel" seems weightless, but with increasing speed, the effort on it increases slightly. At first it seems strange, but after a day or two of driving, you begin to think that this is how it should be!
That's what the Grand Santa Fe phenomenon is all about: it has kinks and contradictions, but despite everything, the SUV remains very attractive. Maybe the secret is in the rich equipment? Or in a powerful motor and unusual style? Probably, everyone will note something of their own. One thing is certain: this maximalist car will surely find its buyer. And, most likely, will not disappoint him.
| Specifications Hyundai Grand Santa Fe |
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It turns out that the main problem of the pre-styling Grand Santa Fe was that it was regularly confused with the usual “Santa”. Despite seven seats instead of five and 22.5 additional centimeters of length, of which ten are in the wheelbase.
We absolutely do not understand how this could not be noticed. Imagine at least two girls, and one leg is 22.5 cm shorter ... But because of such teapots, Hyundai made the Granda a completely different restyling. Instead of just swapping the headlights and bumpers from the already updated Santa to the Grand, the more status car had to come up with its own face with vertical daytime running lights and elaborate taillights. And one more thing: in the five-seat two exhaust pipes are glued together, and in the seven-seat they are spaced apart at different corners of the bumper. Remember, teapot? Now just try to mix it up!
But do you think the modernization was limited to this? No, Koreans are not like that. They didn’t leave to drink sojo and eat kimchi until they finalized the power structure of the body, introduced new interior materials and saturated the car with advanced options such as adaptive headlights, intelligent driver assistants, a hands-free trunk opener and a self-parking system. Well, and finally, the basic equipment has been improved compared to the Santa non-grand. And when everything was ready, one engineer returned and installed a new three-liter gasoline V6 with a capacity of 249 hp. The Grand rides with him perfectly - quietly and quickly. Although you still need to take a diesel engine - also powerful, but also economical. After all, the Grande should be driven far and along useless roads. Such as in the Novgorod region, where they are covered not with asphalt, but with pits. Grand spits on the pits: you just need to push. The pendant is a beast! And in the corners Grand gets to glory. Not a car - a gypsy dream.
TEXT: VITALY TISHCHENKO
When a year ago I needed photos for the news about the Hyundai Grand Santa Fe, I was tired of catching them from the search results common with the usual Santa Fe: try to determine the size of the rear overhang and the wheelbase on the go! Now there will be no confusion - the updated Grand has a unique appearance, with a more rectangular grille and vertical running lights.
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There is also a 249-horsepower gasoline “six” 3.0 familiar from Genesis with direct injection instead of the previous V6 3.3 with distributed. The power has not changed, but the crossover has become more economical, although less dynamic - 9.2 s to a hundred against 8.8.
The updated Grand is a centimeter shorter due to a different front bumper - 4905 mm. The trunk can be opened contactlessly by standing at its door for three seconds.
Updating the interior - in modified instruments, finishing materials and a multimedia screen. Among the options available only to the seven-seater Grand are headlights with automatic high beams, curtains on the rear windows and a 220-volt outlet in the trunk of diesel cars.
The interior has been updated in the same way as in the case of the five-seat Santa Fe Premium: new instruments, improved seat upholstery and a pseudo-carbon fiber trim on the front panel. The central touchscreen of the top version is now eight inches - an inch larger than before. It displays a picture from a quartet of all-round cameras, sufficient to park only on it. Or you can use the car park. There is also an automatic braking system and adaptive cruise control. The latter operates at speeds of 8 × 180 km / h: to start after a complete stop, you must press the button on the steering wheel or the accelerator.
The marking tracking system copes with its task even where you don’t expect it from it due to barely distinguishable lines. According to the passport, the gasoline "six" 3.0 spends an average of 10.3 liters of gasoline per 100 km - 0.2 liters less than the previous 3.3 engine.
Leather trim, heated first and second row seats, power driver's seat and xenon headlights are the basic equipment of the Family. The central screen in this case is five inches. The cabin can have three sockets and only one USB-connector.
Despite the new gasoline engine for the model, the Koreans are mainly focusing on modifications with a 2.2 CRDI diesel engine, which account for 90% of sales of the "large" Santa Fe. Previously, this engine developed 197 hp. and 436 N m, and now - 200 hp. and 440 N m. I traveled - and was glad. In normal mode, the engine paired with a six-speed “automatic” reacts slowly to an increase in fuel supply, in Eco it falls asleep even deeper, but in “Sport” the crossover flourishes: live traction even at speeds over a hundred, quick responses to gas and timely, devoid of any fuss switching.
The update brought three “horses” and four Newton meters of thrust to the diesel car. Acceleration to hundreds was reduced from 10.3 to 9.9 s, although the gear ratios of the “automatic” are the same. The body is stiffer by 15% - for the sake of the IIHS crash test with a 25% overlap, where the predecessor did not flash.
New devices are not as elegant as before, but they are much better read.
The roads where the novelty was presented are replete with turns and broken sections, which Korean cars in general and the pre-reform Grand Santa Fe in particular, as a rule, do not favor. However, in the course of restyling, the rigidity of the rear silent blocks and the anti-roll bar were increased. The reactions to turning the steering wheel are clearer, the effort on it is more natural - you have to drive less "by eye". The rolls have decreased, the vertical buildup has decreased, and most importantly, the energy intensity of the suspension has increased. Road flaws are still broadcast in the cabin every single one, but breakdowns are now a rare phenomenon. The main thing is not to drive: the rule “more speed - less holes” does not apply to Grand.
In ruts and puddles, you should be more careful - the rubber pad at the bottom of the front bumper strives to fly off when it comes into contact with obstacles. It is not difficult to put it in its place, it will be difficult to find - if you notice the loss not immediately.
In the five-seater configuration, the trunk is 49 liters more than the usual five-seater "Santa" - 634 liters. With the third row of seats raised, the compartment is reduced to 176 liters.
In fact, there was no off-road on the route. Unless on a primer mottled with deep ruts, I made sure that the all-wheel drive, as well as the forced clutch lock, works, and the stabilization system can be completely turned off by long pressing the button. However, you should not get carried away - the combination of a wheelbase of 2.8 m with 180 mm ground clearance negates the impulses of the discoverer: grhh-grhh! - the bottom rubs against the ground, recalling the modest geometric cross-country ability.
Grand Santa Fe competitors include KIA Sorento Prime, Toyota Highlander, Ford Explorer and Nissan Pathfinder. The 249-horsepower Hyundai unit in this company is the smallest in volume: in others, the same power is developed by the "six" 3.5. But, like Kia, there is a diesel.
Summing up all the changes made to the Grand Santa Fe, I can't really approve of just the suspension setup - because the energy intensity is increased at the same time as stiffness, and therefore at the expense of comfort. The rest, as they say, is offset. The appearance is fresher, the interior has become more pleasant and better equipped, the motors are a little more powerful and more economical. Plus more options. The passive safety exam will be taken by the IIHS committee, but it seems to me that it will definitely not be worse. It remains to wait for autumn and find out the updated prices.
Technique
The Grand Santa Fe crossover platform is used for several Hyundai-KIA models. For example, the McPherson front struts with a subframe - like the i40, the rear multi-link with enlarged silent blocks - like the updated Kia Sorento. Unlike the usual Santa Fe, the Grand's drive is only full, with a Dynamax electro-hydraulic clutch, like the ix35 and Sorento models.
The 2.2 CRDi turbodiesel with variable turbine guide vane geometry and a balance shaft develops 200 forces and 440 Nm against the previous 197 and 436. Third-generation piezo injectors with a working pressure of up to 1800 bar, plastic valve cover and intake manifold.
The V6 3.0 petrol engine belongs to the Lambda II family. The unit, equipped with direct injection and a variable valve timing system for intake and exhaust, is also installed on the Genesis sedan (pictured).
Safety
Thanks to a third increase in the proportion of high-strength steels, the body has become 15% stiffer in torsion. The upgrade, aimed at revenge in the American crash test with 25 percent overlap, affected the front spars and door attachment points. The illustration shows the Santa Fe body, which received the same changes.
Hyundai Grand Santa Fe 2017 is a large Korean crossover from Hyundai. You probably noticed that a large number of seven-seater crossovers have recently poured into Russia. And there are several reasons for this.
The first is that in Russia they love everything big and roomy and, second, again, that neither compact vans nor minivans have taken root in Russia at all due to their impracticality in Russian realities. They have low ground clearance and almost none of the compact vans or minivans have all-wheel drive.
But a holy place does not happen empty, and competent manufacturers immediately began to fill this segment with large seven-seater crossovers. And today I have one of these cars for a test drive, this is the Hyundai Grand Santa Fe in the top-end configuration with a diesel engine.
Appearance
If we compare the Hyundai Grand Santa Fe 2017 with the usual Santa Fe, then in the front they are practically the same. Here are the same large fog lights with LED daytime running lights, a large chrome grille, xenon optics and an LED eyelash. And along the entire perimeter there is a black unpainted protective plastic at the bottom.
Behind the Grand Santa Fe looks quite restrained, but in any case there is something to look at: LED optics, a small spoiler with an LED brake light, a chrome trim under the Hyundai badge, a bifurcated exhaust and, if you move further away, you can see a full-size spare wheel under the bumper.
Trunk
Let's move on to the luggage compartment in the Hyundai Grand Santa Fe 2017. The lid is electric, you can stop it at any angle. Hidden under the Hyundai badge is a rearview camera. The trunk volume of the Grand Santa Fe is rather big - 634 liters, this is if the back row is folded. The spare wheel is located under the car here, so in the niche under the floor we have: a balloon wrench, a jack, a screwdriver, a small niche for small things and a shelf.
under the hood
Let's take a look under the hood of the Grand Santa Fe, here lies a 2.2-liter diesel engine with 197 horsepower. 436 Newton per meter of torque allows this engine to accelerate very quickly, both from a standstill and confidently rebuild in city traffic. Under the hood, we will not see anything supernatural here, all vital elements are covered with protective plastic, so let's move on to the interior.
Interior
Interior in Hyundai Grand Santa Fe 2017. There is a huge amount of space in the driver's seat. Long pillow. With my height of 193 cm, if the pillow is small, the legs hang and it is uncomfortable to ride. Very comfortably. There is good lateral support for the legs.
Let's talk in more detail about the options and the equipment that is on a test drive today.
Our equipment is top-end, there is absolutely everything that can be in Grand Santa Fe:
- four automatic power windows,
- door lock,
- power mirrors,
- power seat memory buttons.
All this is located on the driver's door.
Steering wheel and dashboard
We continue the Grand Santa Fe 2017 review - the steering wheel is next in line. It is adjustable in 2 planes, for reach and angle of inclination. The steering wheel is multifunctional, there are a lot of buttons and it’s difficult to figure them out right away. But after a couple of hours, you can understand what is responsible for what here. On the one hand, the block of buttons on the steering wheel is fully responsible for the music, on the other hand, cruise control and changing driving modes.
The electric booster has three driving modes:
- comfortable-ultralight (the steering wheel just dangles),
- normal (heavier)
- sports (it gets even tougher).
I really liked the normal mode, this is the optimal effort on the steering wheel for such a car.
On the steering wheel there are Bluetooth control buttons and on-board computer control, which is located exactly between the tachometer and speedometer. This on-board computer is color, a large amount of all kinds of information is displayed there: tire pressure, the need for maintenance and complete tuning.
- On the driver's left side:
- differential lock buttons
- disabling the stabilization system,
- turning on a 220 volt outlet
It is in the luggage compartment.
In the central part of the car, we see a touch screen, which also displays a large amount of information. There are AUX and USB, you can connect a large number of media devices. Also here are
- air conditioning control buttons
- heated rear and front windows,
- circular circulation.
This is the climate control unit.
Next to the automatic transmission selector are located:
- heated and ventilated seats,
- car restraint system button,
- electric handbrake,
- forced activation and deactivation of parking sensors,
- parking assistance.
The glove compartment is medium in size, nothing outstanding, but a couple of 0.33 cans or one one and a half liter bottle will easily fit.
Interior materials
The plastic here is soft, but not super wrinkled. Only the visor is made of hard plastic. Throughout the cabin there are inserts for carbon and around these rates there is already silver plastic. I can’t say that it all looks somehow super expensive, but the overall impression, even in dark shades, is positive.
If you choose a Santa Fe with a beige interior, or brown or brighter shades, then the interior will change much more and will look much more expensive.
Above we have:
- eyeglass case,
- sunroof control unit,
- visors with illumination
- reading lamps.
By itself, the surroundings and the feeling of being in this salon, I really liked. No serious flaws and miscalculations in ergonomics are imperceptible. Perhaps the materials here are not like in the premium segment, but it is the ergonomics and their location that everything is done very comfortably.
It also pleases with a very large number of options for 2.5 million, there is absolutely everything, including a panoramic roof, and a rear-view camera, and Bluetooth, and all kinds of ventilation and heating. In short, the car is stuffed just to the fullest.
Second row
Let's see what the second row of seats is like. If the front seat is set to a height of 193 cm, there is still a lot of space on the seat following it, 10-12 centimeters in front of your feet.
The back is adjustable in angle, you can almost lie down. Plus, the second row is adjustable forward and backward. This is if the third row is laid out, and someone is sitting there so that they have more legroom.
Rear seats in this configuration are heated. It is dual-mode, plus there are mechanical curtains on the glass.
There is an armrest with two cup holders. It is fully lined with leather. Rear seat with perforation, but without ventilation on the backs. The backs are made of plastic, there are leather pockets and a 12-volt socket on the central tunnel. Warm air comes out from under the seat, plus there are deflectors on the B-pillars, they also supply warm air.
Plenty of room for passengers, plenty of headroom, shoulder room, whatever. This car is designed for some kind of long trips with family and friends.
How the car showed itself "in the field" can be seen in the video.
Its main goal was to increase the external and internal differences with the younger model Santa Fe Premium.
It's hard to be... a flagship! Especially in the lineup of such a dynamically developing company as Hyundai. And especially when younger brothers are literally stepping on your heels. So, more recently, the large crossover Grand Santa Fe was the most-most and its leadership was not in doubt. But last year, the youngest Santa (the one that is not Grand) received the Premium prefix to its name, and with it such an impressive set of options that it even overshadowed the recognized leader in some ways.
Why is there Santa Fe, even the compact Tucson of the new generation is reaching out to the premium segment of the market with all its might and is ready to compete with models of a class, or even two higher, in terms of equipment level.
"Disorder!" - decided in Hyundai and began to restore the status quo. If it was initially believed that the family resemblance of a simple Santa Fe and Grand is not bad, now the “party policy” has changed. It was decided to separate these models as much as possible along the hierarchical ladder. As much as possible with little blood of the next restyling.
As a result, the updated Grand Santa Fe received modified front and rear bumpers, a new grille and improved optics both at the front (the head light is now adaptive) and at the rear. The most obvious difference by which you can easily recognize the restyled model is the vertical fog lights in the front bumper.
They are now LED. And if you look closely, you can see the LEDs in the rear lights.
The surround view system is one of the most useful options in the endless list of optional equipment for the updated Grand Santa Fe. Still, the dimensions of the car are impressive.
However, the matter was not limited to one exterior. Inside, there is an updated dashboard with a color screen and new multimedia systems with a choice of 5 or 8-inch display.
An updated dashboard with a color screen and new multimedia systems with 5 or 8-inch displays are the main eye-catching innovations in the interior of the restyled Grand Santa Fe. However, finishing materials are also nobler.
The decoration of the front panel has also changed. Naturally, in the direction of even greater premium. The set of options offered was expanded by adding a surround view system, car parking and intelligent cruise control with the possibility of automatic emergency braking. Well, such trifles as monitoring systems for blind spots and tracking markings are already all for granted. Where without them in this class?
There were also structural changes. And structural - in the truest sense of the word. From the outside, this, of course, is not visible, but the engineers claim that the power structure of the body has also undergone modernization, due to which the passive safety of the car has improved, noise and vibration have slightly decreased, and handling has become a little sharper.
But a retuned suspension made a much greater contribution to the behavior of the car. She works! All claims against the wadding and indistinctness inherent in the pre-styling model are removed. Now it's done!
Upgraded suspension works! All claims against her are removed
With a 2.2-liter turbodiesel Grand Santa Fe, of course, does not set records, but rides confidently. Acceleration to "hundreds" fits in 10 s. At the same time, spurts up to 60-70 km / h are given especially intensively, which makes it very easy to drive around the city.
Grand Santa Fe began to look more interesting. In addition, the Koreans did a good job on the suspension settings. The set of new additional options is also impressive, the most useful of which are the intelligent cruise control and the surround view system.
