Hyundai has launched its athletic new Santa Fe range flagship – the striking Santa Fe SR. Boasting purposeful new looks and genuine sporting appeal, the new Santa Fe SR also represents strong value for money in the fast-growing Australian large-SUV market.
Santa Fe SR joins the acclaimed Veloster SR Turbo, i30 SR and Accent SR in Hyundai Motor Company Australia’s range of sport derivative model variants enhanced and tuned specifically for local conditions.
Santa Fe SR brings high-quality sporty enhancements, including a full sports bodykit, 19-inch OZ Racing alloy wheels shod with high-performance Michelin tyres, Brembo brakes and H&R Performance springs.
Because it is based on Santa Fe Highlander, the seven-seater Santa Fe SR comes highly specified with benchmark technology and a segment-leading standard equipment list.
EXTERIOR
Santa Fe SR’s bodykit boasts a deep front spoiler, full-length side skirts and a rear diffuser with integrated exhaust.
Santa Fe SR also brings standard matte-black 19×8 OZ Racing Versilia performance alloy wheels shod with 235/55 R19 Michelin Latitude Tour tyres. A full-size spare is standard.
Also integral to Santa Fe SR is a high-performance – and highly effective – braking package from acclaimed Italian manufacturer Brembo, featuring eye-catching, bright red four-piston monobloc calipers front and rear.
Santa Fe SR is available in four exterior colours: Creamy White (solid), and Sleek Silver, Titanium Silver and Phantom Black (all metallic). Each is matched with leather-appointed black interior trim.
CHASSIS AND TUNING
Santa Fe SR is based on the Santa Fe Sports Package formulated by Hyundai Motor Corporation’s Customising Team in South Korea.
However, this new flagship of Hyundai Australia’s outstanding SUV range has undergone significant locally-focused development work by Hyundai Motor Company Australia’s respected in-house chassis and suspension tuning division led, by General Manager Product Engineering, Mr Hee Loong Wong (aka ‘Wongy’).
To better suit our more challenging roads and unique road surfaces, Hyundai’s Australian Product Planning and Engineering team specified H&R Performance Springs front and rear (six percent and 11 percent stiffer respectively). For Santa Fe SR, the beefier springs were matched to the highly respected Korean-made Mando dampers used on other Australian-specification MY15 Santa Fe model variants.
Dimensions of the Santa Fe SR’s Oz Racing wheels are unchanged over the standard alloy wheels available on the Santa Fe Highlander. However, the new Santa Fe SR’s alloys offer better caliper clearance than the standard wheels.
“For us, it wasn’t about the wheels being bigger and wider, or having a different offset, but about spoke design and the required caliper clearance,” says Hyundai Motor Company Australia’s Senior Manager Product Planning, Andrew Tuitahi.
Apart from their eye-catching looks, the Santa Fe SR’s Brembo brakes also assist stopping power. From 60km/h, stopping distance is reduced by eight percent compared with MY15 Santa Fe’s already impressive braking performance. Front disc dimensions are 340mm X 28mm, while the rears are 302mm X 22mm.
| Front | Rear |
| Front disc External diameter: 340mm Thickness: 28mm |
Rear disc External diameter: 302mm Thickness: 22mm |
| Two-pieces fixed caliper (P type) | Two-pieces fixed caliper (P type) |
| 4 piston type (44mm) | 4 piston type (28mm) |
Santa Fe SR also features Hyundai’s advanced Flex Steer system and Active On-Demand 4WD system with torque-vectoring Advanced Traction Cornering Control (ATCC). Other standard features on Santa Fe SR – which have helped MY15 Santa Fe achieve the maximum 5-star ANCAP safety rating – include seven airbags, ESC, TCS, ABS, EBD, BAS, HAC, DBC and LDW.
DRIVETRAIN
Santa Fe SR’s powerful and economical drivetrain integrates Hyundai’s torque-rich R2.2 CRDi turbo-diesel engine with its acclaimed, in-house designed six-speed automatic transmission with electronic sequential manual mode.
The R2.2 CRDi engine uses Variable Geometry Turbocharging (VGT) and third-generation common-rail piezo injection. Maximum power is 145kW while maximum torque is a strong 436Nm.
EQUIPMENT AND FEATURES
Santa Fe SR comes with a comprehensive list of equipment and features, together with Hyundai’s benchmark five-year/unlimited km warranty, Lifetime Capped Servicing and 10-year Roadside Assistance.
Highlights of the Santa Fe SR’s extensive standard equipment list include:
- 12-way power driver’s seat with lumbar support
- Heated and ventilated front seats
- Heated second row seats
- Rear-door sunshades
- Twin-panel, auto-closing panoramic glass roof
- Dual-zone climate-control air-conditioning (with vents on all three rows)
- Automatic dusk-sensing HID Xenon headlights
- LED Daytime running lights
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Front and rear parking sensors
- Rear-view camera
- 7” Touchscreen satellite-navigation system with SUNA traffic updates and three years’ HERE MapCare
- Bluetooth iPod connectivity
- 10-speaker premium audio system
- Underfloor rear cargo storage
- Proximity smart key with push-button start
- Power tailgate with hands-free opening
PRICING
|
Drive |
Engine |
Transmission |
Active |
Elite |
Highlander |
SR |
|
AWD |
2.4L GDi Petrol |
6 Speed Manual |
$38,490 |
– |
– |
– |
| 6 Speed Auto |
$40,990 |
– |
– |
– |
||
|
AWD |
2.2L CRDi Diesel |
6 Speed Manual |
$41,490 |
– |
– |
– |
| 6 Speed Auto |
$43,990 |
$48,490 |
$53,240 |
$59,990 |
* All prices are Manufacturer’s List Price. Price excludes dealer delivery and on road costs.
