Autonews Issue 2, 2017 Autonews digital magazine Edition 2 Q2- covers•• | Page 21

AUTONEWS - AA CLUB OF KENYA MAGAZINE houses the dual zone climate control, a premium audio system that blew my ear- drums away and the vehicle information system that incorporates the rear-view reverse camera. There’s a convenient second shelf inside the centre console for your wallet; a host of handy 12V sockets abound in the cabin; and I liked (espe- cially at night) that the door handle lamps lit up when sensing the key as I walked up to the car. Under the bonnet The Santa Fe range is powered by two engine derivatives; a muscular 145kW/436Nm 2.2-litre turbodiesel and a smooth 135kW/228Nm 2.4-litre petrol unit. Locally we get only the petrol ver- sion, as the quality of diesel in the market doesn’t meet the Hyundai standards. Power is delivered to all four paws via a quick shift 6 speed auto box with tiptronic facility. It allows the driver to fully utilize the 135KW to the maximum, while ensuring that the engine delivers an average fuel consumption figure of 8L/100KM (although my real time esti- mates was 8.3L/100KM) Behind the wheel It’s not your track day weapon but han- dles reasonably well for a soft roader of its size. The independent suspension is tuned for smooth tarmac and long drives, but tended to feel a little wallow and top heavy through faster corners. Compared to the Honda CRV, Nissan X Trail and Toyota’s RAV 4, it suspension set up offers the right balance between handling and ride quality. The Santa Fe’s electric steering comes w ith three settings; Normal, Comfort and Sport settings. On ‘normal’ mode it feels very neutral and gives you just the right amount of feedback. When you want to unleash the devil in you, the ‘Sport’ set- ting offers accurate feedback and beefs up nicely on higher speeds. Soft ‘roading’ If bundu bashing is your thing, on de- mand, all-wheel drive system will engage the rear wheels when needed (on normal mode its front wheel drive, great for fuel economy). There’s also a 4WD Lock mode which splits torque to the front and rear axles evenly, and hill descent control for those slippery slopes. Safety: For the Santa Fe to compete with the niche competitors like the Land Rover Discovery Sport, BMW X3 and Audi Q5, Hyundai loaded it with intelligent safety kit to keep the occupants out of harm’s way. The active safety package includes a ‘smart’ cruise control function (adap- tive cruise control), which maintains a – 21 set distance from slower-moving vehicles ahead by automatically decreasing speed, and then accelerates back up to your chosen cruising speed when the traffic eases up again. The blind-spot detection system radar- secures the Santa Fe’s perimeter and, if a vehicle moves into the Santa Fe’s blind spot, a little warning icon appears in the door-mirror on that side - and if you ignore the warning it blips annoyingly to get your attention. The same scanners also cover the rear of the car when it’s in reverse, and if they detect any cross-traffic approach- ing you get both a ‘visual alert’ and an angry beeping immediately to discourage you from reversing out into the path of oncoming vehicles. Safety nets include ESP, Hill-Start Assist, and Rear Park Assist, Traction and Stability Control and six airbags. Verdict: With a starting price of Ksh. 4.8 mil- lion for the entry level ‘Safari’ and Ksh. 5.9 million for the range-topping ‘Pre- mium’ package, I reckon the Santa Fe is a winner. Fun to drive, dripping with technology and top notch fit and finish to boot, it definitely gives the competition something to ponder about. Hyundai’s five-year/150,000km warranty, gives the owner peace of mind