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2013 Hyundai Santa Fe XL Luxury
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What makes a luxury model a luxury
model? Why does a vehicle with a fancier
badge demand a higher price than one
from more humble roots despite offering
similar levels of features and refinement?
That’s a question Hyundai wants you to ask
yourself as you consider its new midsize
Santa Fe, especially when taking in its new
stretched seven-occupant XL version.
one of Hyundai’s latest family of directinjection engines you’re in for a real treat.
This one is only 3.3 litres in displacement,
smaller than the class average, yet thanks
to state-of-the-art technologies produces
a sizeable 290 horsepower and 252 lb-ft of
torque for quick acceleration, great passing
power and up to 5,000 lbs of towing
capability.
Step inside any Santa Fe XL and you’ll be
impressed. My tester was in Luxury trim, a
$10,200 upgrade over the base front-wheel
drive model, resulting in a $40,959 starting
price. It added leather upholstery, a fourway powered front passenger seat, a 4.3inch touchscreen infotainment display with
reverse camera, auto-dimming rearview
mirror, gorgeous panoramic sunroof with
powered sunshade, and stylish mirrormounted turn signals.
Along with strong power delivery the
Santa Fe XL feels solidly planted on the
road, executing tight curves well for such
a large crossover thanks to only 150 kilos
of added weight over the smaller Sport
model, albeit this longer wheelbase version
is happiest on the open highway.
The 2013 Santa Fe XL comes standard
with V6 power, and if you have yet to drive
At the end of my test I’m convinced
Hyundai has one of the more intriguing
offerings in the seven-seat crossover arena.
It balances performance and luxury and
then mixes in Hyundai’s usual superb value.