We knew the Santa Fe is quick. It has 194bhp and 44.4kgm of torque on tap so that's expected. But let the turbo kick in and you will be pleasantly surprised of its capabilities. It feels like a dam burst open and millions of gallons of water is rushing downstream. Torque is delivered instantaneously with a powerful sudden burst. Now, aware of the potential of the turbocharger, I drive with that sense of alertness required to drive a powerful car in city traffic.
I am headed towards Coorg in Karnataka. Soon the traffic is left behind; I point the Santa Fe towards the hills. In first and second gear, short bursts of power don't last long but soon as you shift to third, the Santa Fe slips into one long power surge. Travelling cross-country is as effortless as it gets in this SUV and on the excellent highway towards Coorg, overtaking is a breeze. The engine is strong and undoubtedly the best in its class. There is power in every band, good acceleration near idle, strong above 1800rpm and it continues all the way towards the red line. Combined with the six-speed manual gearbox, it allows for easy progress and confident overtaking. Refined engine and smooth power delivery are just an incentive to push harder.
Progress is easy and the Santa Fe's highway manners are excellent. I even have time to ponder over the interiors. The seats feel comfortable and fit and finish on the dashboard is goodHyundai's standard blue-lighting sees its way into the Santa Fe, which looks quite refreshing but fails to divert attention from the fact that the dashboard is not a particularly captivating design.
What the dash lacks in form, it makes up in function. The only oddity is the steering mounted controls that are confusing while you drive, but the reach and rake-adjustable steering wheel allows you to find a driving position that suits you well. The equipment list is pretty generous with dual-zone climate control, aux-in/USB ports, a six-CD changer, powered driver and passenger seats, keyless entry, reverse camera, six airbags, active headrests and arresting 18-inch alloy wheels.
There is ample space on the inside, especially for the front and middle row seats, but the third-row seats are best suited for children. Full marks though for flexibility. The middle and third row seats split and fold to form a flat loading bay and there are plenty of cubbyholes on the inside.
Once off the highway, we hit the narrow twisty roads as we near Coorg. It's on these roads that the Santa Fe feels a bit uneasy. The car is not as much fun to drive as on the highway, the steering is a bit vague and there is a fair amount of body roll. That said there's good grip from its four-wheel-drive hardware. It kicks in only when slip is detected. When this happens, the car starts funnelling torque to the rear wheels. And, if you push too far, this top-end version has ESP to keep you from the hedge.
The centre differential can be locked too in addition to the all-wheel-drive system, but the Santa Fe comes with neither low ratio nor adjustable ride height, so it can manage usual off-road environments but the tricky rocky terrain is best left to the serious off-roaders.
The Santa Fe feels particularly restless on broken roads and the near-constant fidgeting of the suspension is not terrible by any stretch, but it does bounce you around quite a bit.
The all-wheel drive Santa Fe feels value for money at its Rs. 22.95 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) price tag. The Santa Fe lacks an auto-box to top up its range but the engine's power and the flexibility of the manual transmission will give you little cause for complaint. A cheaper two-wheel-drive variant will also be available. It will not have ESP, active headrests or cruise control, but for Rs. 20.95 lakh, this will be the more popular version and the one that can comfortably take on the rivals.
