Hyundai Races Forward (Slowly) With an Evolution
of the Popular Santa Fe SUV Line in Williamsville
If that title is confusing--well, welcome to the
newest generation of the Santa Fe nameplate. But, don't worry. Once you see
what Hyundai did, and why they did it, it's a lot easier to make heads and
tails of the new Santa Fe crossover, and nod along with the critics who are
already pretty impressed with the changes.
The Hyundai Santa Fe you knew and loved in Buffalo
or Cheektowaga is still around. It's just gone through a bit of an extreme
rebirth--and we're likely to see some more changes coming around when we hit
2020.
A larger, more muscular design for
Hyundai's midsize SUV
In all, the new Santa Fe is larger than the
outgoing Santa Fe Sport model, though not quite as large as the Santa Fe XL
(the new name for the three-row mode), giving it a little bit more breathing
room from the smaller Tucson in the lineup, and setting itself up as a more
highly competitive midsize rival.
Hyundai pulls out a lot of stops to make the face
of the all-new Santa Fe align with the new face of the brand. Its design uses a
new "split light" look, which places the ultra-thin LED daytime
running lights higher up on the fascia, almost in line with the hood. Under the
separated DRL, Hyundai has thoughtfully stacked high/low-beam LED headlights, then
a subtle reflector to further improve visibility (for you and for other
drivers), and finally petite fog lights at the bottom of the split. This will
make night-driving in Williamsville easier and safer.
The grille is quite different from the Santa Fe
Sport, utilizing a really cool honeycomb design that surrounds a prominent
Hyundai badge, and nicely complements the sharp, angular new look of the
headlights. "Aggressive" is a term that's thrown around a lot in
automotive design. But, for the newest Santa Fe, with its deep cuts and jutting
nose, it's accurate.
Technology and infotainment
Hyundai definitely made tech a priority in the new
Santa Fe. You'll get a standard 7.0-inch infotainment screen, mounted higher up
on the dashboard than most of its competitors, above the air vents and the HVAC
controls, to let you see information in a more direct line of sight. This crisp
display runs Hyundai's latest version of its intuitive and easy-to-use
infotainment system, which offers standard integration with compatible
smartphones through Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™.
An optional 8.0-inch screen is available on
upper-level trims, and pairs with Hyundai's AVN 5.0 Navigation for drivers who
prefer a solid, real GPS system over the oftentimes-finicky maps application on
their phone. Additional tech and infotainment options include Qi wireless
device charging (again, for compatible devices--you need to buy the fancy docks
and such), dual front and rear USB charge ports so that every surly teenager in
West Seneca or unruly carpool coworker in Kenmore, NY can be satisfied with the
new 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe, and an available 8.5-inch head-up display that puts
your need-to-know info front and center.
Want to know more about the 2019 Santa Fe
in Williamsville? Contact Transitowne Hyundai to learn more; explore inventory
to compare trim levels like the Santa Fe SE, SEL, SEL Plus, Limited, and
Ultimate; and to better understand the differences between the Santa Fe Sport,
Santa Fe, and Santa Fe XL so you can make the best choice for your
lifestyle.