2010 Hyundai Santa Fe announced

The new Hyundai Santa Fe is coming to India in 2010
 

Hyundai has given what it calls a ‘mid-cycle refresh’ to its Santa Fe SUV, which, incidentally, is also due to be launched in India in 2010. The new Santa Fe will be available with 2.2-litre diesel and 2.4-litre petrol engines, though only the latter is expected to make its way to the Indian market.

The 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe features a six-speed automatic transmission, completely redone interiors, improved rollover protection and optional 4WD. The 2.2-litre diesel version has 197 horsepower while the 2.4-litre petrol packs 174bhp. Both engines are fully Euro V-compliant.

For improved fuel economy, the new Santa Fe is fitted with a new alternator management system, which disengages the alternator when the clutch is suppressed, allowing it to spin freely, thus eliminating drag. The SUV also has an ‘Eco’ feature which uses red, white and green lights to indicate fuel efficiency. Even the tyres used on the new Santa Fe use a new kind of silica compound for lower rolling resistance, hence better fuel economy.

Hyundai says changes to the Santa Fe’s exteriors have been kept to a minimum and are limited to a new three-slatted front grille, restyled front and rear bumpers, and revised headlamps, fog lamps and rear combinations lamps.

Whether the Hyundai Santa Fe will be successful in taking on the Honda CR-V, Toyota Fortuner, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, Ford Endeavour, Chevrolet Captiva and Mitsubishi Outlander in the Indian market remains to be seen.