Hyundai Motor unveils new design for Santa Fe

The all-new Santa Fe / Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group

By Kim Hyun-bin

Hyundai Motor unveiled the new design for its flagship midsize SUV, the Santa Fe, for the first time on Tuesday.

The newly revealed Santa Fe is a fifth-generation model, launched five years after the fourth generation was introduced. It inherits the design concept of the first-generation Santa Fe, which connects nature and the city, while also optimizing its design for urban and outdoor lifestyles.

The exterior of the new Santa Fe showcases a robust image with a boxy shape as its base and a unique silhouette derived from its long wheelbase and wide tailgate.

The most eye-catching design feature is the H lights on the front and rear of the vehicle. The front features a lamp that horizontally connects the headlights and the left and right headlamps, creating a wide stance.

The interior of the new Santa Fe offers abundant space and features a terrace concept large tailgate that extends the spatial openness. The interior of the new Santa Fe also incorporates the H shape design in the dashboard front, air vents and other elements to harmonize with the exterior.

Bright-colored seats create an even greater sense of space, while wood pattern garnish with a soft touch and Nappa leather seats with delicate embroidery bring out the new Santa Fe's distinctive and refined luxury.

Moreover, various customer-oriented features such as the panoramic curved display and dual smartphone wireless charger exhibit a high-tech and sophisticated image.

The panoramic curved display connects a 12.3-inch digital infotainment system improving driver visibility and creating a luxurious atmosphere.

The carmaker pursued sustainability by using various eco-friendly materials for its new SUV. It applied recycled plastic materials to the suede headliner, floor mats, second and third-row seatbacks, and used eco-friendly synthetic leather for the crash pad and door trim cover, among others.

"The new Santa Fe is an SUV that goes beyond urban life and camping and outdoor life. Based on the terrace concept's tailgate space, it will present a premium lifestyle reflecting the strength and delicate customer experience of an SUV," said Lee Sang-yeop head Hyundai Design Center.

Hyundai plans to unveil the key specifications and details of the new Santa Fe for the first time online on Aug. 10.