Hyundai is giving the world a glimpse of the all-new Santa Fe ahead of its debut later this spring at the Geneva motor show, replacing a model that has been on sale since 2012.
The look of the 2019 Santa Fe borrows a few elements from the new Hyundai Kona that we saw at the 2017 Frankfurt motor show, featuring large split headlights and the hexagonal “cascading” grille that’s been working its way into the lineup. Inside, the new Santa Fe features a wide infotainment screen located at the top of the center stack but keeps plenty of buttons down below for climate control functions and other systems. Cabin design features fewer sharp angles than the outgoing model, adopting more flowing lines for a more upscale appearance.
“The Santa Fe displays a modern and elegant appearance complemented by eye-catching twin headlights and the Cascading Grille, Hyundai’s SUV-family identity,” Hyundai says. “The exterior design is characterized by a powerful wide stance and an athletic, bold look. It features refined lines that reinforce the car’s status at the top of Hyundai’s SUV lineup. The Santa Fe interior design combines premium quality with a horizontal and roomy layout and enhanced visibility.”
The redesigned interior is a little less edgy, opting for a more luxurious design.
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When it comes to safety tech, the new Santa Fe will offer Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, which warns the driver if another vehicle approaches from the side and can also apply the brakes automatically, as well as Safety Exit Assist, which temporarily locks the doors to prevent passengers from exiting when the system senses a car approaching from behind.
Hyundai is expected to keep the two-model Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport tag team in the U.S., so the model shown in the photos above is destined for the European market, where this nameplate is positioned a little differently when it comes to the number of seats. But the larger offering is expected to keep the seven-seat capability of the standard Santa Fe model — it’s far more important in the marketplace than it was five years ago when the now-outgoing model entered production.
Hyundai is keeping a tight lid on other details ahead of the Santa Fe’s Geneva show launch, but expect to see it on sale in the U.S. in the second half of the year as a 2019 model.