Though Hyundai Automotive South Africa has ordered homologation units, it hasn’t confirmed the new Santa Fe for a local launch. Here’s why, according to the CEO…
In August 2024, Hyundai Automotive South Africa told us the new Santa Fe had been put “
on the back burner ” for the local market, adding that it is not currently “on the horizon”. Now, after catching up with the brand’s local boss, we know why. Gideon Jansen van Rensburg, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Hyundai Automotive South Africa, was speaking to
Cars.co.za during an interview conducted in a custom-built podcast booth at Naamsa’s
South African Auto Week 2024 in Cape Town. We asked him whether the new Santa Fe – which was unveiled globally in 5th-generation form back in July 2023, before the South Korean automaker
revealed more details the following month – was still planned for South Africa. “I wish I could answer that with great certainty. We’ve ordered homologation vehicles. In line with the global manufacturing policy, that vehicle is not available in diesel [for] South Africa,” Jansen van Rensburg told us. Since the outgoing 4th-gen Santa Fe – local stock of which has seemingly almost run dry – is offered in Mzansi exclusively with an oil-burning motor, the lack of a turbodiesel engine in the new range is likely a significant driver of Hyundai Automotive SA’s apparent circumspection. Still, that doesn’t mean the new Santa Fe is completely off the table for South Africa, with Jansen van Rensburg confirming the Korean firm’s local division has already sampled the new model in hybrid flavour (a form of powertrain not currently part of Hyundai Automotive SA’s broader line-up). “So, it’s available [as] a hybrid vehicle. We’ve tested the hybrid engine – it’s giving great fuel consumption, great power, great drive. We’ve ordered homologation vehicles and we’ll be testing [them] and we’ll obviously look at the price positioning of that vehicle before we make a final decision on bringing the vehicle in,” he explained. Though the new Santa Fe is available with a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) powertrain in certain parts of the world, it’s our understanding that Jansen van Rensburg was referring to the standard petrol-hybrid engine, as offered in fellow right-hand-drive market Australia. This electrified powerplant combines a 1.6-litre T-GDi Smartstream petrol unit with a 44 kW electric motor, with the latter drawing power from a 1.49 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery. This hybrid powertrain produces peak outputs of 172 kW and 367 Nm, and is paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. Of course, the hybrid version of the new Santa Fe would surely come at a significant premium over the outgoing turbodiesel model, which currently tops out at R1 094 500 (not far behind the flagship R1 204 500 Palisade). Therefore, a potentially unfeasibly high price point perhaps also stands in the way of the new Santa Fe’s local launch. Interestingly, the Santa Fe line-up in Australia is due to gain a 2.5T-GDi engine towards the end of 2024, with this turbopetrol motor delivering 206 kW and 422 Nm through an 8-speed (wet) dual-clutch transmission. It’s not known whether Hyundai Automotive SA might consider this mill instead. As a reminder, the fresh-faced Santa Fe is 45 mm longer than its forebear, now measuring 4 830 mm long and 1 900 mm wide, while standing 1 720 mm tall. There’s an extra 50 mm between the axles, too, taking the wheelbase to 2 815 mm and allowing the new 7-seater model (though some markets will also feature a 6-seater) to offer what Hyundai calls “enhanced” 3rd-row seating. The tailgate opening is 145 mm wider than before at 1 275 mm, while the luggage compartment has gained 91 litres of space (now set at a “class-leading” 725 litres; we’re guessing this is with the 3rd row folded flat). Legroom in the 2nd row has increased by 35 mm to 1 075 mm, with occupants of the 3rd row furthermore gaining an extra 15 mm in this area (and an additional 69 mm of headroom), according to Hyundai.
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