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2010 Hyundai Santa Fe launched at Detroit

15th of January 2010

The habit in the world of automakers is to first present a new model at an important auto event and after a couple of months (sometimes years) start selling it. Hyundai has done things the other way round. More precisely, the 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe has already hit the market but the South Korean automaker wanted to wait for the 2010 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit to present it publicly. Frankly, there is nothing much to present about the 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe , with the exceptions of some new four cylinder and V6 engines that offer improved performance and lower fuel consumption.

The second generation 2.4 liter DOHC Theta II inline four cylinder engine developed by Hyundai will take the place of the former 2.7 liter V6 that had an output of 185 horsepower and 247 Nm of torque. The new four cylinder engine is able to develop 175 horsepower and 228 Nm of torque, so the difference in performance will not be so big. On the other hand, the new engine has a much better fuel economy than the former V6. The former 2.7 liter V6 engine that was mated to a five speed manual gearbox returned 17 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway while the new four cylinder engine mated to a new six speed automatic transmission with SHIFTRONIC returns 20 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. The drivetrain is completed by a front wheel drive system. According to the South Korean automaker, despite the fact that the new engine is less powerful, the car will be a little faster on the 0 to 60 mph acceleration, but they did not offer any figures.

A new Lambda II 3.5 liter V6 engine has replaced the former 3.3 liter V6 engine. The new engine manages to develop 276 horsepower and 335 Nm of torque, which represents an improvement of 30 Nm of torque and 34 horsepower in comparison to the former V6. The new V6 engine is mated to an automatic transmission that sends the power to the front wheels. The new Lambda II 3.5 liter V6 engine returns 20 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway.

Moving on to other features of the 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe, we have to tell you that some new things have been added but not too many. The list of new features includes a new touch screen navigation system, a fuel economy indicator on automatic transmission models as well as rollover sensors for the side curtain airbags. The exterior of the 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe gets a new grille, new wheels, new bumper fascias, new body side moldings as well as new fog lights.

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