Thursday, December 27, 2012
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Test Drive: Hyundai Santa Fe nifty and thirsty
Hyundai's redesigned (and that's a mild description) Santa Fe Sport midsize SUV is a sweet machine that gets disappointing fuel economy.
Too bad, because the low real-world mpg might overshadow the significant attributes of the 2013 Santa Fe, on sale since August.
Hyundai, you might recall, was thumped by the government recently for overstated fuel economy on some models. It and corporate affiliate Kia had to restate the mpg ratings on several vehicles. Santa Fe was one.
The companies say they erred in some calculations that are part of the federal procedures for mileage estimates. Hyundai and Kia are giving owners small refunds to cover the difference between the old ratings and the new, lower ones.
The Santa Fe tested was a Sport 2.0T with all-wheel drive and the 2-liter turbo four-cylinder. The revised rating for it is 19 mpg in the city, 24 highway, 21 combined. Test Drive managed only about 16 mpg in zippy suburban use and approached the highway mpg only in ideal conditions.
Hyundai is horrified, saying its folks get into the 30s in their personal Santa Fes, and cites other published reports with results in the 20s.
But 16 mpg, plus-or-minus, though disappointing, might not be all that bad on a relative scale. A Honda CR-V tested late last year managed only about 16 mpg in the same suburban driving, and it's smaller, lighter and has a less-powerful engine.
Source: USAToday
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Monday, December 17, 2012
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
What a deal!
Right now, bring in both vehicles on the same day and get one FREE! Click here to print your coupon: http://on.fb.me/PXbm2s
What a deal!
Right now, bring in both vehicles on the same day and get one FREE! Click here to print your coupon: http://on.fb.me/PXbm2s
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
2013 Hyundai Santa Fe now features five, six and seven passenger trims
Hyundai revealed the production version of its new three-row, six/seven-passenger 2013 Santa Fe at the 2012 LA Auto Show on Nov. 28 in Los Angeles.
This new Santa Fe joins its brother, the two-row, five-passenger 2013 Santa Fe Sport which has been on sale since August.
Pricing for the new 2013 Santa Fe will not be announced until closer to its available date early in 2013. It will be available in both front wheel drive (FWD) and all wheel drive (AWD) as is the Santa Fe Sport.
Currently, the base MSRP for the 2013 Santa Fe is $24,450 for the FWD with the 2.4L DOHC with the 190 horsepower and 181 lb.-ft. of torque power plant and $27,700 for the 2.0L Turbo DOHC engine with 264 horsepower and 252 lb.-ft. of torque. Adding all-wheel drive (AWD) to each is $1,750.
We drove both of the 2013 Santa Fe Sport power plant versions, the 2.4L in FWD and the 2.0L in AWD in October at the 2012 Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) annual Truck Rodeo near San Antonio, Texas. Both power train combinations were very impressive and particularly agile and capable on the off-road course at the Truck Rodeo. The interior appointments and technology were exceptional as well making the Santa Fe Sport a favorite of many of the writers.
2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
Photo credit:
Hyundai
As a result, the Texas Auto Writers Association voted the 2013 Santa Fe Sport the Compact Crossover of Texas.
The all-new Santa Fe three-row is equipped with the more robust Hyundai Lambda 3.3L V6 engine with 290 horsepower and 252 lb.-ft. of torque.
Particular highlights of the new 2013 three-row Santa Fe include: being the only midsize CUV with a standard direct injection V6 engine, optional 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels, a tow rating of 5,000 pounds, Active Cornering Control, AWD system, Driver Selectable Steering Mode (DSSM), Hyundai designed and engineered six-speed automatic transmission, panoramic sunroof, heated rear seats and heated steering wheel, power driver and front passenger seats, seven passenger seating with 40:20:40 split folding second row bench seat or six passenger seating with second row captain’s chairs, sliding and reclining second row seating with cargo area release and 50:50 flat folding third row seats.
Standard Blue Link® – safety, service and infotainment telematics system, third generation navigation and audio multimedia systems with an available eight-inch display and a power liftgate are also available.
The Hyundai designers crafted Santa Fe Sport and three-row Santa Fe together, the signature differentiating element being the side view daylight opening (side window shape). The Santa Fe is 3.9 inches longer in the wheelbase and 8.5 inches overall. The Santa Fe features a shape that highlights the increased passenger and cargo room behind the third-row seat with has 38.6 more cubic feet of passenger space and 16.7 more cubic feet overall.
The 2013 Santa Fe also has its own bodyside character lines from the B-pillar back, grille design, standard 18-inch Euroflange alloy wheels, chrome-tipped dual exhaust and a flush-mounted tow hitch design.
Special care and attention went into the interior details, such as an optional panoramic sunroof, which allows more natural light into the cabin and rear side window sunshades. Available on Santa Fe models, is a push-button starter with proximity key, Electroluminescent Gauge Cluster with color LCD trip computer and a heated steering wheel.
The Santa Fe is powered by the highly acclaimed Lambda 3.3-liter V6 engine, which is also found in the Hyundai Azera and is mated to Hyundai’s six-speed automatic transmission with SHIFTRONIC® manual control. This transmission offers smooth shifts and a wide ratio spread that suits the engine’s characteristics.
Santa Fe customers will feel the benefits of the optional Active Cornering Control All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) system, which cooperatively controls torque and braking in conjunction with the Vehicle Stability Management System. This system can anticipate traction requirements and deliver additional stability through braking via continuous monitoring of driving conditions compared with other AWD systems, which can only react to conditions after they occur.
The Dynamax AWD system supplied by Magna Powertrain access an intelligent control unit that continuously analyzes data from the vehicle controller and distributes torque to any single wheel at a time through a multi-clutch plate. The coupling system is fully controllable via an electro-hydraulic actuation system. Braking force can also be sent to any single wheel at a time via the software. These processes are known as torque vectoring and torque braking. All this analysis is completely transparent to the driver.
In addition, greater efficiency is achieved through the intelligent control electronics that provide the torque needed for enhanced traction in a variety of driving situations. As a result, lower fuel consumption and reduced emissions are achieved. The electronic components are also optimally sized for minimal energy usage. This intelligent system allows for even more driver control.
All 2013 Santa Fe trims feature Hyundai’s Hillstart Assist Control (HAC) and Downhill Brake Control (DBC) to maximize control on steep hills. HAC minimizes rolling backwards on steep ascents, while DBC helps the driver maintain vehicle control and speed on steep downhill descents. By selecting the DBC switch, the Hydro-Electronic Control unit manages the wheel speed sensors, steering angle sensor and acceleration sensor to maintain control and speed on steep declines without having to use the brake.
Behind the wheel, drivers benefit from Hyundai’s all-new Driver Selectable Steering Mode, with three operating modes – Comfort, Normal and Sport. This innovative system allows drivers to adapt the Santa Fe’s steering characteristics to varying driving preferences and road conditions.
Comfort mode is ideal for city and parking environments, offering the greatest ease of steering with a 10 percent decrease in steering effort from Normal mode. Normal mode is ideal for a mix of driving conditions. Meanwhile, Sport Mode is optimized for higher-speed freeways or winding roads.
All models have a standard Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) system, which optimally manages Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and the Motor-Driven electric Power Steering (MDPS). VSM works to control two effects. Active Cornering AWD drive models integrate torque and brake vectoring.
All models are available with four audio systems with HD Radio technology integrated into all Santa Fe displays. Standard is an AM/FM/Satellite Radio/CD/MP3 audio system with six-speakers and iPod®/USB/auxiliary input jacks.
The upgrade audio system boasts a 4.3-inch full color LCD screen with HD Radio and rear view camera. The third system consists of the Gen 3.0 Navigation unit with Dimension audio with 10 speakers. Finally, the premium navigation system includes an Infinity® 550-watt, Logic 7® surround sound audio system with 12 speakers, including an eight-inch subwoofer and external amplifier is available.
A SiriusXM Satellite Radio interface is integrated into each head unit and features channel logos and Data services, such as NavWeather®, Stock Ticker and Sports Ticker. A Bluetooth hands-free phone system with voice recognition, address book download and audio streaming is also standard.
Both navigation systems integrate rear-view camera output. Blue Link™ turn-by-turn navigation is standard on all Santa Fe models.
Hyundai Blue Link®, standard on all Santa Fe models, combines safety, service and infotainment features to simplify owners’ lives and reduce distracted driving. Blue Link brings seamless connectivity directly into the car with technology like voice text messaging, POI web search download, turn-by-turn navigation, and monthly vehicle reporting.
Blue Link is offered in three packages: Assurance, Essentials and Guidance. More details on these package options can be found at www.hyundaibluelink.com.
Based on our test drives of the 2013 Santa Fe Sport FWD and AWD in October, this new three-row 2013 Santa Fe should be a winner also.
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