The brand new Hyundai Santa Fe sticks out using its revolutionary redesign which makes a statement that is bold your family hauler segment. Gone could be the past handsome but design that is forgettable changed by a look that appears like a variety of a Ford Flex, an Ioniq 5, and a Land Rover. It is a bold and move that is even controversial a family group vehicle, but kudos to Hyundai to take the risk. After all, safe design is boring.
Boxy is much better for Cargo
One aspect that is key of Santa Fe’s redesign is its boxier shape when compared with its predecessor & most rivals. Once we’ve regularly observed in our luggage tests, boxy designs are superior for maximizing cargo room. The latest Santa Fe officially offers 14.6 cubic-feet of area behind the row that is 3rd which is not as much as many three-row crossovers. Nonetheless, it’s crucial to notice that the Santa Fe can also be smaller than nearly all of those competitors. If you need more area, Hyundai gets the larger Palisade for you personally.
In practical terms, there clearly was certainly more area within the Palisade’s third row, even though the Santa Fe is surprisingly sufficient for adults so long as the seats which are second-row adjusted forward. This wouldn’t be a concern as there was still an abundance of room in the line that is 2nd. But think about cargo room? What’s the essential difference between the Santa that is 14.6-cubic-foot Fe the 18-cubic-foot Palisade? So how exactly does it stack up against other vehicles which can be three-row such as the Kia Sorento, which shares its platform?
Comparing Measurements
The Palisade regarding the reduced left, additionally the Sorento on the lower straight to illustrate, let’s examine three photos: the Santa Fe on top. The Palisade features a longer cargo area floor, although the Sorento’s flooring length resembles the Santa Fe’s. Nonetheless, notice how boxier that is a lot Santa Fe is when compared with both. Specifically, it does not taper inward whilst the Sorento does.
The Santa Fe’s boxy design gives it a plus. The Santa Fe’s additional height likely provides its 2-cubic-foot benefit over its Kia sibling (12.6 cubic-feet) despite similar third-row legroom proportions towards the Sorento.
Third-Row Recline and Cargo Capacity
The Santa Fe’s 3rd row reclines generously. For our tests, we set the recline to a comfortable angle also to a far more upright, but angle that is still tolerable. The space that is underfloor perhaps not ideal for baggage storage space, much like the Sorento.
Inside our first test aided by the row that is third a comfy angle, we utilized two midsize roller suitcases (26 inches long, 16 wide, 11 deep), two black colored roll-aboard suitcases (24L x 15W x 10D), plus one smaller green roll-aboard (23L x 15W x 10D). We additionally included a fancy bag that is overnight21L x 12W x 12D).
This setup permitted for the largest and roller bags that are smallest, outperforming the Sorento but not the Palisade, which may hold four large bags. This shows the Santa Fe’s limitation in cargo area when compared with bigger SUVs that is three-row it really is understandable provided its smaller size.
Testing with a More Upright Angle
For the test that is second a more upright third-row angle, we had two designs. 1st included the 2 biggest bags and the roller that is tiniest, but the green bag was precariously positioned and could come out whenever tailgate ended up being exposed. It also blocked some visibility that is rear even though Santa Fe’s rearview camera mitigates this dilemma. The second configuration included one big bag, a medium roller, the little roller, and the case that is fancy. The area had been used by this setup more efficiently and exceeded the capacity of the Toyota Highlander and Mazda CX-90 under similar conditions.
Extra Cargo Options
The Santa Fe XRT includes raised roof rails that simplify mounting cargo that is extra top. These rails enable easy accessory of crossbars and other equipment without proprietary points that are mounting. The Santa Fe also features field that is unique for each side, revealing a grab handle for easier roof access. Also, the automobile could be loaded with a trailer hitch for hitch-based cargo solutions like bike racks or Yakima’s Exo system.
Conclusion
Physically, I favor having these features to expand my vehicle’s cargo capacity as required while enjoying the many benefits of a smaller automobile all of those other time. The Santa Fe’s size, packaging, and design that is boxy very attractive. It demonstrates that boxy is indeed better in terms of maximizing area that is interior cargo and people.