“Hyundai Santa Fe 2024: Overcoming Design Flaws with a Spare Tire Kit”

In mid-September 2024, the new-generation Hyundai Santa Fe was officially introduced in the Vietnamese market, with a total of five versions ranging from 1.069 billion VND to 1.365 billion VND. Many customers who had been awaiting the new Santa Fe were thrilled with the vehicle’s design, reminiscent of the Land Rover Range Rover. However, there was also a significant amount of criticism directed at the rear design, with opinions stating that it lacked appeal and masculinity.

To address this issue, Vietnamese mechanics devised the addition of a spare tire container for the new Hyundai Santa Fe, similar to the setup on the Land Rover Defender, and it proved to be highly effective.

This modification received praise from many, as it added a sense of masculinity and strength to the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe, further emphasizing its resemblance to the Land Rover model. This modification is expected to be a popular choice among customers in the near future.

However, there are also concerns that installing the spare tire container purely as a decorative element, without actually using it to store the spare tire, could make opening the trunk more difficult and potentially damage the trunk’s suspension. Nonetheless, mechanics have assured that the box is installed solely for aesthetic purposes, and customers can choose to place simple tools inside instead.

In terms of exterior design, the new Hyundai Santa Fe embraces the “Open for More” concept, breaking free from the traditional impression of its predecessors. The overall look is more stylish and robust than the previous model. Specifically, the vehicle features a new design language that gives it a squarer and more robust appearance.

Firstly, the new Hyundai Santa Fe adopts a narrow-slatted grille and a through-type light bar in the center, significantly enhancing the visual hierarchy of the vehicle. Additionally, the addition of H-shaped daytime running lights improves the car’s recognizability on the road.

From the side profile, the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe showcases bold wheel arches and slightly protruding surfaces, complemented by thick-spoked alloy wheels, contributing to its stylish and robust character. Furthermore, the car incorporates the popular floating roof design and combines it with a black roof rack, enhancing both practicality and visual appeal.

At the rear, the Hyundai Santa Fe 2024 features an entirely new design, with a vertical tailgate that lends a crossover-like appearance to the vehicle. Instead of adopting the current trend of through-type taillights, it incorporates an H-shaped element within the rectangular taillight cluster, providing a unique signature look and excellent recognizability.

Moving to the interior, the new Hyundai Santa Fe continues the bold use of straight lines seen in the exterior, and all the mainstream tech configurations are present. The car is equipped with two 12.3-inch interpenetrating screens, a multifunctional three-spoke steering wheel, integrated air-conditioning vents, and a 6.6-inch touchscreen below, enhancing both style and convenience for the driver.

Additionally, the vehicle supports fast wireless charging for dual mobile phones and incorporates air guide designs to mitigate phone overheating issues. The interior showcases a predominantly leather-wrapped environment, with air vents and doors adorned with wood-grain veneer, complemented by ambient lighting that accentuates the cabin’s sense of solidity and premium feel.

Under the hood of the Hyundai Santa Fe 2024 are two gasoline engine options. The first is the Smartstream Theta III engine, a 2.5L naturally aspirated inline-four, found in the Exclusive, Prestige, Calligraphy 2.5 7-seater, and Calligraphy 2.5 6-seater variants. Mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission, this engine produces a maximum output of 194 horsepower at 6,100 rpm and a peak torque of 246 Nm at 4,000 rpm.

On the other hand, the Calligraphy 2.5 Turbo variant is powered by a 2.5L turbocharged inline-four gasoline engine, delivering 281 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 422 Nm of torque between 1,700 and 4,000 rpm. This potent powertrain is paired with an 8-speed wet dual-clutch automatic transmission, sending power to all four wheels.