2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Preview: L.A. Auto Show

The Hyundai Veracruz has been laid to rest and in its place is the new seven-passenger edition of the Hyundai Santa Fe.  After renaming the five-passenger mid-size edition of this crossover the Santa Fe Sport and introducing it at the New York Auto Show in April, we have now been finally given a look at its larger sibling.  The biggest change between the two models is size, with the longer Santa Fe offering a third row of accommodations that allows it to better compete against rivals such as the Honda Pilot and the Mazda CX-9.

What’s New for the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe:

• All-new platform shared with the Santa Fe Sport
• Includes fresh chassis and revised styling
• 320 lbs lighter than the Veracruz it replaces
• Tow rating of 5,000 lbs
• Active Cornering Control all-wheel drive
• Seven passenger capacity

New 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe: Styling and Design

If you are familiar with the Santa Fe Sport, then you will easily recognize that the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe shares a significant family resemblance with its compact sibling.  This was done purposely by Hyundai, and although there have been tweaks made to its grille and sheet metal, there is little doubt that these two crossovers come from the same lineage.

Inside, the name of the game is space.  The four inches of additional wheelbase offered by the Santa Fe give it almost 40 cubic feet of additional passenger volume over the Sport, as well as a total cargo capacity of about 75 cubic feet.  This puts it on more even footing with crossover competitors such as the Toyota RAV4.

New 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe: What’s Under the Hood

The 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe comes exclusively with a 290 horsepower, 3.3-liter V-6 engine.  Also shared with the Hyundai Azera premium sedan, this unit pushes out 252 lb-ft of torque and is managed by a six-speed automatic transmission.  The Santa Fe starts out with front-wheel drive, but an optional all-wheel drive system that features torque vectoring capability in order to improve handling even when roads are dry debuts with the new model.  The system is linked to the vehicle’s electronic stability control system and attempts to intervene via both braking and active torque distribution based on predicted maneuvers.  Fuel economy for front-wheel drive editions of the crossover is estimated to be 18-mpg around town and 25-mpg on the highway.

New 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe: Features and Technology

Aside from the trick Active Cornering Control all-wheel drive system, the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe also comes with driver-selectable steering settings that range from Comfort to Sport in an effort to further improve the perceived handling of the vehicle.  Dual automatic climate control, a deionizing system to improve air quality, an optional eight-inch LCD display (part of the navigation system), and HD radio are also available with the Santa Fe.

New 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe: What Autobytel Thinks

The decision to part ways with the anonymous Veracruz and build on the stronger Santa Fe brand was a good one for Hyundai.  The 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe provides a solid choice for families looking for a feature-packed people mover at an affordable price.  The Santa Fe fits right in with the rest of the large mid-size crossover pack, which isn’t a bad place to be given the competitive nature of the segment.