Hyundai develops Santa Fe off-road packs

DELIVERING more than the ubiquitous option pack trotted out when car-makers want to move metal and often comprising nothing more than black paint, decals, mud flaps and floor mats are two ridgey-didge adventure/off-road option packs from Hyundai for the Santa Fe Hybrid.

The recently introduced new generation large SUV, considered a soft roader by some, may be transformed into a tougher beast by each of the packs that go under XRT (eXtreme Rough Terrain) branding in Peak ($9990) and Adventure ($6990) specification, both prices including fitting.

The packs represent good value given the retail price of alloy wheels and all-terrain tyres alone could be up to $4000.

Hyundai offers the packs as genuine factory accessories meaning they are fully covered by the vehicle’s five-year/unlimited distance warranty when they are fitted by a Hyundai dealership at new vehicle purchase.

Both are designed to elevate Santa Fe’s off road capabilities and include new suspension components, wheels, tyres and accessories.

Identifying a niche in the market and acknowledging a big uptick in so-called adventure (off-road outdoor lifestyle) driving since COVID, the packs were jointly developed by Hyundai engineers here in Australia in collaboration with the Hyundai America Technical Centre in California.

All components have undergone engineering development and testing to ensure the outdoor-focused Santa Fe owner has the confidence to tackle challenging terrain with ease.

Ensuring the packs are fit for purpose in our notoriously arduous driving environment, a team from HMCA (Hyundai Motor Company Australia) travelled to the Hyundai America Technical Centre (HATCI) in Irvine, California to test existing North American Santa Fe XRT components in varied on- and off-road conditions.

These included steep unsealed climbs and descents with rocks and sand, along with other test work including heavy-duty towing, damper tuning and motor-drive power steering (MDPS) assessment.

A sharp focus was put on the XRT suspension package, “unique” 17-inch alloys and all-terrain tyres that give the XRTs a 30mm lift for greater approach and departure angles with improved overall ground clearance.

In cold hard numbers, the approach, departure and break-over angles of a standard Santa Fe are 17, 20 and 17-degrees respectively with 177mm ground clearance. The XRT has 19, 22 and 19-degrees with 210mm ground clearance.

Hyundai said the XRT packs are designed to enhance the standard Santa Fe Hybrid, which includes the XRT exclusive wheel and all-terrain tyre combination, specially tuned Mando dampers, in conjunction with XRT suspension knuckles and stabiliser bars.

Optimising off-road traction are Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain+ tyres that were selected after exhaustive testing of multiple brands.

Hyundai said the engineers involved in XRT development were happy with the component combination saying they believe it provides the optimum balance of excellent off-road capability and on-road grip and quietness.

“Our XRT Option Packs enhance Santa Fe Hybrid's off-road capability to help our customers boldly explore the great outdoors,” HMCA chief executive officer, Ted Lee said. “The vehicle looks fantastic as an XRT, too.”

Santa Fe Hybrid XRT option packs are available now for new and existing Santa Fe Hybrid customers.

XRT Peak Option Pack  

17-inch off-road wheel and tyre package

Integrated side step (black)

Bonnet protector

Roof platform

XRT mud flaps

Roof racks

Underbody skid plate

Style visors

XRT suspension kit

RRP: $9990 (incl. GST and fitment)

XRT Adventure Option Pack

17-inch off-road wheel and tyre package

Underbody skid plate

XRT mud flaps

XRT suspension kit

RRP: $6990 (incl. GST and fitment)

Two tyre sizes are approved with the XRT packs with Hyundai recommending Pirelli’s Scorpion All-Terrain Plus tyre sizes in either 235/65R17 108H or 245/70R17 110T.