Series II Santa Fe

Hyundai's large Santa Fe SUV received a mid-life update in November 2015, bringing refreshed styling and additional safety and technological features.

The four-tier Santa Fe Series II range comprised Active petrol and diesel variants with both a manual gearbox and an automatic transmission, with the 2.2-litre turbo-diesel automatic available in all grades – Active, Elite and Highlander.

Both the petrol and diesel engines had been tweaked for the model upgrade. The 2.4-litre direct-injection variable-valve petrol engine had actually dropped power by 3kW to 138kW at 6000rpm and 241Nm of torque at 4000rpm was also down by 1Nm, but Hyundai was claiming output sacrifices had been made for improved driveability.

The petrol engine was available in both manual and automatic, both six speeders and both claiming a 0.3 increase in fuel use to 9.4 litres per 100 kilometres.

The 2.2-litre common-rail direct-injection four-cylinder turbo-diesel had an extra 2kW, with peak power of 147kW at 3800 rpm.

Torque of 440Nm (up 4Nm for the auto and 19Nm over the previous manual) for both transmissions was available across a slightly broader spread – 1750 and 2750rpm.

The cabin changes included revamped instrument clusters, new sound system control units (larger displays now touch-controlled with USB, auxiliary and Bluetooth connections) and interior trim changes, with the base-model fitted with a wood-grain effect and the top two models getting a matte carbon look.

Adding to the lane departure warning already available on the top-spec Santa Fe, the Highlander was equipped with autonomous emergency braking and forward collision warning, which used the new active cruise control’s radar and lane departure camera between 8km/h and 70km/h for pedestrians and between 8km/h and 180km/h for vehicles to avoid or lessen an impact the system also provides audible and visual warnings for the driver.

Also on the top-spec Highlander’s safety features list were blind spot warning, lane change warning, rear cross traffic alert and the automatic parking system for parallel and perpendicular parking, as well as having an ‘exit’ mode to assist when leaving a space taken by using the automatic system.