The new Hyundai Santa Fe is getting an advanced plug-in hybrid system overseas, so does this mean Australia is in with a chance to have a PHEV added to our line-up? Maybe, but there are other new developments coming to the Santa Fe range you’ll be interested in — the XRT and a petrol variant.
Hyundai’s next-gen Santa Fe arrived in Australia early this year looking completely different to the previous model with a blocky and somewhat polarising design. The seven-seat large SUV is currently only available with as a hybrid, not the plug-in type, but one which combines a 1.6-litre four cylinder engine with an electric motor with batteries that self charge without connecting to an external power source.
In the US and Europe the Santa Fe is also available with the hybrid powertrain we get, but also with a 2.5-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine. They also get a plug-in hybrid version with an electric driving range of about 55km.
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We now know that a new PHEV system is in the very final stages of development and will replace the old version in the Santa Fe in 2025. The updated PHEV is expected to have an electric driving range of 100km.
CarsGuide asked Hyundai Australia if this might mean our Santa Fe range could have the new PHEV variant to sell alongside the regular hybrid.
“There are no current plans to introduce PHEV variants locally,” a spokesperson told us. “PHEV is not ruled out for Australia, just not part of our current model strategy.”
That’s a no-but-never-say-never-answer, which leaves the door open. Still, there’s something else that is definitely coming to the Santa Fe range that is new but different — the XRT and also a petrol variant.
The XRT is a rugged version of the Santa Fe and it will be offered as an optional pack for $9990 and will initially be available on the hybrid variant. The Santa Fe XRT will have all-wheel drive, 17-inch alloy wheels with all terrain tyres, an 'off-road suspension kit' with new front struts, springs and hubs that offer another 30mm of ground clearance, and a tough-looking body kit.
Coming in December this year will be a petrol variant powered by a 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine making an expected 206kW and 422Nm. Pricing for the new petrol Santa Fe is yet to be announced but, it's expected to be no more than the current hyrbid version that starts at $55,500 and extends up to $75,000.
