Hyundai has narrowed the gap between its entry-level seven-seat Santa Fe and the mid-range Elite, offering more kit for families on a budget.
The Active X helps fill the gaping chasm between the $8000 gap between Active variants and their Elite counterparts. It arrives just months before a significantly redesigned model reaches Australian showrooms.
Like the Tucson Active X, the Santa Fe Active X takes the base model of the range and adds niceties like more kid-suited leather trim and larger, 18-inch alloy wheels.
As with the existing Active, Elite and Highlander variants, the Active X is available with a choice of two powertrains – a petrol and a diesel, priced at $47,020 and $50,050 before on-road costs, respectively.
Over the Active, the Active X adds the aforementioned leather upholstery, as well as proximity entry with push-button start, front parking sensors, dual-zone climate control, rain-sensing wipers and privacy glass.
There are also convenience features like a cooled glovebox, puddle lamps integrated in the power folding exterior mirrors and exterior courtesy lights. Other touches include satin chrome-finished exterior door handles and the Elite’s nicer, knit roof lining.
If you aren’t fussed on black interiors, you can select the dark beige option for an extra $295.
These features were previously only available from the Elite model upwards, priced at $51,000 and $54,000 before on-road costs, though the Elite still makes the case for the extra spend with features not available on the Active X. These include satellite navigation, a power tailgate, and power front seats.
Hyundai’s SmartSense safety suite is standard across the Santa Fe range. It includes autonomous emergency braking with forward-collision warning and pedestrian and cyclist detection, as well as blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist and adaptive cruise control with Stop & Go.
All Santa Fe models also come standard with a touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, though Active and Active X models make do with a 7.0-inch unit while the Elite and Highlander have an 8.0-inch unit.
The Santa Fe’s naturally-aspirated 3.5-litre petrol V6 produces 206kW of power and 336Nm of torque and is front-wheel drive, while the 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine produces 147kW of power and 440Nm of torque and is all-wheel drive. Both engines use an eight-speed automatic transmission.
For more information on the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe, check out our pricing and specs article.
