Photos of the new Hyundai Santa Fe have just dropped, and the company's second-largest crossover is set to look very different from anything else on the road. Gone is the Santa Fe's conventional styling, replaced by something that is a mix of Land Rover Defender and concept car from the future, with a little bit of Lego brick thrown in.
Hyundai claims the new Santa Fe features "a lifestyle-based design typology to maximize rear cargo capacity and better accommodate outdoor and urban activities." What that translates to in real life is a body drawn almost entirely with straight lines and rear pillars that are nearly vertical.
The look is extremely blocky at first glance, but it is loaded with details, cut lines, sharply defined surfaces, and other elements that make it look like nothing else on the road today. The H-shaped head- and taillights reinforce the rectilinear aesthetic.
The new Hyundai Santa Fe is longer and has a longer wheelbase, but the front overhangs are shorter. That means more space in the rear both for passengers and cargo. Access to that cargo area is through what Hyundai calls a "terrace-like tailgate" that it says will deliver best-in-class space.
Inside, Santa Fe gets design elements like an H motif in the vents and dash, but what we can see appears much more conventional than the exterior. Like some of Hyundai's other recent models, it will have a 12.3-inch digital dash cluster that integrates with the infotainment system in one curved bezel. Hyundai will offer soft-touch wood finishes, Nappa leather seats, and bright colours that it says help enhance the sense of spaciousness.
Hyundai wasn't ready to reveal powertrains for the new Santa Fe. The outgoing vehicle is available in gas, hybrid, and PHEV offerings, so expect a similar level of electrification this time around. We'll get more details about the Hyundai Santa Fe in August when the vehicle gets a more comprehensive debut.
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