The significantly refreshed 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe 5-passenger SUV is just beginning to hit dealerships now, and MAMA members got a complete virtual walk-through of all of its new features during an early-December MAMA eMeet. Santa Fe Product Manager Trevor Lai led MAMA members in a Zoom presentation on the 2021 Santa Fe and fielded questions at the end of the presentation.
Lai shared details on the 2021 Santa Fe’s many enhancements, such as aggressive new styling with advanced front and rear lighting signatures, an optimized body structure, revised suspension, two new gasoline engines, several new technology and safety features, a line-topping Calligraphy trim level, and the Santa Fe’s first hybrid powertrain (with a plug-in hybrid version slated to follow in the near future).
The exterior shows off a new front fascia highlighted by a striking T-shaped LED light signature and a bold horizontal grille with a three-dimensional crosshatch pattern and sculpted front bumper. Among the other prominent exterior features for the 2021 model year are:
- LED headlights and daytime running lights
- LED taillights
- 17”, 18”, 19” and 20” alloy wheels
- Roof side rails
- Power folding side mirrors with turn signal indicators
- Power panoramic sunroof
- Exterior silver accents
Several updates can be found in the interior of the vehicle, including a dramatic new “high-console” center-console design; push-button gear selector; and premium materials throughout the cabin, including available Nappa leather upholstery, soft-touch padding and ambient lighting. The list of standard or available interior features for 2021 includes:
- Premium Nappa leather seating surfaces (on Calligraphy trim level)
- Front heated and ventilated seats
- Power driver seat plus lumbar support
- Integrated memory seat system
- Dual automatic temperature control
- Shift-by-wire and electric parking brake
- Heated steering wheel and rear seats
- Rear window sunshades
The Santa Fe also boasts a generous list of advanced safety features that come standard with Hyundai’s SmartSense, such as:
- Forward collision-avoidance assist with pedestrian and bicyclist detection
- Blind-spot collision-avoidance assist
- Rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist
- Lane keeping assist and lane following assist
- Safe exit warning and rear occupant alert
- Driver attention warning
- Highway driving assist
- Smart cruise control with stop-and-go functionality
- Parking distance warning (forward and reverse)
- Parking collision-avoidance assist-reverse
- Blind view monitor and surround view monitor
In terms of tech, the 2021 Santa Fe offers a 10.25-inch navigation system, remote smart park assist, hands-free power tailgate with auto-open function, 12.3-inch fully digital instrument cluster, windshield head-up display and 64-color ambient lighting.
The Santa Fe also offers new connectivity features for 2021. The Hyundai Digital Key smartphone app negates the need for a traditional key fob—the system allows owners to use their smartphone to start/stop the engine, lock/unlock the doors, turn panic mode on/off and open the trunk. Additional connectivity features include wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, enhanced Blue Link features, wireless device charging and dynamic voice recognition.
Hyundai’s HTRAC all-wheel drive is another available feature. The system tracks vehicle speed and road conditions to control braking between the left and right wheels. It also balances power
between the front and rear wheels to ensure occupant safety while delivering superior cornering and driving dynamics on multiple road surfaces.
Additional improvements have been made to the 2021 Santa Fe’s braking, ride and handling, noise reduction, and aerodynamics.
The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe will start at $26,850 for the SE base trim level, $28,650 for the SEL trim, $38,600 for the Limited, and $42,100 for the Calligraphy.
The Santa Fe Hybrid is scheduled to go on sale in the first quarter of 2021, and the Santa Fe Plug-in Hybrid is expected to arrive later next year. Pricing for the HEV and PHEV models will be announced closer to launch.
The Hyundai Santa Fe presentation was one of the final MAMA eMeets to wrap up the 2020 calendar year. The MAMA Board of Directors are hard at work to arrange for more MAMA eMeets to resume after the New Year.
