2021 Hyundai Santa Fe teased – not just a facelift, SUV gets a new platform and hybrid, PHEV options

2021 Hyundai Santa Fe teased – not just a facelift, SUV gets a new platform and hybrid, PHEV options

Click to enlarge

Hyundai has released teaser images of the new 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. They show an even bolder front end than the current fourth-generation TM, which sports three tiers of lighting.

Like today’s car, the super slim top tier houses LED daytime running lights, but the light signatures are now T-shaped, and are visually connected to the lower tier. There, the stem of the T bisects what looks like twin projector main lamps, which are now visually part of the grille. The effect is a full width grille.

Speaking of the grille, Hyundai released images of two grille patterns – one’s a chain link style that’s rather similar to today’s grille, while the other appears like cascading scales. It’s a very bold and aggressive look.

2021 Hyundai Santa Fe teased – not just a facelift, SUV gets a new platform and hybrid, PHEV options

Click to enlarge

But what’s more interesting is under the skin. There’s a new “Integrated Architecture” with hybrid and plug-in hybrid options for the first time in the Santa Fe. This may be perceived as just a “midlife facelift” (today’s car first surfaced in February 2018), but there’s a new platform under there.

The Korean carmaker says that the new Santa Fe will be the first Hyundai model in Europe and first Hyundai SUV globally based on the all-new third-generation vehicle platform. It allows for significant improvements in performance, handling and safety, as well as facilitating electrified powertrains, it’s claimed. The underpinnings in question here should be similar to that in the fourth-generation 2021 Kia Sorento that was revealed in March.

Besides a “dignified and charismatic exterior design”, the upcoming Santa Fe’s interior design updates will “provide premium sensibility and comfort”. Set to reach European showrooms from September, more information will be revealed in the coming weeks. The new Kia Sorento is a very handsome SUV, and the Santa Fe should fare well in looks department as well. Stay tuned.

GALLERY: 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe in Malaysia

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Danny Tan

Danny Tan loves driving as much as he loves a certain herbal meat soup, and sweet engine music as much as drum beats. He has been in the auto industry since 2006, previously filling the pages of two motoring magazines before joining this website. Enjoys detailing the experience more than the technical details.

 

Comments

  • Kimchi Wong on May 29, 2020 at 2:43 pm

    Korean is catching up Japanese and soon will be on par. China has more and more to catch up.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 0
    • yawnz on May 29, 2020 at 5:02 pm

      Yawnz. China is leading the market in EV adoption and nearly all Chinese brands have an EV vehicle. It is Korea that has a lot to catch up.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 5
    • sila patuh MCO basmi Covid-19 on May 29, 2020 at 5:38 pm

      The current Game-Changing Hyundai Santa Fe design is already mind-blowing. Now the upcoming next gen Santa Fe is even more stunning and epic! I hope Proton can redesign the front end of Geely Boyue to make it more stunning like this instead of just changing logo

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 6
  • Singa on May 29, 2020 at 3:13 pm

    This is nice! Hope to release this with additional features like AEB, ACC and LDW besides blind spot and rear cross traffic warning

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
  • looks cool!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • Well done Hyundai for making the current gen Santa Fe get outdated really fast. Pretty sure the owners of the current version would be thrilled and will keep buying your brand forever and ever.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 1
  • umngok_make_bolehland_great_again on May 29, 2020 at 4:56 pm

    Sime Darby price it even higher please. Pricing now is too cheap I’ve seen too many of them on road.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 6
  • seancorr (Member) on May 29, 2020 at 6:01 pm

    Gone case la for the owners of the 2019 Santa Fe since Hyundai releasing the ‘facelift’ on a brand spanking new platform.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
 

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