Hyundai to Issue Huge Upgrades for 2017 Santa Fe Lineup
The LA Auto Show is always one of the year’s biggest events, but this year it featured an extra special announcement from Hyundai: Hyundai North American CEO Dave Zuchowski announced the automaker’s plans to change its 2017 Santa Fe lineup to better suit the tastes of American CUV drivers. Hyundai’s new strategy is twofold: size up the existing crossovers and introduce new, smaller crossovers beneath them.
The newly-announced changes will largely affect the Santa Fe and the Santa Fe Sport, which will both grow in size. A concerted effort to differentiate the vehicles from one another will also launch–in the past, consumers have been confused about how the five-seat Sport relates to the seven-seat Santa Fe. In Hyundai’s new lineup, the Santa Fe will become an eight-seat crossover while the Sport will get a facelift to resemble a more rugged-looking Jeep competitor. The Santa Fe Sport will also get a whole new name to suit its new look.
Inside, the updated Santa Fe vehicles will receive dramatic upgrades across the board, including LED lighting signatures, additional infotainment, convenience and safety technologies, and even new Drive Mode selections. To meet demand, the two-row Santa Fe Sport will be manufactured at the Montgomery, Alabama facility alongside the Sonata and Elantra sedan models.
Big changes are slated for under the hood as well. The new 2017 Santa Fe lineup will continue to offer front- or all-wheel drive but you can expect to see quite a bit more pep in each vehicle’s step. The 2017 Santa Fe Sport will be powered by an efficient 2.4-liter four-cylinder direct-injected engine with 185 horsepower or a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 240 horsepower. The 2017 Santa Fe will be equipped with the acclaimed 3.3-liter Lambda II V6 engine, which produces 290 horsepower. All Santa Fe engine options will utilize high-pressure direct injection and Dual Continuously Variable Valve Timing.
The comprehensive revamp continues with a slew of upgraded features including standard rearview cameras, automatic on/off headlights, remote keyless entry with alarm, body color heated exterior power mirrors with driver’s blind spot mirror, LED headlight accents, daytime running lights, steering-wheel-mounted audio and cruise control, and a Bluetooth hands-free smartphone system. If you spring for the premium options you’ll get things like HID Xenon headlights, a panoramic sunroof, a top-of-the-line audio system and built-in navigation.
As a bonus, the 2017 Santa Fe will come standard with the next-generation Hyundai Blue Link, which offers a full suite of connected safety and diagnostic features like Stolen Vehicle Recovery, Remote Start with Climate Control, and Remote Door Lock/Unlock.
2017 will be a huge year for Hyundai so don’t miss your chance to see all these exciting updates in person. Come visit Rosen Hyundai for a personal introduction to all these upgrades and more.
