What allows a vehicle to qualify as an icon? Does it need to be around since a previous war or be a vehicle that your grandparents drove? With the number of models that have new names and different builds, a model that has been around for twenty years should certainly qualify it as an icon. This means the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe is truly an iconic vehicle in the Hyundai lineup to give us an SUV that we admire and love to drive. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the generations that have been part of the Santa Fe.
The First-Generation of the Hyundai Santa Fe
An introduction of the Hyundai Santa Fe was made at the 2000 Geneva Motor Show and this SUV was offered in the US shortly after this debut. Even though we saw more features and premium style added later in the lifetime of this SUV, this original model was met with a fervor that made it a best-selling SUV right away. The first-generation model was offered from 2000-2006 to give us a few years of an excellent first model of a crossover SUV before this build became popular.
Excellence in the Original
The starting point for the Hyundai Santa Fe featured a rugged and refined style to give you a vehicle that was also longer and wider than most of the others. This meant you had the benefits of size and space in a vehicle that was ready to take on the roads and enjoy some time on the trails. You could fit five people in the original models. The 2003 model saw an upgrade in performance with a more powerful engine and a computer-controlled 4WD system that made this SUV more engaging to drive.
Moving to the Second-Generation for the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe
Offered from 2006-2012, the second generation of the Hyundai Santa Fe was launched at the North American International Motor Show (aka the Detroit Auto Show) in 2006. This new model gave us a diesel engine and an improved V6 while adding more handling and sportier engines to make sure you could handle all the driving conditions you might encounter. The interior of this generation gave you several soft-touch materials that rivaled some of the premium brands and make it easy for you to get comfortable and enjoy the drive. You could add a third-row seat for the first time in the Santa Fe during this generation.
Significant Differences in the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe
By the time the second generation of the Hyundai Santa Fe began, there was a desire for better body sculpting, more variety in power, and the comfort desired. Demand was high and Hyundai delivered everything customers wanted including advanced safety features to give you the benefits of items including Electronic Stability Control, an anti-lock braking system, side-curtain airbags, and tire pressure monitoring. A premium version was added later in the generation to give you built-in navigation, a rearview camera cruise control, and a light sensor.
Finding More in the Third-Generation of this Hyundai SUV
Greater comfort and quality were found in the third generation of the Hyundai Santa Fe, which was offered from 2012-2018. You can also find this model with re-tuned engines that improved the efficiency of the vehicle. A new design direction was introduced which was called “Storm Edge,” to give us better lines and bold surfaces that made the Santa Fe look big and impressive. There were two versions of the Santa Fe offered during this time, the sporty five-seater Santa Fe Sport and the regular Santa Fe which gave you three rows of seats for six or seven passengers.
Everything in One Package
During the third generation of the Hyundai Santa Fe, we can see the commitment to providing you with more of the items you want as part of the standard package than ever before. The models offered gave you more comfort and functionality while adding impressive technology and safety to the mix. Models from the generation can be found with an eight-inch touchscreen, a navigation system, four-wheel disc brakes, automatic braking, and more intuitive user interfaces. This version was made to keep you safe and comfortable on the road.
The Fourth-Generation of the Hyundai Santa Fe Arrives
The current generation of the Hyundai Santa Fe that we enjoy is the fourth one during the history of this SUV. This generation began in 2018 and is made to offer you a premium feeling when you get behind the wheel and take a drive. During this time, Santa Fe was still offered in two different models, the Sport, S and regular versions, but a change was made in 2019 to give us the regular model as a smaller version and the XL as the one with three rows. Starting in 2020, the XL was dropped in favor of the new Hyundai Palisade.
Bold Elegance and Incredible Technology
The current version of the Hyundai Santa Fe is an SUV that has a bold outward appearance, tons of comfort in the cabin, an athletic stance, and the technology you desire. Whether you admire the cascading grille, the package of safety features, the stylish headlights, or the head-up display, you’ll find the items you’re looking for when you take a drive. This version of the Santa Fe received the five-start safety rating to make sure you know you can drive this SUV with confidence.
Are You Ready to Enjoy this 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe Icon
With more than one million models of the Hyundai Santa Fe sold over the past twenty years, you can easily see how impressive and important this SUV has been and continues to be. You’ll be pleased to have the experience you want and the drive that’s offered when you get behind the wheel of the Santa Fe. The current model only has room for five people to give you the sporty and efficient feeling that makes you smile in a compact crossover that straddles the line of midsize models like the sales champion that it is.
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