South Korean automaker Hyundai Motor Company has announced that its new, full seven-seat sport utility vehicle (SUV), the Grand Santa Fe will hit the Middle East markets this summer.

Building on the success of the five-seat Santa Fe, which arrived in the region in late 2012, the Grand Santa Fe stays true to the Korean brand’s acclaimed ‘Modern Premium’ brand direction, with modern styling, executive features, excellent performance and even more practicality and space, a statement said.

Longer, wider and higher than the Santa Fe, the Grand Santa Fe will come with a power tailgate for easy boot access, as well as a range of technologically-advanced features.

With prices starting from around $29,000, the Grand Santa Fe, which replaces the outgoing Veracruz model, is set to provide an attractive alternative to models such as the Toyota Prado, Nissan Pathfinder, Mitsubishi Pajero and Ford Explorer, according to the statement.

Tom Lee, vice president and head of Hyundai Middle East, said: “The launch of the new Grand Santa Fe greatly enhances Hyundai’s model line-up in the Middle East, a region where large SUVs are of such importance. The Santa Fe has already been extremely positively received and its bigger sibling is set to prove equally popular, allowing customers to choose a spacious, practical and comfortable seven-seat SUV that also boasts a stylish design and premium quality.”

The Grand Santa Fe is 225mm longer in comparison to the Santa Fe, and benefits from a wheel base that has been extended by 100mm. The higher and wider design offers greater head and leg room for all second and third row passengers, the statement said.

The standard seven-seat version is equipped with three split folding seats in row two and fully folding seats in the third row.

The three-row rear boot space is 114mm longer than on the Santa Fe, while there is also 41 per cent more boot space behind the third row of seats. In total, the Grand Santa Fe provides 634 litres of boot space behind the second row of seats, while there is additional storage space beneath the boot floor.

For easier boot access the rear loading height has been lowered by 18mm, a power tailgate can be specified and there is a remote-folding function for the second row seats.

Notable differences with the Santa Fe include a new, four-bar radiator grille, premium-style fog lamps and a wide skid plate. From the side there is a wider rear quarter glass, different 18-inch and 19-inch alloys and enhanced wing mirrors. At the rear, the premium look is topped off by a new dual muffler, restyled rear combination lamps and new rear bumper skid plate.

Optional features include a 4.3 inch TFT-LCD display in the interiors, smart navigation and a high-class sound system.

Safety systems available include Electronic Stability Control, a Hillstart Assist Control system that prevents the vehicle from rolling when on an incline, as well as a Brake Assist System, which increases braking pressure in an emergency situation. In addition to a Traction Control System, Vehicle Stability Management is available on top-of-the-range models and promotes stable car maneuvering when the car may be liable to skidding.

The new model will offer a Lambda II 3.3 MPI engine producing 270bhp and up to 318Nm of torque. Customers will have a choice of 2 or 4WD, and a six-speed automatic transmission.

Exact launch date of the Grand Santa Fe will vary depending on the country, the statement said. – TradeArabia News Service