Hyundai Santa Fe isn't returning to India anytime soon - Report

31/08/2018 - 20:37 Hyundai Santa Fe, Hyundai Yatharth Chauhan

The Economic Times reports that HMIL is readying six new SUVs for the Indian market. The new models, which will be positioned below and above Creta, will help Hyundai tap fully the country’s increasing demand for utility vehicles.

Hyundai Santa Fe isn't returning to India anytime soon — The 7-seat Hyundai Tucson replacing the Santa Fe could have the luxuries, performance and importantly the price tag to finally challenge the Toyota Fortuner.

The first of the upcoming UVs will be the Maruti Vitara Brezza-rivalling Hyundai QXi, which will launch in April 2019. Next, Hyundai India will introduce the second gen Creta which would be bifurcated into 5- and 7-seaters (codename - Hyundai SU2i).

By 2023, the manufacturer would have introduced 5- and 7-seat variants of the next-gen Tucson (codename - Hyundai NX4i). Below these members, the company plans a micro SUV to attack the Mahindra KUV100 and the Maruti Ignis. All 6 SUVs will be manufactured in India, meaning an aggressive price strategy in a given.

However Hyundai appears to be in no hurry to bring back the Santa Fe, following its discontinuation last September. The last time Hyundai's flagship registered three-digit sales in India was in July 2015 and a major reason was the high price tag owing to import duties. While local manufacturing would have brought down the price, the low volumes in the segment and don't justify the input costs for the localization. As per the ET report, HMIL will re-enter this segment with the 7-seat version of the Tucson, deriving the cost advantage from the localization.

The fourth-generation Hyundai Santa Fe was unveiled on 6 February, and was launched in the company's home market towards the end of the same month. The latest generation of the Santa Fe is available with five engine options - 235 PS/353 Nm 2.0 L T-GDI petrol, 185 PS/241 Nm 2.4 L GDI petrol, 150 PS/397 Nm 2.0 L CRDI diesel, 182 PS/397 Nm 2.0 L CRDI diesel, and 197 PS/436 Nm 2.2 L CRDI diesel. Transmission choices include a 6-speed manual and an 8-speed automatic. The HTRAC AWD system is optional.

Also Read - Next-gen Hyundai Tucson to be manufactured in India in 5- & 7-seat variants - Report

The 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe has an overall length of 4,770 mm, an overall width of 1,890 mm, and an overall height of 1,680 mm. It has a wheelbase of 2,765 mm and a ground clearance of 185 mm. The latest generation Hyundai Santa Fe is available in both 5-seat and 7-seat configurations.

[Source - economictimes.indiatimes.com]