The Hyundai Santa Fe has gained quite a following in the Philippines among seven-seat sport-utility vehicles (SUVs).

In its heyday, the big Hyundai provided buyers with a more refined and significantly faster alternative to the likes of the Toyota Fortuner and the Mitsubishi Montero Sport.

Put another way, it was like the Geely Okavango of the previous generation, with its unibody chassis and turbocharged, front-wheel-drive powertrain.

Hyundai has just teased photos of the next-generation Santa Fe, which is due to launch globally on August 2023.

And my goodness, they really burned the midnight oil on this one.

Tough off-roader look

The all-new Santa Fe looks nothing like any of its predecessors and easily steals the thunder from its aging SUV rivals.

The front end has Land Rover Defender vibes, with the high-mounted grill incorporating an LED light bar that forms two “H” letters at each side. The lower grill is all about 90-degree angles for an extra crisp, chiseled face.

Down the side, the huge fender flares with gloss-black trim exude serious off-road pretensions. These are complemented by the large side mirrors on chunky stalks, the dead-straight window line, the gloss-black pillars for the floating roof illusion, and massive 21-inch wheels.

Perhaps the most dramatic change is at the rear – the H-shaped LED taillights are much lower than before. And the tailgate looks like a barn door with its almost vertical shape and pert lower bumper.

Ultra-modern, eco-friendly cabin

Thankfully, Hyundai didn’t lose its fire for the interior revamp.

Yet more Land Rover influences, such as the straight-cut dashboard with the floating center console, abound. There’s even space for two wireless charging pads, along with cupholders that can fit big bottles.

As with the Hyundai IONIQ 5, the Santa Fe gets a wide display that carries both the digital gauge cluster and the touchscreen infotainment system.

Hyundai said the Santa Fe’s cabin uses sustainable materials. For instance, the Korean carmaker used recycled plastic for the floor mats, headliners, and backrests of the second-row and third-row seats, while the door cards use plush leatherette.

The company has not yet released the final specifications for the powertrain. But given current trends, the next Santa Fe could have hybrid and non-hybrid gasoline engines, along with a stout turbodiesel motor.

What do you think of the next-generation Hyundai Santa Fe?

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