Hyundai Santa Fe 2023 review: Active diesel long-term | Part 3 – SUV on call for baby number 2!

Now with a newborn and a toddler in the family, are we observing the added benefits of possessing a massive SUV like the Santa Fe?

Let’s be distinct in this article, youngsters never particularly travel mild.

For the new child, there is the complete-sizing pram, as perfectly as a nappy bag with an assortment of cloths, wipes and adjustments of clothes.

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For the toddler, it’s all about the toys of the month (this time it is bulldozers and diggers), alongside with snacks, treats, and extra snacks.

It can be a large amount to in good shape into any vehicle, but the Santa Fe’s size has definitely shone through this month.

In the boot, with the third-row seats folded down, the entire-size pram suits in with some space to spare to Tetris in the relaxation of the little one and toddler equipment.

The Santa Fe diesel-powered Active starts at $53,750 before on-road costs. (Image: Tung Nguyen) The Santa Fe diesel-powered Active begins at $53,750 before on-street expenditures. (Image: Tung Nguyen)

The interior space nonetheless, is a tiny confined now there are two car or truck seats set up.

With the rear-going through seat driving the front passenger, there is plenty of home to be cozy, but we would not say there is any more home up there when compared to a mid-dimension SUV like the Tucson.

Opting for a more substantial-sized SUV like the Santa Fe, actually only affords a extra capacious boot, and the choice to have seven travellers.

The interior space is a little limited with two car seats installed. (Image: Tung Nguyen) The interior room is a tiny restricted with two car or truck seats put in. (Picture: Tung Nguyen)

And a toddler seat set up powering the driver all but eliminates the center seat in the second row, though this is a problem with virtually all autos on the industry.

The door apertures also look a minimal little, making loading and unloading infant a minor tricky, primarily when you have to manoeuvre all-around the top rated-tether strap and in restricted areas.

Inside area with a spouse and children of 4, then, is terrific, but honestly if you are introducing a fourth member to your loved ones and feel you need to have to improve from a mid-measurement SUV to a substantial one, you’d be surprised how small distinction likely from a Tucson to Santa Fe has built in conditions of practicality.

The door apertures also seem a little small, making loading and unloading baby a little tricky. (Image: Tung Nguyen) The door apertures also appear a minor small, making loading and unloading little one a very little tough. (Impression: Tung Nguyen)

We were also grateful for our Santa Fe’s diesel engine this thirty day period, which affords a long driving assortment among fill ups.

With recurrent trips to a from clinic, as effectively as back again and forth from childcare, it intended that we managed a decent circa-800km in advance of needing a fill up – and when there is a newborn in the house, it’s these tiny conveniences that are appreciated and noticed.

On the other hand, we’d be remiss not to mention that diesel is a technological know-how on the way out, producing way for an electrified potential.

In the boot, with the third-row seats folded down, the full-size pram fits in with some room to spare. (Image: Tung Nguyen) In the boot, with the third-row seats folded down, the entire-measurement pram fits in with some space to spare. (Graphic: Tung Nguyen)

Hyundai previously recognises this, and introduced a petrol-electrical hybrid Santa Fe to area showrooms in late 2022, and we’ll be swapping into a person shortly to ascertain if the excess commit is really worth it.

Speaking of which, the most inexpensive Santa Fe Hybrid is $63,000, in advance of on-road prices, for the Elite grade, when compared with our diesel-run Energetic at $53,750.

Continue to keep in brain the hybrid has more equipment, so it is not really an apples with apples comparison in terms of pricing, but the petrol-electric Santa Fe designs have a $3000 cost high quality about their respective diesel all-wheel-drive counterparts.

The Santa Fe Active is ready and able to handle what family life throws at it. (Image: Tung Nguyen) The Santa Fe Active is ready and capable to tackle what relatives daily life throws at it. (Image: Tung Nguyen)

Far more curiously, however, is the overall economy of both equally engines, with our diesel auto returning an formal score of 6.1L/100km, even though the hybrid is pegged at 6.0L/100km.

Now of training course, petrol and diesel costs can vary wildly, but it is exciting to observe that fuel tank quantity of 67L should really return a very similar driving range for the two powertrains.

If, even so, you are mad keen to tow, the diesel or 3.5-litre petrol V6 is the way to go, rated with a braked towing potential of 2500kg, as opposed to the hybrid’s 1650kg.

The Santa Fe diesel has an official rating of 6.1L/100km. (Image: Tung Nguyen) The Santa Fe diesel has an formal ranking of 6.1L/100km. (Impression: Tung Nguyen)

No matter, our Santa Fe Lively proved an equipped and eager companion in the course of the birth of our second baby, and was all set and capable to tackle what family existence could toss at it.

Future month, ahead of handing the keys back, we’re hopefully going to be using the Santa Fe Energetic diesel down the coastline on a cheeky family members getaway, in which we assume the diesel engine and significant measurement will arrive in handy.

That is, of system, if the children behave.

Obtained: Oct 2022

Length travelled this month: 1990km

Odometer: 9220km

Typical gasoline use for month: 7.7L/100km