The Star: February 14, 2019

The Star Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Thursday February 14 2019 33
Motoring
Ross Kiddie
Hyundai Santa Fe
shows its versatility
FREE WEEKLY MAGAZINE
in stands every Friday
Best
Motorbuys
TM
OVER 1000
VEHICLES
FOR
SALE
Below is a small
selection of our
great deals!
To advertise in Best Motorbuys, phone Star Media 03 379 7100
IT WAS A case of mission
accomplished, I was asked
by my daughter if I would
help her shift flats.
Along with a stack of
shoes that I didn’t think
was possible for a 24-yearold
to accumulate, there
was the usual amount
of furniture – duchess,
cabinets and bed. I had the
perfect vehicle to carry out
the process – a Hyundai
Santa Fe – a large sevenseat
sport utility vehicle,
of course, by lowering the
rear rows of seats you get a
very healthy wagon section
which swallowed everything
we could load into it,
mattress aside.
That’s one of the reasons
why SUVs have become
so popular, they are adaptable
and versatile and, in
the Santa Fe’s case, it is also
a plush luxury car which
impresses with its refinement.
As history has served to
prove, I missed a drive in
the previous generation
model, circumstances constantly
conspiring against
me getting into the vehicle.
That aside, the latest generation
model is simply
stunning, it is grand in its
design and manufacture.
The new Santa Fe is allnew,
it lands here in four
variants, petrol and diesel,
all with four-wheel-drive
starting from $59,990.
Bearing in mind the old
V6 engine is gone, today’s
petrol-powered Santa Fe
is a 2.4-litre four-cylinder
unit.
This evaluation focuses
on the range-topping
Limited with Hyundai’s
magnificent 2.2-litre diesel
engine. The four-cylinder
turbocharged unit is rated
at 147kW (3800rpm) with
440Nm of torque available
from 1570rpm to 2750rpm.
Not only are these outputs
impressive in terms
of flexibility and outright
grunt, it is one of the
smoothest engines you are
ever likely to find in a vehicle
of this type.
The engine is hooked
to a recently-developed
eight-speed automatic
transmission, something
that is shared with
Hyundai’s partnership with
Kia. Interaction between
the engine and gearbox is
smooth and seamless, and
the gear ratios are structured
so that they work
efficiently with the engine’s
power and torque bands,
HYUNDAI SANTA FE: Spacious interior.
especially so the mid-range
rev spread.
In this form, the Santa
Fe is relatively quick for
a vehicle which weighs
in at almost two-tonne.
According to my stopwatch
it will make 100km/h from
a standstill in 9.4sec and
80km/h to 120km/h in
6.2sec.
As you would expect in
new-age SUV, the Santa Fe
is fitted with the latest technologies
for safety, along
with a full raft of features
for comfort and convenience.
• Price – Hyundai
Santa Fe Limited,
$82,990
• Dimensions –
Length, 4770mm;
width, 1890mm;
height, 1705mm
• Configuration –
Four-cylinder, fourwheel-drive,
2188cc,
147kW, 440Nm,
eight-speed
automatic.
• Performance –
0-100km/h, 9.4sec
• Fuel usage –
7.5l/100km
At $82,990, it really
needs to be well-specced,
it is competing with the
major European brands,
and if you throw in a newcomer
to the large SUV
market – Holden’s Acadia –
then Hyundai know it has
to provide a good level of
fitment.
Major items of specification
include full leather
trim with electrically
adjustable seats up front
(also heated). There is
head-up display, paddle
shift gear selectors and
the choice of several drive
modes which the driver
can use to suit his or her
driving preference. These
are on top of items that you
would normally expect to
find in a top-grade model.
Hyundai has upped the
ante in terms of efficiency
in this age where fuel prices
play such a big part in the
buying choice. The Santa
Fe returned some interesting
fuel usage information
during my time with the
test car. At 100km/h in top
gear the big diesel sips fuel
instantaneously at around
seven-litres per 100km
(41mpg), turning over at
just 1500rpm. A test average
of 9l/100km (31mpg)
is respectable for vehicle
weight, and compares well
to Hyundai’s combined
cycle claim of 7.5l/100km
(37mpg).
Not only is the diesel
Santa Fe an economical
choice, it will offer the versatility
you would expect
from a family wagon. It
cruises the highway with
dignity, yet it also tackles
the hard yards when presented
with an off-the-seal
excursion, although at just
185mm, the driver does
need to keep in mind that
ground clearance isn’t huge.
The suspension is fully
independent all-round –
struts up front and multiple
links on the rear – the
spring and dampers are
only firmed moderately.
There’s no mistaking the
suspension locates four
driveshafts, but the ride is
far from abrasive.
It was good to be back
behind the wheel of a Santa
Fe. I’ve driven a lot of
Hyundai product in recent
months and it all stands up
to be counted in terms of
quality and sophistication.
The new Santa Fe
lands at a time when
sales in the large SUV
sector are still rising. It has
a lot of competition but
with such a broad range
there is a Santa Fe for all
budgets.
2006 niSSan murano
3.5, auto, alloys, ABS, twin airbags.
$10,990
NOW $11,990
2006 BMW K1200 GT
Touring bike with panniers,
ABS brakes, new tyres.
SALE
2011 niSSan Caravan LonG dX
Very low 26,000kms, 2 litre petrol, manual, remote lock.
Was $23,990 $22,990
JUST $151 PER WEEK
CARZ & VANZ
www.carznvanz.co.nz
2004 ford faLCon Xr6
4.0, auto, alloys, ABS, twin airbags.
$8,990
2003 SuBaru LEGaCY
3.0, auto, alloys, ABS, twin airbags.
$6,990
275 Colombo St, Christchurch.
Cnr Colombo & Milton Sts. Ph: 337 9629.
2009 Swift ChariSma 220 2009 CompaSS Corona 362 2008 avondale arrow dart 475
was $32,999 now $30,999
was $33,999 now $30,999
was $33,999 now $29,999
10 mitsubishi outlander
2.4 Petrol, auto, 4WD, 7 seater, fully
optioned, nice in silver.
SALE
NOW $7,990
1997 Suzuki Carry Pickup
660cc motor, manual transmission.
Ph (03) 338 3255 AH 022 105 0028 (Peter)
WAYNE HILL CARS Email: hillcars@es.co.nz
313 LINCOLN RD ADDINGTON CHRISTCHURCH
2012 niSSan Caravan nv350 dX
2 litre petrol, low 58,000kms, auto, remote lock, twin sliders.
Was $25,990 $24,990
JUST $164 PER WEEK
17 ranGer WildtraK sPort
3.2 Diesel Turbo, 4WD, 6 stage auto,
colour coded flares, 20” Lenso alloys,
Nitto tyres, low 18,000kms.
SALE
247 Main South Rd, Hornby, Chch.
(03) 341 8973
christchurch@carznvanz.co.nz
LIGHT COMMERCIALS & MOTOR VEHICLES
DIRECTLY IMPORTED TO THE PUBLIC
NOW $11,990
2008 Harley Davidson 883R
'R' replica, only 47kms, collectors bike.
2011 ToYoTa HiaCE LWB dX
1990cc, Auto, EFI, Factory Tints, Alloys, Facelift Model.
Was $22,990 $21,990
JUST $145 PER WEEK
13 ChrYsler 300 srt-8
6.4 Hemi, 350kW, premium model, Brembo
brakes, leather suede heated/cooled
seats, pearl white.
$11,995 $61,995 $41,995
30 Moorhouse Ave
Christchurch
03 365 9925
PRICES SLASHED