Topic: Hyundai Unveils Long-Wheelbase Santa Fe XL

[Autos_Editor]

The production version of the new three-row, six/seven-passenger Santa Fe XL made its world debut today at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show, joining the 215 millimetre shorter two-row, five-passenger Santa Fe which has been on sale since August.

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[redman]

I guess Hyundai marketers felt that the Veracruz name just didn't cut it so they ran with variations of the Santa Fe. Kind of makes sense, Hyundai will see a saving here in many ways including marketing and regulations savings to mention a few.

This vehicle does address some of the pet peeves regarding most SUV's, there simple taller but do not really give more space for the occupants.
I think it will be a success for Hyundai and the right approach.
Many Asian countries have similar elongated versions of the vehicles. Nice to get similar here, outside of high priced German cars.

[Fobroader]

I still dont get it, if you want to haul around 7 people, a minivan is the way to go. None of the 4 SUVs mentioned in the article will haul 7 adults, well not comfortably anyways.

[SaskSpecV]

I guess Hyundai marketers felt that the Veracruz name just didn't cut it so they ran with variations of the Santa Fe. Kind of makes sense, Hyundai will see a saving here in many ways including marketing and regulations savings to mention a few.

That's exactly what a Hyundai sales guy told me - the Veracruz name had no equity whatsoever.  Nobody knew the name or the vehicle, and sales were so low that's not really a surprise.  But the Santa Fe has been around a lot longer, with much higher sales, so he thought people will hopefully associate the Santa Fe XL as a "bigger version of the Sante Fe" (which it is!), a vehicle they already know.  Of course, could just be sales-guy BS - but that never happens, right Cord?  AS?    

[Shnak]

I still dont get it, if you want to haul around 7 people, a minivan is the way to go. None of the 4 SUVs mentioned in the article will haul 7 adults, well not comfortably anyways.

In a pinch, sure. If you want to haul 6-7 passengers on a consistent basis, sure, minivan is the way to go, but if you want room for 4 people plus luggage and on the occasion 5,6,7 people, these 7-people crossovers make a ton of sense.

[carcrazed]

I still dont get it, if you want to haul around 7 people, a minivan is the way to go. None of the 4 SUVs mentioned in the article will haul 7 adults, well not comfortably anyways.

In a pinch, sure. If you want to haul 6-7 passengers on a consistent basis, sure, minivan is the way to go, but if you want room for 4 people plus luggage and on the occasion 5,6,7 people, these 7-people crossovers make a ton of sense.

That's exactly what I'm looking for in my next family car.  Primarily my family of 2+1 (planning for a 2nd kid) with a lot of baby gear, but ability to take my parents at some odd times to go out for dinners.

[Jaeger]

I still dont get it, if you want to haul around 7 people, a minivan is the way to go. None of the 4 SUVs mentioned in the article will haul 7 adults, well not comfortably anyways.

In a pinch, sure. If you want to haul 6-7 passengers on a consistent basis, sure, minivan is the way to go, but if you want room for 4 people plus luggage and on the occasion 5,6,7 people, these 7-people crossovers make a ton of sense.

Agreed.  My wife was just lamenting the fact that she can't particpate in a car pool for my daughter's ballet (with 6 classes a week, it would be a huge benefit) because in order to reciprocate, she'd need to be able to transport 5 kids when it was her turn to shuttle.  Just the kind of 'there when you need it' utility that a vehicle like this would provide.

This one looks very sharp.  And with that strong DI V6, I bet it moves along quite nicely as well.

[EV Dan]

Excellent all-around SUV. I only wish it were available with a 5 seat option.
p.s. Please don't say "but the 3rd row seats fold down" 

[Mike]

Excellent all-around SUV. I only wish it were available with a 5 seat option.
p.s. Please don't say "but the 3rd row seats fold down" 

"But there is a Santa Fe Sport"

[Snowman]

I still dont get it, if you want to haul around 7 people, a minivan is the way to go. None of the 4 SUVs mentioned in the article will haul 7 adults, well not comfortably anyways.

Well said. The second row is always compromised to fit in the third in.

[Fobroader]

I still dont get it, if you want to haul around 7 people, a minivan is the way to go. None of the 4 SUVs mentioned in the article will haul 7 adults, well not comfortably anyways.

In a pinch, sure. If you want to haul 6-7 passengers on a consistent basis, sure, minivan is the way to go, but if you want room for 4 people plus luggage and on the occasion 5,6,7 people, these 7-people crossovers make a ton of sense.

That's exactly what I'm looking for in my next family car.  Primarily my family of 2+1 (planning for a 2nd kid) with a lot of baby gear, but ability to take my parents at some odd times to go out for dinners.

So who gets the 3rd row, the kids or your parents???

[Jaeger]

I still dont get it, if you want to haul around 7 people, a minivan is the way to go. None of the 4 SUVs mentioned in the article will haul 7 adults, well not comfortably anyways.

In a pinch, sure. If you want to haul 6-7 passengers on a consistent basis, sure, minivan is the way to go, but if you want room for 4 people plus luggage and on the occasion 5,6,7 people, these 7-people crossovers make a ton of sense.

That's exactly what I'm looking for in my next family car.  Primarily my family of 2+1 (planning for a 2nd kid) with a lot of baby gear, but ability to take my parents at some odd times to go out for dinners.

So who gets the 3rd row, the kids or your parents???

Each parents takes a turn transporting 5 kids - allowing all the other parents to stay home. That's how these things work, or so I'm told.

Don't know about the second row always being compromised - that sure wasn't the case in the Mazda 5 I drove to Montreal and back. Usually the third row is something of a penalty box for adults,  but more than okay  for kids. But a cramped and uncomfortable second row would be a deal breaker, if that were in fact the case.

[EV Dan]

Excellent all-around SUV. I only wish it were available with a 5 seat option.
p.s. Please don't say "but the 3rd row seats fold down" 

"But there is a Santa Fe Sport"

Even better 

If it wasn't for 3rd row it could have a solid flat floor and tons of cargo room. Hope it could be done as a factory order.

[Whofan]

I think Hyundai made the vehicle my family needs, I thought of the pathfinder, but at 260 hp, same as the Veracruz, they say it's under-powered (never drove it, not persona opinion)

290hp seems perfect, 2 adults, 2 kids /w booster chair and baby chair, + a dog and all the required gear for going up north, sounds perfect.

mini van.... it's OK, but I think Hyundai has better finance options.  Also I bet this Santa Fe will get better km per liter than the Dodge minivan.

[Thinking Out Loud]

I still dont get it, if you want to haul around 7 people, a minivan is the way to go. None of the 4 SUVs mentioned in the article will haul 7 adults, well not comfortably anyways.

Well said. The second row is always compromised to fit in the third in.

We looked at a 2007 Santa Fe with the third row option, AWD etc etc but the tiny rear quarter windows made the visibility for my 4' 10" wife pretty difficult and we wound up with a new 2006 Mazda MPV.

From a utility perspective, the MPV is light years ahead of the Santa Fe whether we have the third row up or down, and at least with the third row up we still have decent 'trunk' space the Santa Fe would have had to give up.  Had three adults and three kids drive to Thunder Bay and back and pulled out one of the middle captains chairs for a little space - not even a starter in the Santa Fe.

The only real benefit over the MPV was the AWD (worse fuel economy), which in Toronto really is unnecessary with a decent set of winters anyway.

That said, we are very happy with the zoom zoom MPV for our 4 person family - but we aren't the "Sliding Dooraphobes" that these three-row CUV's are supposed to cater to (CX9 / this Santa Fe / Highlander / Pathyfinder etc etc).

[mrthompson]

 

[Sir Osis of Liver]

And 0-60 in 5.9 sec. 

http://www.trucktrend.com/roadtests/suv/163_1208_2013_ford_flex_limited_ecoboost_first_test/viewall.html

[dkaz]

The Buick Enclave is not too bad, nice vehicle to boot.

What, who just said that? Blasphemy!

[Jaeger]

The Buick Enclave is not too bad, nice vehicle to boot.

I agree.

[Northernridge]

And 0-60 in 5.9 sec. 

http://www.trucktrend.com/roadtests/suv/163_1208_2013_ford_flex_limited_ecoboost_first_test/viewall.html

If I even sort of needed a 7 seater I'd promptly buy one of these. Maybe even this colour.