Hyundai Drops a Pair of Teasers for the Next-Gen Santa Fe

TopSpeed

By Mark McNabb

Published Jan 30, 2018

Hyundai’s three-row crossover getting a highly stylized makeover

Hyundai’s next-generation Santa Fe crossover has just been officially teased. The automaker released two renderings showing the inspiration for the upcoming three-row crossover. Compared to the current Santa Fe, the design is far more aggressive and stylized, likely in a concerted effort to stand apart in the increasingly crowded crossover segment.

The new Santa Fe will likely debut at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show and arrive in showrooms for the 2019 model year. It will replace the current crossover, which has been on sale since the 2013 model year.

Continue reading for more information.

Looking into the Future

Hyundai’s renderings of the upcoming Santa Fe looks strikingly similar to the spy shots we’ve seen of Santa Fe test mules running about. From the new grille to the LED taillights, the concept rendering looks extremely similar to what Hyundai has built and is testing.

Up front, it’s easy to see the new six-sided grille and hidden bold shapes under the headlights. Even the lower apron is shared between the rendering and test mule. Even the stacked auxiliary lights (fog lights, LED daytime running lights?) under the main headlights are present. The headlights can also be confirmed sharing a similar design to the rendering. They are very narrow and extend from the grille and into the front fender.

Even the character lines appear similar. The camo is heavier in places where the rendering shows bulging lines and sharp creases. That includes the hood, doors, and quarter panels. Heck, even the wheels share a very similar design, though the rendering’s wheels are much larger in diameter.

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Around back, the squinty LED taillights are clearly shared between the rendering and test mule. Overly exaggerated lighting has become a fashion statement on modern vehicles and it seems Hyundai is fully embracing the trend. The lower bumper apron also shares cues from the rendering, minus only the single exhaust tip protruding from the satin chrome “skid plate” along the bumper’s lower edge.

Likewise, the roofline of the test mule is slanted; even the roof rails end with the same downward kink near the liftgate. The same is true for the chrome trim surrounding the side windows. Unfortunately, Hyundai has covered the rearmost window, so it’s impossible to see how designers finished off the BMW Bangle bend.

And while we were not able to see the 2019 Santa Fe’s interior, we expect it to be a vast improvement over the current model. While not a luxury model, the new version will likely come with upscale amenities and plenty of standard features.

We will know more once Hyundai officially pulls the covers off the next-generation Santa Fe, so stay tuned to TopSpeed.com for that. Our bet is on the 2018 Geneva Motor Show coming up on March 8.