Hyundai is working on a complete redesign of the Santa Fe. We have new spy photos with a prototype of the SUV being tested in wintry conditions with heavy exterior camouflage. There are faux body panels attached to the front and rear, but we can at least see the overall shape of the model.
This isn’t the first time we’ve shared spy photos of the 2024 Santa Fe, but it’s the first time we’ve seen it tested on snow. Unfortunately, the South Korean automaker retains a huge amount of camouflage, which most likely suggests we’re seeing the relatively early stages of on-road reviews. Even with all the fabric and vinyl camouflage, you can’t miss the boxy shape of the Santa Fe.
14 Pictures
To some extent, this first sighting of the Santa Fe makes us feel like we’re looking at a much larger Kia Soul. The flat roofline, large overhangs and bold general lines suggest a radically new design for the SUV compared to the model still on sale. These wheels might seem a bit small for the vehicle, although we bet they are at least 18 inches in diameter.
We don’t know much about what goes under the skin, through. We know for sure that the new Santa Fe will share its underpinnings with the Kia Sorento, but it’s unclear if this next-gen model will bring any substantial changes under the hood. Currently, the Santa Fe is sold in the United States with gasoline and hybrid engines, while Europe also gets a turbodiesel powertrain.
We expect the Santa Fe to continue to be offered in five- and seven-seat versions. As a reminder, the model is sold in South Korea in a six-seater variant with captain’s chairs for the second row. The current generation of the SUV was introduced in 2019 and Hyundai was quick to give it a refresh in 2021.
Earlier this week, Hyundai officially confirmed that the new generation Santa Fe will be launched this year. We don’t know the exact debut schedule, but it’s rumored that we’ll see the model this summer with sales likely to start before the end of the year as a 2024 model.
