Hyundai Santa Fe scores 3.5L V6 petrol model

Hyundai has introduced a new V6 variant of the Santa Fe full-size SUV. Superseding the 2.4-litre petrol engine previously offered in entre-level Santa Fe Active, the more powerful 3.5-litre petrol V6 engine is now available across the entire Santa Fe line up, priced from $43,000 plus on-road costs.

For the first time, the V6 engine is available in every grade of the three-tier line-up: Active, Elite and Highlander, and is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive.

It is offered alongside the torquey 147kW, 440Nm 2.2-litre turbo-diesel model, which continues across all grades teamed with an eight-speed automatic and all-wheel drive.

The 206kW, 336Nm 3.5 MPi V6 petrol engine supersedes the Theta-II 2.4 GDi petrol four-cylinder, bringing an additional 68kW and 95Nm.

The V6 powertrain uses 10.6L/100km on the ADR official combined cycle, and comes without additional cost compared with the superseded Santa Fe Active 2.4 AWD.

With a claimed fuel economy of 10.6L/100km on the official combined cycle, the new engine is thirstier than both the diesel and superseded four-cylinder petrol engine that are listed at 7.5L/100km and 9.3L/100km respectively.

With the addition of the bigger, heavier V6 engine up front, Hyundai’s Australian engineering and development arm has revised the Santa Fe’s suspension tune to better suit local conditions and driver preference.

The V6 petrol model would now bring the Santa Fe more in direct competition against other petrol-powered rivals such as the Mazda CX-9, Toyota Kluger, Nissan Pathfinder and Holden Acadia.

2020 Hyundai Santa Fe pricing (excluding on-roads)