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2015 Hyundai Santa Fe Unveiled with Chassis and Equipment Updates

Hyundai launched the all-new third generation Santa Fe SUV during the summer of 2012. It's arguably one of their most successful designs and with two body styles available, has proven very popular with more customers who want a lot of luxury for not that much money. Two years later, the Korean car company has introduced subtle refreshes and updates to the equipment list and a slightly re-tuned chassis.
2015 Hyundai Santa Fe 16 photos
Photo: Hyundai
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It seems the company has been listening very carefully to what the buyers had to say. On the chassis front, 2015 Santa Fe models gets a new 32-bit microprocessor for the electric steering system that supposedly offers a "refined steering feel."

At the front, the 2015MY also offers re-tuned wheel bushings designed for a more responsive feel. Handling will also be improved, thanks to increased wheel bearing stiffness and lower control arm bushing stiffness for the front end and revised geometry at the back. In simple terms, more lateral stiffness means the 2015 Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport will take corners with less body roll.

Power continues to be offered with a choice of three engines. The bulk of the range is powered by a 190 horsepower 2.4-liter four cylinder or a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 264 horsepower. On the larger 7-seater Santa Fe, you can also get the acclaimed 3.3-liter Lambda II V-6.

Extra equipment

All Santa Fe SUVs now come standard with a daytime running lights and a driver’s blind spot mirror. An auto up/down front passenger power window has also been installed. Borrowing technology from the 2015 Sedona, a Hands-Free Smart Liftgate with Auto Open is now available as an optional extra. Just have your key in the pocket, stand next to the boot for 3 seconds and it will automatically open.

Minor cosmetic changes have also been made, including a new two-tone grille for the Sport model and two new colors: Sparkling Silver and Platinum Graphite. The 2015 model year SUV can already be ordered with prices starting at $24,950 for the Santa Fe Sport or $30,150 for the larger model with three rows of seats.

Santa Fe is the third best selling Hyundai. Demand up 35% in September

The new Santa Fe has been a huge success for the company. It's currently their third best selling model in the American lineup. September sales figures shows 8,945 deliveries, which is about half of what the Elantra managed. However, the 35% growth registered by the SUV is the highest in the Hyundai range and helped keep the company's bottom line stable. For the first nine months of the year, Santa Fe deliveries totaled 78,907 units.
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About the author: Mihnea Radu
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Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
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