Arriving mid next year, the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid has been confirmed for an Australian launch. Competing with the next generation Toyota Kluger (which will also offer a hybrid for the first time locally), the Santa Fe will be on sale globally with both hybrid and plug-in hybrid drivetrains – though only the former is confirmed for now.
Already featured in the overseas Kia Sorento (which shares its platform with the Santa Fe), the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid combines a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with a 1.49kWh battery and a 44kW electric motor for a total output of 168kW, which places it around half way between the 147kW 2.2-litre diesel and 206kW 3.5-litre petrol V6 currently available.
A six-speed automatic transmission is the only available transmission, and local models are expected to be all-wheel drive only.
If the UK-spec Sorento hybrid is anything to go by, the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid will be capable of a 0-100km/h sprint in around 8.5 seconds, combined cycle fuel economy of around 6.9L/100km and emissions as low as 158g/km of CO2 – the new Kluger hybrid is capable of around 6.6L/100km, so the two will be closely matched upon their Australian release.
The Santa Fe Hybrid will be based on the mid-life update of the car, which arrives in Australia within the next few months. Aimed at launching the Santa Fe more upmarket, the facelifted model introduces revised styling, a new interior with higher quality finishes and more available technology such as a camera to help when changing lanes.
The company’s new 10.25-inch touchscreen seen in the Ioniq and updated Kona will also feature in the updated Santa Fe range, with a focus on a more premium user interface experience.
Local pricing of the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid will be announced closer to its mid-2021 Australian launch date.
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