In December, Hyundai Motor Philippines gave us a sneak peek of the all-new Santa Fe. Fans of the nameplate and the brand got excited as this confirmed that the boxy and stylish seven-seat crossover was making its way to the country.

HMPH said that this latest vehicle would be launched in the first quarter of 2024. Two months have passed, and the fans are still eagerly awaiting the arrival of this crossover. Well, the wait is over as it is now officially launched locally.

Now, allow us to share with you the juicy bits about the newest member of Hyundai Philippines’ lineup.

The fifth generation is the most SUV-looking Santa Fe yet. It’s boxy and looks tough. Yet it has a lot of funky design quirks in typical Hyundai fashion.

The H-shaped DRLs flank a lightbar that stretches across the front grille. The sides feature C-pillar assist handles, giving easy access to your belongings on the roof rack. Its 20- and 21-inch wheels are also some of the biggest ever fitted in a midsize crossover.

The Santa Fe doesn’t just look big—it really is. This new model’s dimensions are 4,830mm long, 1,900mm wide, and 1,780mm tall. It is 45mm longer and 95mm taller than the outgoing model.

The wheels are placed further away from each other by 50mm, stretching the wheelbase to 2,815mm. This translates to shorter overhangs and more usable interior space.

Because of this, the all-new Santa Fe offers lots of room for its seven passengers. Consequently, this increases its cargo-carrying capabilities, offering up to 1,156L of space when the second- and third-row seats are folded down. Loading items at the back is easy, thanks to a 195mm-wide tailgate.

The interior is one of the best-looking of the lot. The gray-and-white motif lends the cabin a sleek look, and it feels spacious. Seats and some trims are wrapped in Nappa leather. Up front, a huge panel houses two 12.3-inch screens for the digital instrument cluster and the infotainment system.

The tiller looks like it was borrowed from a famous European SUV. While most of the switchgear can be found where you expect them to be, some important switches aren’t where you’re used to seeing them.

For example, the electronic parking brake switch is found on the driver-side part of the dash. The shifter is now an additional stalk on the right side of the steering column.

These free up valuable real estate on the center console that now houses two wireless charging pads. Speaking of charging, there are six USB-C ports scattered inside the cabin, ready to juice up the occupants’ gadgets.

There are two powertrain options for the new Santa Fe. First is a 2.5-liter, normally aspirated Smartstream gasoline engine shared by the base front-wheel-drive and midrange all-wheel-drive variants. Paired with an eight-speed automatic, this combo makes 191hp and 246Nm.

There’s also a 2.5-liter, turbocharged Smartstream petrol mill. Here, an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission transfers all 277hp and 422Nm to all four wheels. All-wheel-drive models use Hyundai’s HTRAC system and downhill brake control.

The all-new Santa Fe also comes with the Hyundai Smartsense suite of advanced driver-assist systems. These include smart cruise control with stop-and-go features, forward- and reverse-collision avoidance, lane-following and lane-keeping assist, a blind-spot view monitor, parking distance warning, and a surround-view monitor.

These features are on top of several airbags, multi-collision antilock brakes, electronic stability control with trailer stability assist, and a tire-pressure monitoring system.

But the Santa Fe offers much more. There are relaxation comfort seats (Hyundai-speak for ottomans) for the front row. There’s also a UV-C sterilization tray and a console box that opens in two ways.

Finally, there is a fingerprint sensor for your driver profile and settings, mood lamps, rear curtains, dual-zone climate control, and a sunroof.

With these many features offered, you’re probably wondering how much these would sell for. Pricing starts at P2,410,000 for the base front-wheel-drive model. The midrange all-wheel-drive variant costs P2,540,000, while the range-topping Calligraphy goes for P3,100,000.

HMPH promises that a hybrid trim is coming in the second half of the year, which could be even more expensive than the Calligraphy grade.

If you want to see the all-new Santa Fe in the metal, visit the Manila leg of this year’s “Hyundai Mobility Experience” tour on March 22-24 at Ayala Malls Glorietta (and other cities in the country soon).

With tough looks, advanced powertrains, and a long list of standard equipment, do you think the sticker price of the Santa Fe is justified?