Text and photos by Aries B. Espinosa
IN a ride-and-drive event involving over 40 participants coming from four countries in Southeast Asia, you can bet that the one person who could tie the human and machine aspects of the event together so neatly bears the same name as the vehicle that’s being tested.
Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo, president and CEO of Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI), distributor of Hyundai in the Philippines, diverted the attention of the participants from the launch of the fourth generation of the bestselling Santa Fe SUV by recognizing the efforts of the local and regional journalists, and mentioning their names one by one.
“It’s not often for all of us to come together, because we have different life journeys in our respective fields and in our different countries. Today will be a moment to remember, because all of us have been intertwined, all for the Hyundai Santa Fe driving experience. Today we all serve as the testament to the dedication, camaraderie and refined strength exhibited not just by the ‘PH,’ or what we call ourselves the ‘People of Hyundai,’ but also by those coming from Malaysia, Cambodia, Singapore and, of course, from South Korea,” Ms. Perez-Agudo said during the regional ride-and-drive event held on Sept. 3-4 in Subic Bay.
The executive could have just as well been describing the synthesis of the new features of the fourth-generation Santa Fe SUV, the monocoque-body SUV HARI previewed in April at the 2018 Manila International Auto Show.
The regional ride-and-drive for the new Santa Fe was held around four locations in Central Luzon: Subic Bay, Zambales, Mount Samat and Bagac in Bataan. The course, put together with the help of former race driver and now events organizer Vip Isada, highlighted the power, stability, comfort and spaciousness of the SUV.
HARI SVP for strategy and innovation Renato G. Pizarro explained the company’s choice of venue; “Much like the Santa Fe, Subic has the power. Subic was first a military base before it was converted to commercial use. After the Mount Pinatubo eruption, Subic rose from the ashes because of the power of its people, and became what it is today, a tourism hot spot.”
Dubbed the “Sea to Summit Conquest,” the event held with the participation of Hyundai Motor Company Regional Headquarters (HMC RHQ) entailed 146 kilometers of combined expressway, provincial and urban driving that also came with the challenging twisty routes, particularly in the leg going to and from the Mount Samat Shrine in Bataan, and along the Zambales mountain range from the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant to Subic Bay.
And just like what Yong Suk Lee, HMC RHQ director, guaranteed the before the drive on Sept. 4 when he said that the “cornerstone of Hyundai’s longstanding SUV heritage, the fourth-generation Santa Fe, will continue to impress with its premium design, spacious interior, and advanced technology,” the sporty-looking Santa Fe did not disappoint.
The Philippine-spec Santa Fe is powered by the 2.2-liter CRDI engine that generates 198 hp at 3,800 rpm and 440 Nm between 1,740 rpm and 2,750 rpm. The eight-speed automatic transmission that is matched to it has been improved, and the vehicle’s monocoque structure controls body roll better, resulting in a more efficient and comfortable driving experience.
Priced at P2.338 million, the all-new Santa Fe comes with a host of upgrades in its interior, exterior and technology. The seven-seat, midsize SUV is 70 millimeters longer and is 10 millimeters wider compared to the previous generation, helping the vehicle achieve the roomiest second-row legroom in its class. Outside, its three-dimensional honeycomb pattern and much-widened cascading grille gives it a bolder, smarter look that’s based on Hyundai’s new family identity. The separated headlight design (composed of LED projector lamps with dynamic bending and daytime running lights) and diamond-cut 19-inch alloy wheels add to the Santa Fe’s more muscular, taut shape.
The uncluttered cabin and instrument panel provide driver and passengers ease of use and sense of control despite the generous amounts of technologies thrown in, highlighted by the heads-up display, audio system that possesses Bluetooth connectivity with voice recognition for Android Auto and Apple Carplay, and cruise control.
No doubt, Filipinos will see, feel, and experience all of these when they test-drive the new Santa Fe. But the “Fe” that we’ll remember the most during this regional event would be the woman that drives HARI to new highs.
