we got a first ride of the all-new-for-2019 hyundai santa fe, the automaker's mid-size two-row suv, which ( used engine -1420699151901/">a little confusingly) replaces the santa fe sport in the lineup. it's a little bit bigger than the santa fe sport overall, but hyundai has packed it with a lot of standard active safety features.
during our time behind the wheel on scenic roads outside park city, utah, my initial impression was that the new santa fe is a very smooth vehicle, and that theme comes through in a lot of different ways. automakers often make the mistake of being too intent on a sporty feel in their suvs, but hyundai has wisely found a nice balance here, with a greater focus on smoothness.
we drove a model with the optional turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder used engine , and it's a smooth-revving setup. it gets up to speed quickly and easily, though highway passing power drops off a little bit. it works with an eight-speed automatic transmission and, again, it makes smooth shifts; it's unobtrusive and willing to make hard-throttle kickdowns easily. this is a responsive transmission.
that feeling of smoothness comes through in the steering, too. it doesn't offer a ton of feedback, but the car steers and rides well overall — not too firmly sprung.
get the rest of my impressions of the 2019 hyundai santa fe — or at least enjoy some gorgeous mountain vistas vicariously through me — by watching the video above.
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