2010 Hyundai Santa Fe facelift
First spy shots of the facelifted 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe SUV hit the web.
Hyundai Santa Fe has been on sale since 2006 and over the past three years it has sold considerably well. Despite its exterior design still being fresh and good-looking, the Korean largest car company decided to upgrade its mid-sized SUV with a few mid-cycle tweaks.
The 2010 Santa Fe will bring us an upgraded front fascia with redesigned grille and headlamps, while at rear, the SF will be getting slightly different looking tail-lights and bumper with integrated dual chrome tail-pipes. Since this is a mid-cycle update, no major design changes are expected until the next generation Santa Fe comes to the market (reportedly in 2012-13).
Inside, the cabin will be slightly revised with an increased emphasis on material quality while under the bonnet the 2010 Santa Fe will be getting an all-new R-diesel engine with estimated rating of 200 horsepower. However, the R-diesel engine is expected to be available in European and South Korean market only. The facelifted Santa Fe is also rumored to be equipped with Hyundais new six-speed automatic transmission, meaning the vehicle will benefit from improved fuel economy!
The 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe is expected to hit the US Hyundai dealers by the end of this year, but some reports state the early date, sometime around September 2009. [Source: GlobalMotors]
Update: Sitting next to the facelifted Santa Fe are two heavily camouflaged Kia Sorentos, both sharing the uni-body platform and powertrain units with the 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe. Location: Hyundais European R&D centre in Germany.
April 20th, 2009 at 1:49 am
Completely agree – 3 years into this latest model and the lines still look very clean. I hope they don’t overdo it with the refresh and I think they’ll get the balance just right.
The new 6-speed transmission is certainly a reason for buyers of this vehicle to spring for the refreshed model.. Nice.
April 20th, 2009 at 2:00 am
They have changed the rear lights. They seem to have the 2 global styles of turn indicators on the tester=wheel well, and mirror. The developing markets will probably get the wheel well indicators. The Western and Korean market will probably get the mirror indicators.
April 20th, 2009 at 3:39 am
Look what’s becoming a hyundai standard….those built in exhausts are awsome !!
April 20th, 2009 at 3:44 am
btw…anyone else think this things gotten a boxier feel to it compared to the current round looking one
April 20th, 2009 at 4:19 am
Also…what are the cars beside the new santa fe?
April 20th, 2009 at 4:19 am
portico?
April 20th, 2009 at 4:30 am
Hyundai-New and Redesigned cars
2010=Portico, Sonata, Veloster, Tuscon (Eqqus Maybe US)
2011=Accent, Azera
2012=Santa Fe, Elantra
April 20th, 2009 at 7:28 am
john it clearly says in the article they are 2010 sorentos
April 20th, 2009 at 11:26 am
The updates are looking promising from what little I can see here and it looks like they are going for a slightly boxy look for the facelift (the tailpipes are a huge giveaway – you wouldn’t have squared off tips on a rounded design such as the current SantaFe)
Also IIRC, the Genesis isn’t sold in Europe so it looks like an employee had one imported from Korea! It’s parked in the background in some of the pictures in the link.
April 20th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Read the last pharagraph in the article, John!
It’s the 2010 Kia Sorento.
April 20th, 2009 at 8:07 pm
LOL..guess i missed that
April 21st, 2009 at 12:42 am
I think this will be a nice facelift… just look at the what the Sorento looks like… this is taken from the Kia World Blog:
http://www.kia-world.net/index.php/2009/04/06/next-generation-kia-sorento-r-video-commercial/
And if Im not mistaken, this maybe what the Next Generation Sonota may look like:
http://www.kia-world.net/index.php/2009/04/02/kia-vg-concept-unveiled-at-seoul-auto-show-3/
April 21st, 2009 at 6:23 am
i think the new santa fe will look a lil bit more like the new mercedes GLK 2010. which is great
April 21st, 2009 at 9:18 pm
EB…if the hyundai sonata looks anything like that…it will faill…the design is horrible…im joking…if that truly is what the new sonata will look like….i’m impressed
April 21st, 2009 at 9:20 pm
now that i think of it…that sedan is really good looking…if it turns out to be that good looking when it comes to production…could it steal sales from the genesis…
April 25th, 2009 at 12:31 am
I don’t think they changed it that much and I don’t think they would have either.
It looks different because of the padding everywhere, but I’d be surprised if they alter the bumpers and anything on the current shape. The design is only three years old.
I think they’ll upgrade the interior. It’s the same with the Tucson. It has remained unchanged since it came out six years or so ago. THe latest “facelift” was just a different chrome bar on the front grille and at the back. That was as far as they went with the new tucson released last year.
June 18th, 2009 at 6:43 pm
[...] [Read this article in its entirety] [...]
July 3rd, 2009 at 8:52 pm
Aside from the hideous new grille and those ricer new taillights it doesn’t look half bad.
Seriously? Who authorized those changes? The car looked fine as it was, why mess with success?
August 12th, 2009 at 1:34 am
USDM 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe specifications are on the web–2.4-L four gets an optional six-speed manual, six-speed automatics in both configurations, and the new 3.5-L V6 replaces the 3.8-L.
http://www.hyundainews.com/Media_Kits/2010_Models/Santa_Fe/Specifications.asp
September 11th, 2009 at 12:41 am
By roy
I would like to know if South Korean made Sante Fe 2009 crdi SUV is as durable and long lasting as compared to many German or japanese or American competitors ?
Has anyone had a reasonably trouble free 80,000 kms on a Sante Fe 2008 or 2009 model ?
I would also like to know If the Brakes, Transmission and Suspensions lasts Long for mostly safe highway drives in hot conditions?
Can experienced owners help me with my Queries ? thanks
November 20th, 2009 at 7:34 pm
Hyundai cars and suv are becoming very good cars I remember back in the 80′s they were lousy piece of junk back then, but now they are great cars, I wouldn’t mind owning a Santa Fe. I hope that the company put a Diesel inline 4 and a Diesel V-6 soon on their model lineup for north America because they get 30 something percent better fuel ecomony than gas engines.
November 21st, 2009 at 1:44 am
Jason Ive been writing letters and lobbying these guys for years to get diesels for the Trucks. They are studying interest for it in America.
It costs a lot of money to get a Euro Spec Diesel ready to pass US EPA Regulations. They have to make sure the interest is here first before they invest in such a sum. The Cost for Acura to bring Diesels over would have been $1.2 Billion, thats why they cancelled their US Diesel Program before it truly even got started.
Not enough interest to generate enough sales to make up for the R&D Cost.
December 12th, 2009 at 2:57 am
Does anyone when the 2010 Santa Fe might arrive in the showrooms? The company website has no information yet.
Thanks,
Gaurav
December 12th, 2009 at 9:26 pm
So what is going on with the Veracruz? Is it going to be discontinued or updated. I love the Santa Fe but need a bigger car.
December 19th, 2009 at 4:21 am
I already purchased the 2010 Fanta Fe Sport, Tuesday (Dec 22) is when i am getting the keys…(Calgary, Canada).
Cheers!! I love it.
December 19th, 2009 at 4:49 am
Rick Veracruz is fine, it will be redesigned for the 2013 Model year. The Next gen version will be on dealer lots in Late 2012.
The Current gen is at dealers now, or if you want to wait for a refresh, that’s coming soon too.
December 19th, 2009 at 4:50 am
I hear they plan on making a Genesis Truck too.
March 23rd, 2010 at 2:30 am
I just purchased the 2010 Santefe Sport model. I think it’s a great vehicle so far, however, I am a bit concerned about the cold air that seems to be coming from the driver’s and passenger side next to the doors. There doesn’t seem to be any leaks or anything like that, but I can feel the cold air when I put my hand on the side of the seat.
The heating system is ok. I have tried all combinatiions of heating, but to no avail.
Anyone out there experiencing the same problem? If so what has been the remedy? Any ideas??
March 23rd, 2010 at 3:54 pm
Congrats on your new Hyundai Santa Fe!!
June 1st, 2010 at 11:00 pm
Does anyone know if Hyundai is going to have a new van any time soon? I am no longer impressed with the Sienna and would like to find one in Hyundai’s lineup (again). Thanks.
August 10th, 2010 at 2:24 am
to Bernard
I drive a 2001 Santa Fe and have had that problem from day one. Cold air filters in from the drivers side door snd finds it s way into the passengers compartment.No solution available.Crank up the heater and try to blow the hot air towards the door.Hope this is helpful.
December 11th, 2010 at 12:11 am
Any news on a new Hyundai van–or is it completely a thing of the past?
May 10th, 2011 at 6:03 am
i think Hyundai Santa Fe is awesome with high speed automatic transmission,and the efficiency of the fuel is very high.I am planning to buy one