[ĐÁNH GIÁ XE] Series of safety features and performance on Hyundai Santa Fe (Part 2)

Hyundai SantaFe not only has a beautiful design but is also equipped with many valuable safety features and possesses impressive performance. The car is priced from 995 million to 1,245 billion VND.

Safety features

Hyundai SantaFe is a pioneer in safety technologies. Regarding the active safety system, the vehicle frame has been increased to 57% AHSS super-strength steel, 15% higher than the previous version. A more rigid chassis enhances the ability to protect passengers in the vehicle and also helps the vehicle operate more smoothly and stably. Simply put, a car chassis is like the foundation of a house. The stronger the foundation, the safer the house. Besides, every version of Hyundai SantaFe has 6 airbags.

The high-end diesel version of SantaFe possesses all the standard active safety features in the segment. These are ABS anti-lock braking system, EBD electronic brake force distribution, BA emergency brake assist, ESC electronic balance, VSM anti-slip system, HDC downhill assist, HAC hill start assist. In addition, there are advanced features such as BSD Blind Spot Warning System, RCCA Rear Cross Vehicle Warning, Passenger Left Behind Warning, SAE Smart Safety Lock and PDW parking assistance system. Let’s analyze each of these safety systems.

The first is the BSD blind spot warning system. The system uses radar at the rear of the vehicle to detect objects moving into the driver’s blind spot. When a car or motorbike is detected in the blind spot, the yellow light mounted on the rearview mirror and the image on the HUD system will flash to warn the driver. If the driver turns on the turn signal on the side with an object in the blind spot, the system will give an audio and visual warning. Personally, I find the BSD system extremely effective if you drive in heavy rain and visibility through the mirrors is limited.

Another useful system is the RCCA Rear Cross Traffic Alert. Still using the same radar system as BSD, RCCA will monitor objects approaching the rear of the car when you reverse from the parking lot or from the gate to the street. Unlike some RCCA systems on other vehicles, Hyundai SantaFe’s system can automatically emergency brake to avoid obstacles if the driver does not react.

Another unique system of Hyundai SantaFe is the SEA Smart Safety Lock. The system will detect vehicles moving into dangerous areas when opening the car door. In case a vehicle approaches, SEA will automatically lock the door until the danger has passed. In case the door is opened and the vehicle behind is approaching the dangerous area, the system will give an audio and visual warning on the dashboard behind the steering wheel. This is a very necessary system when we participate in traffic in Vietnam.

Accompanying the SEA safety lock is the ROA rear seat passenger neglect warning system. SantaFe is equipped with sensors and cameras in the car to monitor the rear seats. In case the driver gets out of the car and locks it, leaving behind passengers (children, pets), the car will warn the driver with a siren. Overall, Hyundai SantaFe is one of the cars with the most useful safety equipment in its segment, although this model still lacks some features (360 camera, Lane Keeping Assist, Adaptive Throttle + automatic braking) to be truly perfect in terms of safety equipment.

Operability

Hyundai SantaFe high-end diesel version is equipped with a 2.2L turbocharged diesel engine, producing a maximum capacity of 200 horsepower at 3,800 rpm and maximum torque of 441Nm at the engine range from 1750 to 2,750 rpm. Accompanying this powerful engine is a completely new 8-speed automatic transmission researched and developed by Hyundai itself. Every version of Hyundai SantaFe has 4 driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Sport and Smart.

Let’s talk more deeply about the diesel engine block of the R-Engine line of Hyundai SantaFe. It’s no coincidence that the diesel version of the SantaFe is more expensive than the gasoline engine and in general, used SantaFe diesel cars still have a higher price than the gasoline engine. This 2.2L CRDi engine has a engine block made of graphite cast iron, which is lighter but more durable than conventional cast iron. The durability of Hyundai’s R-Engine diesel engine is something we all know very well because up to now, the 2009 and 2010 SantaFe cars are still “running ferries” in Vietnam. The cylinder head is made from aluminum alloy to reduce weight and the camshafts are chain driven so they are much more durable than belts.

One interesting thing is that in the 7-seat high-rise car segment, only SantaFe (and its sister Kia Sorento) owns the VGT – Variable Geometry Turbocharger system. Simply put, a variable turbocharger with a turbine receiving exhaust gases can change the A/R ratio, where A is the cross-section of the exhaust pipe entering the turbine and R is the radius from the turbine axis to the center of the pipe.

A low A/R ratio (less than 1.0) will accelerate the flow of exhaust gases into the exhaust gas turbine, thereby causing the intake air compressor turbine to rotate faster, reducing turbo lag. The disadvantage of a small A/R ratio is that it will increase back pressure, hindering the exhaust process from the combustion chamber, leading to reduced power at high rpm. On the contrary, a high A/R ratio (higher than 1.0) will reduce the exhaust flow rate, delay the turbocharger more but reduce back pressure, making it easier for the engine to “breathe” and produce more power at higher rpm.

Before the VGT variable turbocharger was born, engineers always had to choose between low and high A/R ratios to suit the vehicle’s intended use (street car or highway car). With variable turbocharging, they can change the A/R ratio depending on engine rpm to eliminate the disadvantages of traditional turbocharging systems. They do it with a system of steel blades rotating around the axis to change the cross-section of the turbine’s exhaust gas receiving surface, thereby varying the A/R ratio. VGT variable turbocharging allows the engine to both achieve torque at lower rpm, while also reducing lag and achieving high power at high rpm.

Actual experience shows that SantaFe’s diesel engine is truly impressive. To put it simply, you “step on the accelerator and you see it”. The engine is very responsive and has good traction in the rev range from 1,000 to 2,000 rpm but is also very powerful in the rpm range above 3,000 rpm. The SantaFe only lost a bit of rhythm when I needed to shift gears quickly to enter a corner. The Hyundai’s 8-speed gearbox is clearly optimized for smooth operation, not as sharp as the ZF gearbox. Of course, the Hyundai SantaFe’s gearbox is still superior to the 6-speed gearbox of Japanese cars in the same segment.

Hyundai Santa Fe is equipped with the HTRAC intelligent 4-wheel drive system inherited from the Genesis luxury car line. This is a full-time 4-wheel traction control system with the ability to flexibly vary the ratio of torque distribution to each wheel. The ability to change without driver intervention is SantaFe’s advantage compared to competitors using part-time four-wheel drive systems.

HTRAC will offer four-wheel drive capability for safe cornering and low-friction road driving, but also deliver fuel economy equivalent to a front-wheel drive vehicle. The vehicle is also equipped with an electronic center differential lock to help distribute balanced traction between the wheels to overcome difficult terrain.

HTRAC’s efficiency is not only enhanced off-road, but the system also provides excellent traction and balance when you’re driving at high speeds. In the slalom test, the Hyundai SantaFe in Sport driving mode almost did not skid at all at a speed of 70 km/h. This is a result that exceeds my expectations. Of course, with a high center of gravity and a weight of nearly 2 tons, SantaFe is not as agile and flexible as a sedan, but its cornering ability is superior to that of Everest or Fortuner.

The soundproofing ability of Hyundai SantaFe is also very good. At a speed of 50 km/h on beautiful asphalt, the car only has an average noise level of 51.1 dB, not inferior to a luxury car! At a speed of 80 km/h, the average noise level is only 53.8 dB. Honestly, all the parameters of the Hyundai SantaFe don’t seem to be in the “affordable car” segment! Another advantage of this diesel motorbike is its fuel economy. With an actual consumption of only 6.6L/100 km, Hyundai SantaFe can travel more than 1,000 km with just a 71-liter oil tank!

Conclude

If we look at Hyundai SantaFe’s monthly sales, we can easily see that this is one of the most attractive 7-seat crossovers today. This is a car suitable for a group of customers with families who are looking for a high-clearance car with beautiful design, spacious interior space, many amenities, safety features and optimal performance.

Vi Pham (Tuoitrethudo)