The Big 3G Discussion Thread (from CM Forum)

[tedrik]

QUOTE (SFLTD @ Apr 9 2011, 10:42 AM)

With the complete rebuild of the SF due in Sept of 2011 I would like to ask the question to all owners;

[b]"What do you want to see changed in the new generation 2012 version?"

Personally I would like to see;

- complete new body style
- complete new suspension incl tires, springs & shocks. To eliminate the harsh ride over road seams,tracks and potholes
- lower driving position
- better distinction between models. Currently can not tell other than chrome on Ltd soor handles and very small badge on rear. Maybe different wheels or larger badging?
- better selection of exterior & interior colors
- leather in the Ltd is nothing but high grade vinyl. Offer cloth upholstery in Ltd.
- improved fuel mileage however current is great!
- reduce the wind noise at hwy speeds. This is 2011 and wind noise should not even be evident
- offer electric hatch as an option
- back up camera standard on Sport and Ltd
- move from SUV to CUV

Looking forward to comments and also looking forward to the 2012. This is a great SUV and holds top spot in the ratings it can only get better when one looks at the new Sonata, Tuscon and Elantra.

Improvements are always warranted (a bit better ride-less rattles). However, I hope they don't make the 2012 as "Swoopy" as the Tuscon-Elantra. I sat In a new 2012 Elantra while I was waiting for an oil change for my wife's 2010 Elantra. I immediately DISLIKED it. I felt claustraphobic. The seats are too low/the cowl too high and most importantly the VISIBILITY is very poor due to the redesign. So glad we have the 2010 (Santa Fe and Elantra) with the spacious OPEN feeling and great visibility. I understand a lot of the new vehicles have this new swoopy styling but (IMHO) it sacrifices interior comfort and outward visibility.

[Ruperts Trooper]

QUOTE (Upthewazzu @ Apr 10 2011, 06:08 PM)

SUV's have a dedicated chassis that belongs only to them (or other trucks). Crossovers share a chassis design with another vehicle type (cars, vans). The Santa Fe shares its chassis with a car, the Sonata, hence it is a CUV.

Still out of date!

[tedrik]

QUOTE (Ruperts Trooper @ Apr 10 2011, 12:28 PM)

Still out of date!

According to Hyundai-the Santa Fe has a chassis/body frame made specifically for the Santa Fe. Unlike many manufacturers it does not share a body frame (sonata).

[thundercraft]

QUOTE (Upthewazzu @ Apr 10 2011, 01:08 PM)

SUV's have a dedicated chassis that belongs only to them (or other trucks). Crossovers share a chassis design with another vehicle type (cars, vans). The Santa Fe shares its chassis with a car, the Sonata, hence it is a CUV.

SF does not share a chassis with the Sonata? The New Sorrento does share the SF chassis. This vehicle is classed as an SUV according to Hyundai marketing.

[tedrik]

QUOTE (SFLTD @ Apr 10 2011, 12:49 PM)

SF does not share a chassis with the Sonata? The New Sorrento does share the SF chassis. This vehicle is classed as an SUV according to Hyundai marketing.

Yes, the new Kia Sorrento does share the underpinnings with the Santa Fe-but neither with the Sonata (optima does share chassis with sonata).

[canderson]

QUOTE (tedrik @ Apr 10 2011, 11:40 AM)

According to Hyundai-the Santa Fe has a chassis/body frame made specifically for the Santa Fe. Unlike many manufacturers it does not share a body frame (sonata).

I think people are remembering the SM models and forgetting the major makeover for 2006-1/2, 2007.

[Stef71]

QUOTE (AlaskanAWD @ Apr 10 2011, 12:36 PM)

My biggest complaint is the lack of room for us big guys. The power seat does not go low enough (especially with a sun roof), so I have to lay the seat back to fit...not the best position for view or safety. Also the seat bottoms are short and do not support a longer leg. I just accept it as a Korean design that works for most shorter drivers.

That's why I got the base model (GL up here in Canada), It has manual seat which gave me the extra space I needed. I was looking and a used 2008 Limited but I couldn't fit in it properly. That's when the salesman told me about the base model with manual seat having more space. He was right. 5 days later, I was out the door with my brand new SF.

BTW, I'm 6'6" and just over 300lbs.

[TimmyB]

I would like it to be just like the first generation SF was. Not meaning to look exactly like it, but rather, to be like NOTHING ELSE on the road and still fabulous to look at. When we bought our first one in 2002, people noticed it and other SF drivers would wave. It was such a unique car and it was like being in a small club. We love our Tucson, but if the 3rd-gen SF knocks our socks off (like the 1st gen did), I'll trade it in in a heartbeat! The Tucson is a great vehicle, but there is an awful lot of "me-too" in it with Nissan, Lexus, Toyota, etc. There was NEVER another 1st gen Santa Fe; It was unmistakable.

Am I asking for too much? Probably, but you posed the question, right?

tim

PS- Has ANYONE heard ANYTHING officially about this vehicle? All I have heard is "Late 2011", and that was a year ago. If you search the internet for 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe, you get garbage links and rumors.

[lovemysantafe]

I haven't seen Hyundai keep anything under wraps this tightly since the Genesis came out. Because the CM body came out in Korea one full model year ahead of North America, we had plenty of time to look at the KDM production versions and get a very good idea as to what was in store for us over here. It seems that Hyundai has no intentions of staggering this model release and man are they keeping a tight lid on things. We haven't seen diddly....not one spy shot, not one rendering, not one sketch; NOTHING. Zip, zilch, nada.

My advice. Keep your ear to the ground at Hyundai News and when Hyundai has something to say officially, this is where it'll pop up.

[Ruperts Trooper]

QUOTE (lovemysantafe @ Apr 23 2011, 07:51 AM)

I haven't seen Hyundai keep anything under wraps this tightly since the Genesis came out. Because the CM body came out in Korea one full model year ahead of North America, we had plenty of time to look at the KDM production versions and get a very good idea as to what was in store for us over here. It seems that Hyundai has no intentions of staggering this model release and man are they keeping a tight lid on things. We haven't seen diddly....not one spy shot, not one rendering, not one sketch; NOTHING. Zip, zilch, nada.

My advice. Keep your ear to the ground at Hyundai News and when Hyundai has something to say officially, this is where it'll pop up.

In the past, it's been possible to get good information by using the internet to monitor press releases and motor magazines in North America, Europe, Australasia and the Far East but the next Santa Fe details will be harder than any to second guess because no-one outside the company knows how much separation there will be between different market versions. We've already seen major input from the European R&D centre at Russelsheim in Germany and there may be completely different models for North America and Europe although sharing the same platform, in the same way that Sonata and I40 are quite different.

For Europe and Asia, the SF replacement is likely to be called IX45 so it'll be worth keeping an eye on rumour for both Santa Fe and IX45. It may also be useful to watch for rumour on VeraCruz and IX55.

The 2010 Kia Sorento doesn't give anything away - it's the same underneath as the 2010-2011 Santa Fe which may indicate no engineering changes - it might also indicate that the Kia Sorento is built on the "old" SF platform but that doesn't make sense given they're built in the same plant for the North America market.

Keep searching, we're all interested in knowing!