Polarizing Looks
The Hyundai design language is probably one of the more interesting takes on automotive design. Some will say it’s too extreme or polarizing, but others appreciate the forward-thinking, out-of-the-box style Hyundai offers. As a result, some of the brand’s designs tend to stand the test of time without aging as quickly as others.
Still, Hyundai wants to keep things fresh, and we’re seeing a new, evolving design language in its newer cars. We recently just got a look at the all-new Tucson, but apparently the facelifted bigger brother, the Santa Fe, has been leaked to the world.
Leaked Before Launch
The Korean Car Blog just released a video and article detailing a leaked photo of the upcoming facelift of Hyundai’s mid-size SUV, the Santa Fe. The leaked photo isn’t a full reveal, but it offers plenty of clues about the adapted design language it’s adopting. With the Tucson being one of the first new models to debut Hyundai’s new designs, it makes sense to redo the Santa Fe the same way.
What we can see in the photo is just a portion of the front fascia, specifically the lighting cluster, which tells us some interesting things. First, we see that Hyundai is moving away from the eye-catching H-pattern design and trying to blend it in with different design cues. The report dives deeper into the leak and highlights different aspects of the leaked photo.
One immediately noticeable change is that the DRLs now run vertically and sit on the outer edge of the lighting cluster, reminiscent of the DRL designs on the Palisade and new Tucson. The headlamps are LED projectors that sit beside the DRLs but are positioned lower on the front fascia. Sitting above the headlights is what looks like a horizontally designed grille. When the current Santa Fe launched, many people weren’t keen on the design; this leaked photo suggests the updated version aims to please more eyes than before.
Korean Car Blog
Mechanical Changes
The post also detailed how the updated Santa Fe won’t just be a makeover, but a refresh of its technical specs as well. Hyundai is set to launch a traditional 8-speed automatic for the Santa Fe following feedback about the current dual-clutch. The most interesting update is that the automaker is apparently working on an Extended Range Electric Vehicle version of the Santa Fe with a combined range of 559 miles. The facelift is expected to debut sometime in 2027.
Hyundai
