Off-road appearance with on-road comfort
The styling of the latest generation of cars can often be summed up in two words: evolution or revolution. The Porsche 911 is an example of evolutionary visual change. Despite advances in aerodynamics and technology, its appearance has always been the 911. There are also models such as Hyundai Shengda. The fourth-generation model from 2019 to 2023, like many of its competitors, has curved sheet metal. For the all-new 2024 model, Hyundai ditches the old design and starts over with straight lines and rigid angles. It was a bloodless revolution that severed the visual connection between Xinshengda and its ancestors.
Small room on the top floor
Hyundai offers petrol, hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions of the new Shengda. I recently had the opportunity to drive a top-of-the-line petrol Calligraphy model. Given its position in the trim class, our Calligraphy test car already comes with HTRAC all-wheel drive, 21-inch wheels, 12.3-inch digital gauges and infotainment screens, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a Bose sound system, Nappa leather seats, and a dual sunroof at the base price of $48,300 listed on the window sticker. In addition to paint and interior colors, there are other options including drivetrain settings and accessories such as all-season mats and wheel locks. The Earthy Brass Matte paint and carpeted floor mats on my test car cost it a whopping $50,925.
Pure gasoline hybrids
My first contact with the 2024 Shengda was through photos online. Like many others, I couldn't help but see the similarities with the Hyundai Land Rover Defender 110, which is also a boxy, square-chin SUV. When I finally saw my test car with my own eyes, my opinion of it changed. It's still a beautiful car, but the rear end looks bulky and top-heavy thanks to its H-shaped taillights that sit low on the widened power rear lift door. The black 21-inch wheels, black wheel arches, and lower body trim make the Shengda look lower off the ground and less like a purpose-built off-road vehicle. It's almost like a station wagon. I compare Shengda to a hybrid of a Defender and a Ford Flex.
Adjust as needed
A similar combination of different features exists in the cabin. The tall windshield, good forward visibility, and high window sills made me feel like I was in a luxury hardcore off-road vehicle. But the rest of the cabin is more like a crossover - this is the best way. The height of the step is low and comfortable. The grey nappa leather seats are comfortable, especially in the first row, which has heating and ventilation, as well as perfectly padded headrests. I'm 5'10" tall and after adjusting the driver's seat to my height and preferences, I found plenty of legroom and headroom behind the heated, electrically adjustable second-row seats. The third-row seats were damaged by the Santa Fe internal structure. The bulge between the captain's seats in the second row causes the third row of seats to be raised. To maximize comfort in the rear, I had to move the second-row seats forward a bit to allow plenty of room for my knees and feet. Even so, my knees were raised higher, and my outside foot was on the other bulge no matter which back seat I chosen. Cup holders and side-mounted vents in the third row are well-thought-out features, but their integration limits the available armrest space.
My family didn't complain, though. My wife wanted one as soon as she saw Shengda. When I went out to dinner with my wife, my mother-in-law, and my wife's aunt and cousin, all I heard were good reviews. My wife's aunt was an Audi owner and she immediately fell in love with the color of the paint. She was also attracted by the ambient lighting in the car and the convenient bag hooks integrated into the rear of the front seats. Everyone seems to like a double sunroof. My wife's cousin was glad she had her own air conditioning control in the last row. (It's a pity I forgot to tell her that the rear seats can recline.) ）
Aside from the size of the third-row seats, I don't have any complaints about the cabin of the Shengda. The main contact points are all very soft, especially the soft microfiber that covers the A- and B-pillars, sun visors and headliners. With a head-up display (unless I'm wearing polarized sunglasses), I can easily monitor my speed. Modern opts for a mix of dials, buttons, switches, and touch-sensitive controls in a central stack, rather than making everything sleek black "buttons" just to show off the tech. I don't have to worry about my phone running out of battery because I have two wireless charging pads and a pair of USB-C chargers. Plenty of storage space; I can toss a soft-edged lunch box in the area below the center stack, place small items in a compartment under the center armrest, and sanitize my office ID in a UV-C sanitizer above the glove box. For better or worse, I don't know what to expect from the ride quality, but I'm still surprised at how soft the suspension is at Shengda.
Finally get up and go
Just like the options, the petrol version of the Santa Fe Calligraphy has a limited choice of engines. In fact, there is only one engine, paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Luckily, the 277 horsepower and 311-pound-foot torque of the turbocharged 2.5-liter I4 engine is perfect for the Santa Fe. The engine is powerful enough to move the three rows of seats quickly – it just needs to get rid of the noticeable turbo lag first.
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, our test vehicle had a fuel burn of 20 mpg in the city, 28 mpg on the highway, and a combined fuel burn of 23 mpg. After driving 140 miles in Shengda, my average fuel burn was 19.6 miles per gallon.
One unfortunate side effect that comes with SUVs being so popular is that many of them look pretty much the same. That's what makes the 2024 Hyundai Shengda so appealing – it's not just the best in its class, it's completely different from its predecessors. It's a revolution. Would you buy one and be part of a new era of modern popular SUVs? Let me know in the comments below.