Did the Hyundai Grand Sante Fe meet the Asean Finance Ministers’ value for money criteria?

ELEVEN Hyundai Grand Santa Fe units served 10 Asean finance ministers during the recent Asean investor seminar. PHOTOS BY AIDA SEVILLA-MENDOZA

A 4.3-INCH LCD touchscreen and multifunction steering wheel dominate the cockpit.

Hardly anyone was surprised when Hyundai Asia Resources Inc. (Hari) announced that it had been appointed the Philippine government’s official mobility partner for the 23rd World Economic Forum East Asia (WEF-EA) and the Asean Finance Ministers’ Investor Seminar (Afmis).  After all, Hari, the official distributor of Hyundai automobiles in the Philippines, was the official mobility partner of the 45th Asian Development Bank board of governors’ annual meeting in April 2012 attended by 4,000 delegates, including finance and economic ministers from 67 ADB member countries. Last week was the first time that the Philippines hosted the WEF-EA.

This time, Hari led by its president and CEO Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo offered two types of Grand Hyundai vehicles.  For the use of WEF-EA delegates May 21-23, Hari presented 52 Grand Starex units and for the Afmis, eleven 2014 Grand Santa Fe units to serve the participating finance ministers of the 10 Asean member countries.

At the turnover ceremony on May 9 where National Treasurer Rosalia de Leon and Finance Undersecretary Gil Beltran accepted the Hyundai vehicles, Agudo and Hari chair Richard Lee said they were excited about having the movers and shakers in global finance and business experience up close the premium features of the Grand Santa Fe and Grand Starex.

THE 2.2-LITER CRDi eVGT diesel engine packs 194.30 HP and 436.55 Nm max torque.

PREMIUM PRICE. Now the question arises whether the Grand Santa Fe, which retails for P2.498 million, met the Asean finance ministers’ exacting standards as far as value for money goes.  In the premium midsized SUV/crossover segment, that price tag is not far behind those of 4WD competitors with bigger engines such as the Ford Explorer 3.5-liter V6 4×4 Limited (P2.695 million).

But that’s like comparing apples and oranges since the Explorer is gasoline-fed, while the Grand Santa Fe is diesel.  One reason why the Grand Santa Fe probably met the finance ministers’ value for money criteria is the fuel efficiency of its 2.2-liter, four-cylinder, DOHC 16-valve CRDi (common rail direct injection) eVGT (electronic variable geometry turbocharged) diesel engine averaging 14 to 16 kilometers per liter in highway driving and 8 to 12 kpl in the city. For money experts, coping with volatile oil prices by using fuel-frugal transportation is very important.

Secondly, for a motor vehicle costing almost 2.5 million pesos, finance ministers would expect a matching level of refined power and performance plus a relaxing, comfortable ride after a series of intensive number-crunching meetings. The Grand Santa Fe’s powerplant delivers 194 horsepower at 3,800 revolutions per minute and 435 Newton-meters max torque between 1,800 and 2,500 rpm to the 19-inch alloy wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission.  With a 0.34 drag coefficient level reducing air resistance, a front McPherson strut suspension with high-performance damper and a rear multilink setup, the Grand Santa Fe accelerates so smoothly with minimum NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) that passengers tend to forget that it is a diesel vehicle.  It provides a quiet, compliant ride quality and exhibits impeccable road manners.

THE THIRD-ROW seats split 50/50 and fold to increase cargo space.

ON DEMAND. If the finance ministers had ventured out of town to drive offroad (which they did not) or else ford flash floods (which did not occur, since it’s dry season in May), the Grand Santa Fe’s full-time (on demand) 4WD with lock mode would have guaranteed maximum vehicle stability.  The Grand Santa Fe is primarily a soft roader but has enough 4WD equipment to adequately tackle challenging terrain.

Aside from fuel efficiency, strong performance and a smooth, comfortable ride, the Asean finance ministers would have looked for an impressive exterior design and a spacious, fully kitted, high-quality cabin to justify the Grand Santa Fe’s premium price.  Hyundai met this yardstick by sharpening the Grand Santa Fe’s contemporary Storm Edge design theme with a bold, chromed, four-bar radiator grille, HID projector-type headlamps with escort function, and LED combination taillights.

Entering and exiting the cabin must have been easy for the finance ministers, given the Grand Santa Fe’s larger dimensions. The seats are leather-upholstered with the front bucket seats power-adjustable and all-day comfortable.  Two captain’s chairs make up the second-row seats, providing generous legroom and headroom. The third-row 50/50 seats, which are suitable only for children, can be folded to increase luggage space to 634 liters.

WITH the third-row seats folded, guess how many pieces of luggage and golf bags can be loaded inside?

TASTEFULLY STYLED. Since the Grand Santa Fe is 8.5 inches longer and 3.9 inches wider than its 2013 five-seater variant, its passenger and cargo space expanded by 38.6 cubic feet. While the cabin isn’t overtly luxurious, it is tastefully styled and exudes a premium ambience with soft-touch materials and dual-tone textures, supportive leather seats, a panoramic sunroof, power-adjustable front seats, a 4.3-inch LCD touchscreen for infotainment that doubles as a reverse parking camera, a multifunction steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control with second-row vents and third-row controls, and a power tailgate system.

Conveniences abound such as a smart proximity key with button start, electronic parking brake with auto hold, rain-sensing windshield wipers, door and front seatback pockets, 12-volt power sockets, a deep center console, cup holders, rear door curtains and a cooled glove box big enough to refrigerate drinks.  The attention to detail inside is distinctive, such as hexagonal air-conditioner vents and power window switches plus small amounts of aluminum and wood trim accenting the leather and soft-touch materials on the dashboard and doors.

THE SECOND-ROW Captain leather seats can slide, recline or fold.

IMPRESSED. If the Asean finance ministers had asked about the Grand Santa Fe’s safety features, they would have been impressed.  The 2014 Grand Santa Fe scored a 5-Star Overall Rating from the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and “Good,” the highest safety rating of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, what with six airbags, ABS with Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD), three-point pretensioner seatbelts front and rear, an Electronic Stability Program with Hill Start Assist Control, Downhill Brake Control, Brake Assist System and Traction Control System, disc brakes on all four wheels, front foglamps, electronic folding outside rear view mirrors with side repeater and puddle lamp plus a rear spoiler with high-mount stop lamp.

AT THE REAR, a power tailgate, rear spoiler and twin tailpipes

Moreover, no safety recalls have been issued by the NHTSA for the Santa Fe ever since the intro of its first generation in 2000.  After the second iteration of the Santa Fe, it underwent a major redesign for the 2013 model year.  The 2014 Grand Santa Fe belongs to the third generation or 2013 model year but is built on an entirely new platform.

Taking into account the Grand Santa Fe’s fuel efficiency, solid build quality, smooth power and performance, quiet, comfortable ride, roomy, high-quality cabin, five-star safety rating and array of high-tech equipment, chances are that the Asean finance ministers who rode it would have declared it well worth its price.  Bottom line: The Grand Santa Fe delivers value for money.