The beast of burden gets a ride, too: Guyito meets Santa Fe

There I was, on a rainy day, hoping to sweep the clouds away, and get on with an overdue out-of-town, drive-and-photoshoot session with the Hyundai Grand Santa Fe.

 

Alas, the moody heavens had other plans. And as I sat inside the spacious SUV parked and idling just in front of the Inquirer main offices, I looked up at the sky, through the panoramic sunroof and all I could see was gray. More than 50 shades of gloomy gray, the kind that made you want to snuggle up in bed and just grab some Zs.

 

But I was already behind the wheel, my photographer was all geared up and ready. Something had to happen.

 

That was when lightning struck. Figuratively, of course. A flashbulb lit up in my head. Through the windshield, I could see the main lobby of the office, and sitting forlornly in a corner, encased in glass, was our stuffed life-sized mascot Guyito.

 

I wondered to myself, “What if….?”

 

There was no time to waste. I called a few officemates, who made it possible to let Guyito out of his glass confines. With the able assistance of four burly boys from maintenance, we managed to squeeze in a 5-foot-tall, 300-pound stuffed toy onto the backseat of the Grand Santa Fe. The big panoramic sunroof was a lifesaver for the giant carabao mascot, otherwise he would have come out of this with a massive stiff neck.

 

With his head jutting out of the sunroof, Guyito looked more like an oversized puppy with long ears flapping in the wind. If he had a long tongue, the happy-puppy picture would have been complete.

 

But what we had was an umbrella just big enough to shield Guyito’s head—and only his head—from the rain. The gods must have been laughing when they saw us struggling to push Guyito’s big butt inside the cabin because as soon as we left the office to find that perfect spot to take Guyito’s picture, the clouds parted—a bit—and revealed just enough blue sky to give us the image that you now see on the page.

 

This story would seem trifling, but I would argue that for a moment like this to be captured, so many other events had to fall into place.

 

For one, Guyito had to be there in that glass case, at that exact moment, when I had run out of ideas and options for a photoshoot. Guyito and I went back a long way, too. I was part of the team at Junior Inquirer that gave this baby carabao, fated to become Inquirer’s mascot, its name more than 15 years ago.

 

One of the roomiest SUVs

Then, one of the roomiest SUVs around had to be at hand. The Arabian Mocha Grand Santa Fe literally measured up to our needs. Hyundai Asia Resources Inc. (Hari), the official distributor of Hyundai vehicles in the Philippines, calls it the bigger, longer and grander Santa Fe. In other countries, it’s known as the long-wheelbase Santa Fe.

 

Just like Guyito, a manmade rendering of the hardworking, powerful beast of burden, the six-seater Grand Santa Fe not only has the bulk but the brute force as well.

 

The R-2.2 GLS Premium 4WD six-speed automatic transmission, aside from being longer by 225 millimeters, taller by 10 mm and wider by 5 mm than the standard Santa Fe R-2.2L GLS premium 4WD 6AT and the R-2.2L 2WD 6AT, has a wheelbase that is longer by 100 mm compared to the two variants.

 

The power of the Grand Santa Fe’s 2.2L CRDi eVGT (electronic variable geometry turbocharger) diesel engine cannot be ignored. On paper, it has a maximum power of  194.30 horsepower/3800 revolutions per minute, a max torque of  436.55 Newton-meters/1800-2,500 rpm. On the road, the force of the acceleration will make you hold the beast by the horns, so to speak, and hang on.

 

Guyito’s robust frame (seated height 63 inches, waistline 106 inches, legs 36 inches, arms 28 inches, snout width 20 inches, ear length 24 inches) fit into the second and third rows, and with room to spare for me and a 6-foot photographer (seated at the front), and two medium-sized assistants (seated at the very rear).

 

Being that Guyito had an “inhuman” physique, the seat configuration also had to be rearranged. We were able to recline all the second and third rows in order to accommodate Guyito.

 

Despite the tight fit, the minimal NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) of the ride helped us get a bit comfortable. I don’t know about Guyito, though, as he seemed to enjoy the best view of the house.

 

Like a gentle giant, the Grand Santa Fe felt like a big SUV but surprisingly easy to maneuver and park in tight spaces, despite having large and wide sideview mirrors.

 

Having its own quirks

The Grand Santa Fe does have its own quirks. The resolution of the backing camera monitor, for one, is not as clear or as defined as that of the Ford Explorer. And though the power seats have integrated memory system settings, the front passenger seat is set too low and close to the floor, with no height adjustments. If you’re barely above 5 feet in height, you’ll look like a child peeping out of the front passenger window. The windows at the rear also seem to be positioned a bit too high for petite passengers. The floor matting at the driver’s side needs a trim, as it encroaches upon the gas pedal.

 

Thanks to what probably could be the biggest panoramic sunroof of any vehicle around, Guyito enjoyed lapping up the cool late afternoon air. However, the glass window opens only halfway through, just enough for the beloved mascot’s head and flapping horns (which, again, looked like puppy ears) to jut out.

 

The Grand Santa Fe doesn’t get thirsty so easily, too. The combined city and highway fuel consumption, after about 150 km, read 11.5 liters/100 kilometers, which translates to 8.7 kpl. Quite frugal for an SUV of its heft and an engine of its size.

 

Verdict: How many carabaos does one need to work the farm with to earn enough to afford the Grand Santa Fe’s asking price of P2.498 million? Despite the size, technological accoutrements, power and that humongous sunroof, fellow hardworkers like Guyito may find the price tag a bit too steep, compared to the standard Santa Fe (P1.568 million) and other SUVs. If the Pope was made to ride the Grand Santa Fe instead of the standard one, he’d most likely be breaking one of his most passionate (cara)vows. Get the joke?