2019 Hyundai Santa Fe Barely More Expensive Despite Full Redesign

It’s not uncommon to see a car company add a new entry-level model to its lineup and substantially raise prices for other vehicles in order to make room. That could have been Hyundai’s plan following the introduction of the Kona small crossover, but even the fully redesigned 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe—much more rigid, dynamic, modern and spacious than its predecessor—will remain in its usual price range.

In fact, the difference is a mere $200-$300 in many cases. On the other hand, access to some desirable features like leather seats and a panoramic sunroof has been pushed a bit higher up the ladder.

• Also: 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe Images Revealed
• Also: Here’s how the 2018 Hyundai Kona Beats BMW and Lexus

By the way, you’ll notice that it’s no longer called “Santa Fe Sport.” The reason for this is that the larger Santa Fe XL will be completely reinvented and given a brand new name for 2020.

The lineup starts with the Santa Fe Essential FWD ($28,999), which comes standard with a seven-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, heated front seats and steering wheel, 17-inch alloy wheels and a 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine with direct injection that produces 185 horsepower through an all-new eight-speed automatic transmission.

For an additional $1,200, you get the Hyundai SmartSense package including, among others, Adaptive Cruise Control with stop-and-go capability, Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Keeping Assist and Driver Attention Warning. Another $2,000 adds Hyundai’s multi-mode HTRAC all-wheel drive system.

The latter is obviously part of every other 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe model, starting with the one called Preferred ($35,099), which boasts Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist with Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, proximity key entry with push-button start, dual-zone automatic climate control with auto window defog system, plus the new Hyundai BlueLink connectivity and telematics system. Here, an extra of $2,000 will switch the base engine for a 2.0-litre turbo with direct injection that generates 235 horsepower and uses auto start-stop to save fuel when idling.

Pricing for the upcoming turbodiesel Santa Fe, rated at 190 horsepower and 322 pound-feet of torque, has yet to be announced, however.

Next up is the Luxury model ($41,899) with black, grey or beige leather seating, a 360-degree surround view monitor, a power liftgate and a panoramic sunroof. Meanwhile, the top-of-the-line Ultimate ($44,999) houses an eight-inch touchscreen with navigation, Infinity premium audio, head-up display, rain-sensing windshield wipers and a wireless charging pad for smartphones.

In an industry first, the 2019 Santa Fe is also available with Safety Exit Assist, which helps prevent accidents by temporarily locking the rear doors when detecting cars or bikes approaching from behind, so that rear passengers can only exit the vehicle when it’s safe to do so.

The new 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe will arrive at Canadian dealers this fall, but you can pre-order one now.