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Vehicle Tests > Middleweight Match-up
Middleweight Match-up
Issue: December 2006
Words by Isaac Bober Photos by Guy Bowden
Hyundai Santa Fe, Ford Escape and Suzuki Grand Vitara get in the ring to see which fights above its weight.
With fluctuating fuel prices, drivers are looking for a cheaper alternative for city and open road use, making the soft/offroad market the biggest automotive battleground. Case in point Hyundai Santa Fe, Ford Escape and Suzuki Grand Vitara. These three models have plenty to offer the punters, and like Subaru Forester and Toyota Rav4 have become the latest must-have fashion accessory. But what's really flicking switches about these soft-roaders is that they're not just one-trick ponies.
While this current crop is more refined and car-like than ever they're still pretty good off the beaten track. And they don't hurt the hip pocket at the bowser. Also there's a make, model and engine capacity to suit just about everyone and indeed their image, too.
Yep, this segment no longer just covers V6s (read: Frontera, Pathfinder and Cherokee), it now includes four-cylinders, turbos and even diesels. But that's not for us, not today anyway. Enter Santa Fe, Escape and Grand Vitara. We did ask Toyota for a Rav4, but they were unable to provide one.
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Sure this lot's more soft-roader than offroader but these fourbies, which combine ability with affordability, are right on the money for your average, slightly adventurous family.
That said there are some differences between them. The Suzuki is the only one of our trio that its manufacturer is happy to call a 4WD; it's got the full system with reasonable low-range gearing (a 1.970 reduction). The Escape and the Santa Fe aren't quite as sophisticated. The Escape offers an on-demand AWD system via its rotary blade coupling (RBC), but when the going gets too tough a dash-mounted switch allows you to lock the diff offering a 50:50 drive split. The Hyundai, however, offers full-time AWD and, like the Ford, you can lock the diff, which offers a permanent 50:50 drive distribution.
Of the three, Hyundai's Santa Fe at $42,990 (our test car was the Elite variant) is easily the slickest looking. From various angles there are even hints of Volkswagen Touareg and Subaru Outback, but the rounded, slightly bulbous profile is all Hyundai.
While the Santa Fe is the best looking it's also the longest (at 4675mm) and the heaviest (1893kg). For motivation the Santa Fe runs a 2.7-litre DOHC 24-valve CVVT (constant variable valve timing) V6 that pumps out 138kW (at 6000rpm) and 248Nm (at 4000rpm). It's roughly the same engine that Hyundai's sporty Tiburon runs, and while it's not packing a lot of oomph, when you consider its weight, it never actually feels laboured.
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Words by Isaac Bober Photos by Guy Bowden
Hyundai Santa Fe, Ford Escape and Suzuki Grand Vitara get in the ring to see which fights above its weight.
With fluctuating fuel prices, drivers are looking for a cheaper alternative for city and open road use, making the soft/offroad market the biggest automotive battleground. Case in point Hyundai Santa Fe, Ford Escape and Suzuki Grand Vitara. These three models have plenty to offer the punters, and like Subaru Forester and Toyota Rav4 have become the latest must-have fashion accessory. But what's really flicking switches about these soft-roaders is that they're not just one-trick ponies.
While this current crop is more refined and car-like than ever they're still pretty good off the beaten track. And they don't hurt the hip pocket at the bowser. Also there's a make, model and engine capacity to suit just about everyone and indeed their image, too.
Yep, this segment no longer just covers V6s (read: Frontera, Pathfinder and Cherokee), it now includes four-cylinders, turbos and even diesels. But that's not for us, not today anyway. Enter Santa Fe, Escape and Grand Vitara. We did ask Toyota for a Rav4, but they were unable to provide one.
read on below advertisement
Sure this lot's more soft-roader than offroader but these fourbies, which combine ability with affordability, are right on the money for your average, slightly adventurous family.
That said there are some differences between them. The Suzuki is the only one of our trio that its manufacturer is happy to call a 4WD; it's got the full system with reasonable low-range gearing (a 1.970 reduction). The Escape and the Santa Fe aren't quite as sophisticated. The Escape offers an on-demand AWD system via its rotary blade coupling (RBC), but when the going gets too tough a dash-mounted switch allows you to lock the diff offering a 50:50 drive split. The Hyundai, however, offers full-time AWD and, like the Ford, you can lock the diff, which offers a permanent 50:50 drive distribution.
Of the three, Hyundai's Santa Fe at $42,990 (our test car was the Elite variant) is easily the slickest looking. From various angles there are even hints of Volkswagen Touareg and Subaru Outback, but the rounded, slightly bulbous profile is all Hyundai.
While the Santa Fe is the best looking it's also the longest (at 4675mm) and the heaviest (1893kg). For motivation the Santa Fe runs a 2.7-litre DOHC 24-valve CVVT (constant variable valve timing) V6 that pumps out 138kW (at 6000rpm) and 248Nm (at 4000rpm). It's roughly the same engine that Hyundai's sporty Tiburon runs, and while it's not packing a lot of oomph, when you consider its weight, it never actually feels laboured.
next page »
