What is that?
Gone are the days when Hyundai’s best-selling SUV was only available with diesel engines. Not only are the two engines in the range now gasoline powered, both are also electrified.
We’ve tested the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid before, touting its sleek interior and generous seven-seater ergonomics, and now we’re experiencing the Plug-in Hybrid.
With 262 hp and 36 miles of electric-only range (up from 227 hp and, well, next to nothing), the PHEV is clearly the stronger proposition than the regular hybrid in terms of performance and fuel economy.
In addition, in the basic Premium version, it will only cost you around £ 3,600 more than a correspondingly equipped hybrid; and for company car drivers, the BIK tax rate is much milder at 11% versus 32%.
One thing to note, however, is that the PHEV is only offered with four-wheel drive. And if you think that neither the extra traction nor the electric range of the PHEV will make a noticeable improvement in your life, the Hybrid can be used as front-wheel drive, in which case the price drops to under £ 40,000.
What does it look like?
Unsurprisingly, the character of the PHEV is roughly the same as that of the Hybrid, only with many other cases where the engine comes to a complete stop while in motion.
It’s an easy-going monster, with surprisingly good steering and a pleasant gait on smooth roads, although the ride quality deteriorates noticeably with the quality of the road surface.
Don’t expect too much from performance. The relatively generous horsepower of the 262bhp PHEV allows it to overtake quickly, but in general, even with the help of the 90bhp electric motor attached to the six-speed automatic transmission, it never reaches its 2005kg weight. Too much throttle and the engine is quick to present as tense and a bit out of depth in a car of this size.
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Source: www.autocar.co.uk
This notice was published: 2021-08-25 23:01:23
