Hyundai Santa Fe Facelift 2.2 Turbo Diesel Max Review: KL To JB In Just Over 1/4 Tank

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This oil-burning Santa Fe makes quite the case for diesels to still be worth considering for certain use cases.

With EVs being all the rage now and the government having since phased out diesel subsidies, many might therefore currently consider the prospect of owning an oil-burner over here as a financially ludicrous idea. And this thought is perhaps particularly true for cars where petrol power is an option (i.e., anything apart from pickups).

But as this recently facelifted Santa Fe 2.2 Turbo Diesel Max tested here on Automacha can attest, there is actually still a niche that an oil burner can fill outside of being relegated to cargo haulers. And that niche is by being an integral part of quite the masterful highway mile-muncher, as this writer had managed to haul this behemoth of an SUV from KL to JB with just over a quarter of a tank of diesel!

Editor’s Note: For those expecting the comprehensive Automacha review of this recently facelifted Santa Fe, that will be available with an upcoming test of its hybrid variant. This article here instead is a shorter recap story highlighting the many great attributes this writer enjoyed with this diesel variant of Hyundai SUV while solo cannonballing from KL to JB (and back again) over 48 hours.

Now, understandably, cynics might quickly point out that the rather impressive fuel economy claim made above is somewhat skewed by the Santa Fe’s rather large 67-litre fuel tank. And yes, before anyone asks, it is also worth mentioning that this particular KL-JB road trip was indeed a solo endeavour too, which does further tilt the fuel efficiency numbers slightly in its favour.

That said, these points should not detract from the fact that the Santa Fe is still a genuinely efficient highway cruiser. It averaged an impressive 6.5 l/100 km (15.4 km/l) during his round trip journey south, and this is even when the driver wasn’t exactly pussy-footing around in the aim of maximising economy as well, with vehicle speed being kept at a consistent 110 km/h (or perhaps allegedly around 40+ over) while cruising on the PLUS.

The final results after the round trip of KL-JB-KL, with a bit of meandering around each location included.

Moreover, this impressive fuel economy doesn’t come at the expense of performance or refinement either, as this oil burner under the Santa Fe’s hood is equal parts quiet as it is efficient. While there is a slight diesel clatter at idle, it becomes virtually inaudible once this Hyundai is on the highway.

On the topic of noise (or the lack thereof) too, the Santa Fe’s general cabin insulation is commendable. Wind and road noise are well suppressed, even at speeds above the legal limit. The standard 6-speaker sound system is decent enough to drown out what little noise does creep in as well. A little bit more insulation on the roof, would be nice though, as the rain does twang a bit more on it than what is typically expected in a premium automobile.

In further heaping praise on how this diesel behemoth performs on the highway meanwhile, the Santa Fe’s high driving position provides a commanding view of the road ahead. Its large size also naturally sees for it to not be bothered by any pesky tailgaters sticking to its rump, while its aggressive front-end styling ensures that slower-moving traffic in the fast lane is more inclined to move aside as this giant SUV hoves into view.

As for how it actually drives on the other hand, the Santa Fe is unashamedly a comfort-oriented 7-seater SUV. This means that its brakes are on the softer side, and the steering is somewhat vague. However, these traits actually make it an ideal highway mile-muncher, allowing for a relaxed and effortless drive.

The confidence-inspiring standard four-wheel drive on this diesel variant further enhances its highway credentials too, keeping the Santa Fe resolutely planted and stable regardless of speed – even when mother nature decides to turn the road ahead into a shallow lake. One slight critique though on the way it handles on the highway is that its generally composed ride does become slightly pogo-y over longer undulating stretches of road, though this is largely mitigated by its rather squidgy seats.

And continuing on within the Santa Fe here, the cabin of this Hyundai is a pleasant place to wile away the hours. Some may argue that its interior design looks a tad dated — fair, given that this iteration has been around since 2018 (and there’s already a newer generation on the market) — but credit where it is due, it still boasts all the bells and whistles expected of a premium automobile.

Among the more noteworthy bits of kit in this particular variant include a 12.3-inch fully digital driver’s display, an 8-inch central infotainment screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a heads-up display, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, dual-zone climate control, a wireless charging pad, and rear window blinds.

It has to be said also that in spite of its dated aesthetic, everything within still nevertheless looks and feels decently premium. All its doors shut with a solid thud, its seats are oh so cushy and its leather upholstery is oh so soft, all its switchgear are also well weighted and all major touchpoints generally feel nice to the touch.

Blessed it be too that most of its cabin controls in this Santa Fe are still on physical buttons, which makes them oh so easy to use! And this rings especially true of its ADAS tech, with its Smart Cruise Control adaptive cruise and auto steer being delightfully smooth and intelligent in its operation. This writer can personally attest to there being long highway stretches where it was possible to simply sit back and relax, while the car did most of the work.

One other rather neat feature also with its adaptive cruise that bears mentioning is that auto steer can be activated independently. This means that the driver has control to be more gentle in building speed on the highway relative to the car’s own cruise control, while the car still takes the wheel for them. And while on the topic of its ADAS tech, it would be remissed to point out Hyundai’s excellent blind spot monitoring camera as well, which displays its feed through the digital dials!

In reaching for a conclusion to this Santa Fe Diesel, this writer posits that for those whose second home is the PLUS highway, there might really be no better highway mile-muncher than it, especially at the RM 200,000 price point this particular Hyundai SUV is currently commanding. It is, after all, an efficient, comfortable and powerful cruiser that offers a commanding presence on the road, and comes packed with enough tech to help make any interstate jaunt as painless as possible.

Though perhaps the more important takeaway is that as evidenced by the Santa Fe Diesel’s incredible fuel economy while on the cruise, there is still a niche where an oil-burner may be the way to go for some people. And with petrol subsidies set to be removed on the horizon too, some might even find that having a car that accepts the black pump may actually be financially advantageous in the long run.

Odds & Ends

This is perhaps a quirk of this particular test car, but all of its exterior cameras are prone to having water stick on its lens it, which does render it useless in the wet. A bit of RainX on it will likely solve this issue though.

The next track button on the multi-function steering wheel of this Hyundai is not the left-right toggle, but an up-down unit where down is next track while up is previous.

Activation of start stop in the Santa Fe diesel cuts the air-conditioning too…

There is a readout on the digital dial that lets one know which setting the lights and wiper are in when toggling them. A small touch, but a neat one nonetheless.