Geneva Motor Show 2018: New Hyundai Santa Fe to make debut

Hyundai will launch the new generation Santa Fe at the Geneva Motor Show in March. Few details have yet been announced, but we're expecting a £33,000 price tag.

Hyundai's flagship model is being shaken up for the first time since 2012 and it looks, well, very brown. The new Santa Fe will be revealed at a special world premiere event later this month, before making its full public debut at the Geneva Motor Show 2018. 

Displaying slim headlights, a large grille and big wheelarches, the first official pictures of the fourth generation Santa Fe show a noticeable upgrade from the previous model. In fact, it looks like a beefier version of Hyundai's new, smaller SUV - the Kona. 

With a length of 4770 mm and a width of 1890 mm, the new incarnation is longer and wider than the outgoing model, with Hyundai saying the seven-seater will have more refinement and comfort.

>> Geneva Motor Show 2018: Skoda's hybrid concept Vision X

The Santa Fe's interior has been modernised and simplified. There's a floating tablet infotainment system, as well as some horizontal vents, a new steering wheel and an instrument cluster with a digital display.

In terms of safety features, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist is a Hyundai first. When reversing out of areas with low visibility, the system not only warns the driver if vehicles approach from the side – it also applies the brakes automatically.

The newly-introduced Safety Exit Assist, which builds on Hyundai's current SmartSense assistance tech, temporarily locks the doors when it senses a vehicle approaching from behind. This removes the likelihood of a passenger opening the door into the path of an oncoming car.

The current Santa Fe only offers a 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel in the UK, offering 194PS and all-wheel-drive. So far, nothing has been confirmed for the new model, but further details will be revealed at the world premiere later this month.