Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) liked what they saw from the two new feisty upstarts.
Wayne Gerdes -
CleanMPG - Oct. 26, 2012
2013 Hyundai Elantra GT – $19,149 CAN to start and a 33/48 mpgUS city/highway rating on the Transport Canada test cycles (27/39 on our own EPA) when equipped with the 6-speed stick.
The C-segment class favorite takes home Best New Small Car over $21,000 in Canada.
The Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) have awarded the 2013 Elantra GT and 2013 Santa Fe Best New Small Car over $21,000 and Best New SUV/CUV $35,000-$60,000, respectively. In just the past year, Hyundai has earned five AJAC category wins in addition to the title of 2012 Canadian Car of the Year with the Elantra sedan. With these most recent category awards, the Elantra GT and Santa Fe are now in contention for the titles of 2013 Canadian Car and Utility Vehicle of the Year.
Elantra GT and Santa Fe were among the over 60 new models tested by more than 70 automotive journalists during a one-week annual event known as "Test Fest." Hyundai's entries were put to the test in a variety of environments, driven back-to-back with the strongest new competitors in the industry. Each model is comprehensively evaluated in 23 different areas to determine which vehicle is the best new offering in its category. The highly regimented testing method carried out by AJAC is one of the most thorough and transparent in the world.
2013 Hyundai Elantra GT
Look no further than our
Review, Long Term (
The Next 50 Days with the 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT) and even our All-American road trip beginning
here.
2013 Hyundai Santa Fe
The all-new third-generation 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe crossover is five or seven-passenger CUV (Sport and the long wheelbase three-row, Santa Fe). The all-new Santa Fe sports the company’s “Fluidic Sculpture” design language front and center while providing class leading fuel economy when equipped with the Soanta 2.4L GDI engine and 6-speed AT. The all-new 2013 Santa Fe Sport is currently on sale today with the larger LWB variant scheduled to reach dealership showrooms in January of 2013.
The all-new Santa Fe Sport and LWB Santa Fe are the final pieces in Hyundai’s 7/11 product initiative (seven new or redesigned models in 11 months in the 2012 calendar year).
2013 Hyundai Santa Fe
It is a good looker alright.
Santa Fe Design
The “Fluidic Sculpture-II” exterior features new design elements called “Storm Edge”. To create the kinetic illusion, Hyundai use a three-bar hexagonal front grille, LED accents, low stance, rising beltline, and wraparound taillights.
Inside the Santa Fe includes heated rear seats, available eight-way power driver seat, and standard 40:20:40 folding rear seat back. Also new for 2013 is a new seat fabric treatment that provides soil-resistant, anti-odor and anti-static properties for added longevity and livability.
A heated steering wheel and sliding second row seats are optional first-class touches on Santa Fe Sport and Santa Fe Sport 2.0T. The heated steering wheel is also optional on the LWB Santa Fe.
Theta II GDI 2.4L
The Theta II GDI 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with a GDI fuel delivery system right out of the award winning Sonata contributes to improved fuel efficiency and lower emissions in the Santa Fe Sport. The fuel is injected by a camshaft-driven, high pressure pump that operates at pressures up to 2,175 psi. Direct injection also utilizes a higher-than-normal 11.3 compression ratio for increased power and efficiency. When compared to naturally-aspirated engines, this power plant delivers best-in-class I4 horsepower, best-in-class torque and best-in-class power-to-weight ratio. The high-tech, all-aluminum, 16-valve engine also features Dual Continuously Variable Valve Timing (DCVVT) and a Variable Induction System (VIS) for better engine breathing.
6-Speed Automatic Transmission
All the engines are mated to Hyundai’s six-speed automatic transmission with SHIFTRONIC manual control. This transmission offers smooth shifts and a wide ratio spread that suits the engine’s characteristics. An automatic transmission warmer is included to keep the transmission oil at its optimal temperature, which improves real-world fuel economy.
Additionally, all models have an Active ECO System that modifies engine and transmission control to smooth out throttle response and increase real-world fuel economy.
Handling
Hyundai’s all-new Driver Selectable Steering Mode as experienced in the recently driven 2013 Elantra GT (
2013 Hyundai Elantra GT Hatch Details Released) includes three operating modes – Comfort, Normal and Sport. This innovative system allows drivers to adapt Santa Fe Sport and LWB Santa Fe’s steering characteristics to your driving preferences and road conditions. Comfort mode is ideal for city and parking environments, offering the greatest ease of steering with a 10 percent decrease in steering effort from Normal mode. Normal mode is ideal for a mix of driving conditions. Meanwhile, Sport Mode is optimized for higher-speed freeways or winding roads and increases steering effort by 10 percent from Normal mode. The Driver Selectable Steering Mode not only adjusts power assistance levels in each mode, but also adjusts on-center build-up feel and steering build-up curves throughout the steering range, for a very natural and progressive feel. If it is anything like that felt in the Elantra GT, Hyundai has a winning system in its latest CUV on its hands.
Cargo Capacity
The Santa Fe Sport and LWB provide a spacious cabin and 35 cu. ft. of cargo capacity with the seats up!
Interior provides a nice upgrade over the previous generation too!
The LWB three-row Santa Fe offers Hyundai’s first Blindspot Detection System (BDS). This system identifies when a vehicle enters the defined blindspot and provides a warning that a vehicle is approaching.
All FWD models have a standard Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) system, which optimally manages Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and the Motor-Driven electric Power Steering (MDPS).
Santa Fe Sport and LWB Santa Fe feature seven airbags, including side curtain airbags and a driver’s knee airbag. All Santa Fe trims have rollover sensors for the side curtain airbags. When the sensors detect a potential rollover, the control module triggers the head-curtain side airbags and safety belt pre-tensioners to help protect passengers against serious injury.
Santa Fe Sport and LWB Santa Fe also feature a state-of-the-art braking package. The package includes four-wheel disc brakes (12.6 inch front and 11.9 inch rear), an Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) including Brake Assist providing maximum braking force when a panic stop is detected, and Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) to automatically adjust the braking force to front and rear axles based on vehicle loading conditions. Additionally, Santa Fe Sport and the longer Santa Fe offer impressive passive safety features including a Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) system for children’s seats and three-point seatbelts for all positions.
Along with Mazda’s CX-5 and SKYATIV-G, Hyundai’s all-new Santa Fe CUV makes sense for those that need cargo room while still providing at least 40 mpg on the highway. That is right, 40 on the highway and it will be pretty easy to achieve as well.
Linear Mode
