2010 Hyundai Santa Fe Crossover: Might be in India by August 2010

Time and again, Hyundai Santa Fes have been spotted testing on the Bangalore-Madras highway, undisguised. A possible explanation would be direct imports but who really, in their right frame of mind would bring a Korean soft roader home when other alternates exist right here in India?

A more plausible explanation for this is that these soft roaders could have been brought into India to ferry Hyundai India officials around.

Or so we thought till late last week, when a birdie close to Hyundai India told us that the Sante Fe might just see an Indian launch, and all this, by August-September of this year. Now, that really perked things up for us till the next big wave swept us off our feet. The Hyundai Sante Fe could be priced close to 18-20 Lakhs, and this really pricks the bubble. Now, does Hyundai really expect Indians to look over Brand Toyota and the mighty Fortuner to really give the Santa Fe a fighting chance at the hustings?

No sir, we don;t think so. While the specifications of the Hyundai Santa Fe Crossover are unknown at the moment, the top of the line 2.2 Liter CRDE R-Line Diesel pumping out 200 Bhp nestling in the Indian Santa Fe’s engine bay would be a long shot. Instead, Hyundai India could play value and plonk the Sonata’s 2 Liter, 148 Bhp CRDE Diesel engine into the Santa Fe’s engine bay.

While that step won’t make you grin every time you ride the torque curve, you’ll certainly laugh all the way to the bank as assembling the Santa Fe in Hyundai’s Irungattukottai plant off Chennai and using the Sonata’s diesel engine, could result in the Santa Fe’s price being reduced a competitive INR 15-16 Lakhs. At that kind of price, the Hyundai Santa Fe has all the making of a giant killer as most Indians still buy SUVs to showboat or hustle pesky auto ricks than to plug mud or ford streams.

2010 Hyundai Santa Fe Crossover India Photo Gallery

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