2024 Hyundai Santa Fe spied and imagined with boxy new look

The next-gen 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe has been spied in testing, hinting at a dramatic change in direction.

In its new fifth-generation form, the 2024 Santa Fe will take on a proper 'two-box' look, throwing out all the curves and deep angles of recent Hyundai models.

The vehicle spied here is still draped in heavy camouflage, but it's clear we can expect a design inspired by the big square American SUVs of old, or even the properly boxy, Peter Horbury-designed Ford Flex that was sold in America from 2008 to 2019.

JUMP AHEAD

• Styling
• Powertrains
• Australian timing

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Of course, punters will likely also have thoughts like new-gen Land Rover Defender, with its similar-in-concept boxiness clearly designed to merge the original car's look with a modern approach for a retro-futuristic result.

For the Santa Fe, it's likely to mean a more spacious cabin for families, particularly if what looks to be a longer wheelbase is also part of the equation. That should make the third row a more liveable space, too.

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Styling

What little we can see of the new model's details hints at a square face with H-shaped daytime running lights, which we've worked into our rendering below (and we've set them aglow in the hero image at the top of this story).

Much of our rendering is otherwise speculative, but we expect a fairly tame approach to character lines (rather than the deep origami look of the Tucson and i30 sedan), along with an expansive wraparound look to the glasshouse.

Large grey cladding for the wheel arches can be made out in the new Santa Fe's camouflage gaps, which we've also worked into our rendering.

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Powertrains

Mechanical details are unclear, but it's likely we can again expect at least diesel and hybrid powertrains, if not a continuation of the 200kW/331Nm 3.5-litre petrol V6 offered in front-wheel-drive versions of the current model.

On the diesel and hybrid fronts, the current model is available with a 148kW/440Nm 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel and a 169kW/350Nm 1.6-litre petrol-electric hybrid model, only newly launched.

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When will the new 2024 Santa Fe come to Australia?

Hyundai isn't offering any comment on the new Santa Fe just yet, but we can look to the current range for clues.

The facelifted Santa Fe already on sale was launched here in late 2020, and we generally expect midlife updates to run around three to four years.

On that timeline, the new-generation Santa Fe will likely be revealed in the first quarter of 2023, with Hyundai Australia's previous launch schedules suggesting a local debut would occur either in late 2023 or, more likely, in early 2024.

Watch for more on the new Santa Fe to come in the months ahead. What do you think of its look so far? Tell us in the comments below!

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