Hyundai Santa Fe Awarded New Zealand's Most Efficient Large SUV

New Zealand – December 04, 2008: Hyundai’s Diesel powered Santa Fe has claimed the large lifestyle vehicle class in the AA Energywise economy rally returning an outstanding fuel economy average of just 5.9 litres per 100km over the four day, 1,641km trial to find New Zealand’s most cost-effective vehicles to operate.

The Santa Fe easily took out class honours ahead of its opponents with better fuel economy and lower emissions, emitting the least amount of CO2 and running at a rate of just 11 cents (NZ) per kilometre in fuel costs.

In terms of fuel consumption and overall environmental impact via CO2 emissions, the 2.2 litre Santa Fe CRDi bettered many entrants competing in the smaller classes - an outstanding achievement for a vehicle with go-anywhere All Wheel Drive capabilities, seating for up to seven people and a towing capacity of 2000kgs (braked trailer).

’We’re thrilled with the result, especially how the Santa Fe did better than many smaller cars from the classes below. That our large Santa Fe is as cheap to run per kilometre as a medium sized sedan shows the ability of Hyundai’s world class Diesel technology to power a much larger and usable vehicle yet still return outstanding fuel economy.’

The Santa Fe CRDi was one of seven Hyundai Diesels in the Energywise Rally, and Hyundai was the only manufacturer to feature a car in every class of the rally. The Hyundai i30 hatch returned a truly frugal 4.1 litres / 100 km, the medium sized Sonata 4.9 litres / 100 km and the large luxury class Grandeur consumed just 6.2 litres / 100 km.

All Hyundai vehicles entered beat the proposed 2015 New Zealand Government target of 170 grams of CO2 per kilometre. The Getz achieved 126 grams / km and the i30’s 108 and 112 grams / km respectively. Even the larger cars came in well under, with the Sonata on 130, the Grandeur on 161 and the Tucson on 151 with victorious Santa Fe on 157grams / km.