Hyundai Santa Fe spotted!

StarScream · 23rd July 2008, 18:07

Yesterday, while driving to work I saw a black Hyundai SUV pull up alongside on the Delhi-Noida toll bridge. First I thought it was a Tucson but as I looked more closely I realized it was the new Santa Fe. This one:

I waited for him to overtake me and then got close. The badging at the back said CRDI - I couldn't read the rest. When the driver realized me tailing him he took off. The car had a strange number plate: NL-05 XXXX.
It was being driven by a youngish guy in a shirt and tie. It seemed to me he was a sales guy taking the new car on the block for a ride.

I guess it's finally coming with a diesel heart. Looked good - big and butch - with good road presence.

Sorry no pics. My Blackberry doesn't have a camera.

Fountainheader · 23rd July 2008, 18:30

NL registration plates are generally found on Oil tankers and other heavy vehicles. Does that actually stand for Nagaland ?

The front looks slightly weird. What is the general perception of the Santa Fe in other countries ?

StarScream · 23rd July 2008, 18:44

its a best seller for Hyundai in the US.

phamilyman · 24th July 2008, 01:33

That is interesting!!

NL is nagaland - very low road tax cost.

for multi axle vehicles, even the 2-3% in mini tax havens around delhi etc is a very big number - lesser than the cost of a small representative office in nagaland

SumitB · 24th July 2008, 11:02

Nagaland is the cheapest to register any vehicle in India. I believe its 5000 for a passenger vehicle (any make, any value, any capacity) and about 10000 or 15000 for a passenger vehicle!

S_budhiraj · 24th July 2008, 11:20

Have seen lot of them in Europe & Dubai, the SUV looks great from rear but unlike the rear it looks awkard from front.

But have heard that it has got a great CRDI heart.

canonball · 24th July 2008, 12:02

Off Topic I saw a recent grey import Land Cruiser in Mumbai with NL plates and a Safari as well. Looks like this is the new destination after the MP/DD/DN locations considered cheaper earlier. wounder how these guys organise the same from Mumbai!!! Given that the cops/revenue commssioners in Mumbai have been clamping down recently how these guys get away?

aaggoswami · 24th July 2008, 13:11

Are there any chance of this SUV coming to India ?
I think this is rare and some one might have imported one.

fx45 · 24th July 2008, 13:13

i feel hyundai should launch the veracruz suv here for aroudn 20 lakh with a crdi engine..

launching Santa Fe here and in this model era.. it looks a bit outdated as it is already sold since many years elsewhere.

blue_pulsar · 24th July 2008, 13:41

Wow, good news. After the Endeavour, Santa Fe is the only vehicle which has those rugged looks! I love it! But I hope its locally assembled.

StarScream · 24th July 2008, 13:54

Given that the plates were Nagaland, where it costs the least to register a car, this was probably an import.
I was hoping I'd caught a test car. That doesn't seem to be the case.
And the status of the Santa Fe coming to India remains a mystery

Elito11 · 24th July 2008, 14:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by StarScream

And the status of the Santa Fe coming to India remains a mystery

I think i had posted this somewhere before on the forum. Hyundai was in limbo over the Santa Fe. They had conducted an extensive market study concering the Sanata fe and had come to the conclusion that for various reasons a mid size softoader the market had a upper limit of 20 lakhs and people were unwilling to pay above that (also maybe because its a Hyundai). However according to Hyundai it was unable to introduce Santa Fe at that price point.

Elito

Zappo · 24th July 2008, 14:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by SumitB

Nagaland is the cheapest to register any vehicle in India. I believe its 5000 for a passenger vehicle (any make, any value, any capacity) and about 10000 or 15000 for a passenger vehicle!

What's wrong with Shillong, Meghalaya in that case Sumit? One of the cars in the family was registered in Shillong some 5 years back because of the simple reason that it costed only some 4000 odd bucks to do so. That too when the car was purchased in Kolkata. It still runs around with its ML-05 board although it has never been to Shillong.

Maverick1977 · 24th July 2008, 14:59

The Santa Fe was displayed at the last autocar show in mumbai. I have taken pics of it. Will post them by evening

ranc · 24th July 2008, 16:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maverick1977

The Santa Fe was displayed at the last autocar show in mumbai. I have taken pics of it. Will post them by evening

Santa Fe was also displayed in the Auto Expo in Jan and I am sure that the pics are already there in that thread.

Btw, Tuscon was car of the year (2006) in US and couldnt sell in India at a price point of 15-16 lakhs. I dont know how a Veracruz the current car of the year will sell at 20 Lakhs.

23rd July 2008, 18:07	#1
StarScream Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Noida/Delhi Posts: 1,263 Thanked: 665 Times	Hyundai Santa Fe spotted! Yesterday, while driving to work I saw a black Hyundai SUV pull up alongside on the Delhi-Noida toll bridge. First I thought it was a Tucson but as I looked more closely I realized it was the new Santa Fe. This one: I waited for him to overtake me and then got close. The badging at the back said CRDI - I couldn't read the rest. When the driver realized me tailing him he took off. The car had a strange number plate: NL-05 XXXX. It was being driven by a youngish guy in a shirt and tie. It seemed to me he was a sales guy taking the new car on the block for a ride. I guess it's finally coming with a diesel heart. Looked good - big and butch - with good road presence. Sorry no pics. My Blackberry doesn't have a camera.
	() Thanks

23rd July 2008, 18:30	#2
Fountainheader Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Silicon Valley Posts: 1,501 Thanked: 13 Times View My Garage	NL registration plates are generally found on Oil tankers and other heavy vehicles. Does that actually stand for Nagaland ? The front looks slightly weird. What is the general perception of the Santa Fe in other countries ?
	() Thanks

23rd July 2008, 18:44	#3
StarScream Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Noida/Delhi Posts: 1,263 Thanked: 665 Times	its a best seller for Hyundai in the US.
	() Thanks

24th July 2008, 01:33	#4
phamilyman Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 5,968 Thanked: 4,642 Times	That is interesting!! NL is nagaland - very low road tax cost. for multi axle vehicles, even the 2-3% in mini tax havens around delhi etc is a very big number - lesser than the cost of a small representative office in nagaland
	() Thanks

24th July 2008, 11:02	#5
SumitB BHPian Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Shillong Posts: 986 Thanked: 263 Times	Nagaland is the cheapest to register any vehicle in India. I believe its 5000 for a passenger vehicle (any make, any value, any capacity) and about 10000 or 15000 for a passenger vehicle!
	() Thanks

24th July 2008, 11:20	#6
S_budhiraj BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Delhi Posts: 275 Thanked: Once	Have seen lot of them in Europe & Dubai, the SUV looks great from rear but unlike the rear it looks awkard from front. But have heard that it has got a great CRDI heart.
	() Thanks

24th July 2008, 12:02	#7
canonball Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,466 Thanked: 205 Times View My Garage	Off Topic I saw a recent grey import Land Cruiser in Mumbai with NL plates and a Safari as well. Looks like this is the new destination after the MP/DD/DN locations considered cheaper earlier. wounder how these guys organise the same from Mumbai!!! Given that the cops/revenue commssioners in Mumbai have been clamping down recently how these guys get away?
	() Thanks

24th July 2008, 13:11	#8
aaggoswami Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Vadodara Posts: 4,982 Thanked: 2,931 Times	Are there any chance of this SUV coming to India ? I think this is rare and some one might have imported one.
	() Thanks

24th July 2008, 13:13	#9
fx45 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: mumbai Posts: 1,823 Thanked: 384 Times	i feel hyundai should launch the veracruz suv here for aroudn 20 lakh with a crdi engine.. launching Santa Fe here and in this model era.. it looks a bit outdated as it is already sold since many years elsewhere.
	() Thanks

24th July 2008, 13:41	#10
blue_pulsar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,112 Thanked: 403 Times	Wow, good news. After the Endeavour, Santa Fe is the only vehicle which has those rugged looks! I love it! But I hope its locally assembled.
	() Thanks

24th July 2008, 13:54	#11
StarScream Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Noida/Delhi Posts: 1,263 Thanked: 665 Times	Given that the plates were Nagaland, where it costs the least to register a car, this was probably an import. I was hoping I'd caught a test car. That doesn't seem to be the case. And the status of the Santa Fe coming to India remains a mystery
	() Thanks

24th July 2008, 14:59	#14
Maverick1977 BHPian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Mumbai Posts: 997 Thanked: 906 Times View My Garage	The Santa Fe was displayed at the last autocar show in mumbai. I have taken pics of it. Will post them by evening
	() Thanks