The All-New design of the Hyundai Santa Fe GLS 2.2L Premium 6AT 4WD got me at “hello” and caught my undivided attention instantly.  The 7.5J x 19 ten spoke petal design alloy wheels and 235/55R19 tires, combined with the rear stylish twin exhaust finishers gave this sport utility vehicle a sporty yet stylish look. 

As I entered the vehicle and familiarized myself with the control switch locations.  I had to get used to the (EPB) electronic parking brake located on the left lower side of the automatic transmission selector, to operate simply flick the switch up and it’s activated—typical of some European vehicles.  I felt totally in command when seated on the driver’s seat after effortlessly adjusting the height, fore & aft, recline and lumbar using the easy to reach levers from the left side of the seat.  The cream colored leather trim matched the dashboard and door panels to create a two-tone look of the interior, adding a feel of luxury and superior comfort.  Inside the cabin, cup and bottle holders are abundant; a cooler box was provided; there was ample leg, head and shoulder room for the 2nd row.  The 3rd row was a bit tight but the forward/backward slide mechanism for the 2nd row, was standard to give more leg space for the last row passengers.  The dual full auto air conditioning with cluster ionizer was super cool and air vents were well distributed inside the vehicle.  The panoramic sunroof during the day could be shielded from the sun rays with a sunshade, for night driving the sunshade could be rolled back to have a moonlight ambiance. For passengers who prefer to converse with one another, a convenient conversation mirror was located above the rear view mirror.  The driver or passenger in the front need not twist and turn their heads to look in the back.
Inside the vehicle with the engine on idle, I realized that there was very minimal engine noise and vibration—for that matter, I hardly noticed the diesel engine.  The quick acceleration of the All-New Hyundai Santa Fe GLS 2.2L Premium 6AT 4WD, set the back of my head flat on the headrest.  This was mainly due to the maximum torque of 421nm/1800-2500rpm with a maximum power of 194.3hp/3800rpm.  When I tackled turns at extra-legal speed it kept all wheels on the ground with hardly any body roll. While the 5.45m minimum turning radius, made an impression this vehicle was not that huge after all. The motor driven power steering had three modes normal, comfort and sport, depending on the driver’s choice. When combined driving was necessary, from fast then slow and then fast again, I felt the turbo lag very minimal due to (eVGT) electronic variable geometry turbocharger. The H-type 6-speed automatic transmission with manual mode reacted precisely to my demand.  I did not encounter any problems with the brakes—it was nail pounding.  The Hyundai Santa Fe 2.2 CRDi 4wd had all wheel disc brakes with ABS and EBD.  Considering the size of this vehicle, parking in tight spaces was not a problem with rear parking sensors and camera with center dashboard monitor to assist. For speed and comfort the All-New Hyundai Santa Fe GLS 2.2L Premium 6AT 4wWD is an option to consider.

This Sport Utility Vehicle from Mazda can accommodate 5 passengers including the driver with versatility and can provide multiple cargo and seat configuration. From the rear and through the tailgate the rear seat could be folded separately by using a lever located on each rear side panel of the vehicle while the tonneau cover could be left drawn when gathering stuff from the boot, it simply lifts up with the tailgate. When seated at the helm of the driver seat, comfort was not an option but for an enthusiast, more side upper body support would be ideal while the rest of the passengers were pampered with substantial leg, elbow and most of all, head room. Stow away compartments were located inside the cabin in different shapes and sizes to fit everything possible, just to prevent possible clutter. The leather wrapped steering wheel that could be tiltable and telescopic with audio control and cruise control has a diameter size that was easy to grip on while driving normally and at extra-legal speeds on twisty roads. The instrument cluster could provide more than usual information to the driver regarding the status of the vehicle, like kilometers to empty, outside temperature and much more. The climate control dual zone air-conditioning system with air quality sensor could cool the cabin sufficiently, while the audio delivered from the in-dash radio, CD player with MP3 CD capability, aux in, Bluetooth with USB wired to 6-speakers strategically located inside the cabin can provide listening pleasure to all passengers for that relaxed feeling while on a road trip.
It has a fantastic car-like handling in spite of the vehicle height, the low roof line for a more aerodynamic design without sacrificing cabin load capability and of course the front fascia that has the distinct Mazda look with the “M” badge on the center grill that for this writer looked like wings. The projector type halogen headlamp has sufficient density even on rainy nights more so when assisted by the front fog lamps.
Such a well thought vehicle and this writer is talking about, none other than the 2013 Mazda CX5 2.0L MT with Skyactiv Technology.

A good number of Peugeot vehicles are now seen on the road. For Motorists who would like a European Crossover for a fraction of the price of its European competitors, then the Peugeot 3008 1.6L e-HDi Allure is and most definitely the answer. From up front the distinct huge badge was stamped over the front grill, while the aerodynamic front windshield angle could cut through the wind with minimal drag. The doors were designed to open wide for easy access and same thing with the tailgate that has an upper and lower case for stress-free loading.
Inside, the dark colored leather interior has an odor, that signifies the scent of luxury and when seated, the multi-function power seat adjusts height and lumbar, which can very well aid an average height driver to have a clear view of the road ahead. The rear seat that could split fold 60/40 lays down flat and could be set at the same level as the trunk. A very appreciative function (when with kids in the cabin) was the child proof door and window lock that could be controlled by the driver using the button located on the door window control panel. The cool dual zone air-conditioning system together with the 6-speaker sound system plus the ultra-wide panoramic roof can definitely keep vehicle occupants occupied, most especially during bumper to bumper traffic. The ride was firm but comfortable, on straights and terrific when tackling turns, the vehicle hardly leaned which for this writer was fantastic especially on quick maneuvers, although if the driver gets overconfident an ESP (Electronic Stability Program) comes as standard and ready to assist as the situation arises. Under the bonnet of the Peugeot 3008 Allure, a 1.6 Liter 4-inline DOHC 16 valve turbo-charge diesel engine bolted to a 6-speed automatically controlled manual transmission with stop-start system and paddle shift driven to the front wheels. That could deliver a maximum output of 112hp/4000rpm and a maximum torque of 240nm/1400rpm. To put this vehicle to a sure stop the front ventilated disc brake and rear solid disc brakes combined does the job right and to avoid locking the brakes, ABS (antilock brake system) comes standard. A lot of features like the environment friendly diesel particulate filter, electric parking brakes and hill start assist, distance alert on the head-up display, the e-HDi system that shuts down the vehicle when on idle lowers harmful CO2 emissions and more are inside the Peugeot 3008 Allure, all as standard.