Hyundai Santa Fe gets new engines for 2010

The first new engine is a 2.4-litre DOHC Theta II Inline four-cylinder engine that produces 175bhp and 229Nm of torque. This unit replaces the existing 2.7-litre V6 engine that produced 185bhp and 248Nm of torque.

Despite the smaller engine size, Hyundai says that the new unit can accelerate faster and provide better fuel economy than the outgoing engine, although it did not reveal exact figures. The new engine can be had in front-wheel-drive and is mated to Hyundai’s new six-speed automatic transmission with Shiftronic.

The other new engine is a 3.5-litre V6 Lambda II unit that replaces the previous 3.3-litre V6 Lambda powerplant, and the new engine produces 34bhp more than before, for a final power output of 276bhp and 336Nm of torque.

Aside from the new engines, the Santa Fe has also received a mild exterior makeover with new bumper fascias, fog lights, body side mouldings, wheels and grille for 2010. Other new equipment includes the fuel economy indicator on automatic transmission models, rollover sensors for the side curtain airbags and a new touch screen navigation system.