Test drive Hyundai Santa Fe, Seat Tarraco: 7-seater diesel SUVs
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Test drive Hyundai Santa Fe, Seat Tarraco: 7-seater diesel SUVs

Test drive Hyundai Santa Fe, Seat Tarraco: 7-seater diesel SUVs

Koreans have not attracted cheap buyers for a long time - but what are the Spaniards doing?

Proud and confident like the giants of high-end SUVs, practical and versatile like the mid-range vans: the Hyundai Santa Fe and Seat Tarraco offer the best of both worlds. We have been testing them for a long time, switch from one to another, and show which one is better.

Scene 150: Although we were told otherwise, the Seat Tarraco arrives for comparison tests with a 190 hp TDI engine. A more powerful version with 2.2 hp. not available as of testing date. Equally limited is the choice of the Hyundai Santa Fe, whose only diesel version with dual transmission and automatic transmission is powered by a 200 CRDi engine producing XNUMX hp.

Thus, we no longer need to think a lot about these inequalities, which in Hyundai's case also apply to equipment. If you simply mark the “Premium Seven” (seven-seater version) in the price list, you will be able to order at most an additional panoramic roof and metal varnish, because otherwise everything is standard. For 53 euros.

Tarraco will be much cheaper - not only because it has a weaker version of the bike. Even with the best diesel engine, it will cost 43 euros, about 800 less than the Santa Fe, and for a test car with 10 hp, dual transmission and Xcellence equipment, prices start at 000 euros - plus 150 euros. for a seven-seater package.

At this level of equipment, the Seat model is really not as extravagantly equipped as its Korean competitor, but by no means naked and barefoot. For example, three-zone air conditioning comes standard, as are 19-inch alloy wheels, adaptive cruise control, drive profile selection or keyless entry, and a power-operated touch-sensitive tailgate. Combined with the Infotain Plus Business Package, which costs € 2090 (navigation, music system, digital radio), a few wishes remain unfulfilled.

You can also ditch the adaptive suspension, which is called DCC in VW jargon, but for €940 it gives the Tarraco an extremely balanced ride comfort - not too soft, but pleasantly firm, responsive and successfully suppresses excessive body movements. . In direct comparison, Hyundai does not show such talent. It is true that he seems softer overall, but this gives him a certain tendency to tremble, which can cause illness in more sensitive people. In addition, the suspension elements do not respond as well to smaller irregularities. And the fact that the Santa Fe still has a very cozy atmosphere is due to the soft upholstery and leather front seats.

In the rear, however, on the third row folding chairs, both models feel more of a lack of comfort. The boarding school is convenient only for children and short adults with a talent for gymnasts. The same goes for all stays in narrow seats. They are great if you need to take an extra passenger with you from time to time. But if you often travel with a large family or group of friends, you may have to opt for a minibus or van.

Cozy Hyundai

The shorter seat has more luggage space, while the Hyundai has more passenger space. The extravagant width of the cabin and the high, floating headlining, combined with standard leather upholstery, give Santa Fe a luxury car feel not found in the Tarraco. Considering the austerely simple interior with textile upholstery, the extra € 1500 for treated animal skins is arguably a justifiable expense, especially since the hull as a whole is very meticulously crafted and mostly made from high quality materials.

On closer inspection, the Hyundai model gives the impression that it is not as attentive to detail, but overall is richer and more luxuriously furnished. In general, there is something American about the driving experience - so judging by the model name fits the car. The Santa Fe turns corners a bit sloppily, and the steering system, while light and precise, doesn't create a full feel of road contact and traction.

All this while driving faster makes you think of phlegmatic reluctance – until you look at the graphs with the measured data on the laptop screen. Here the picture is completely different - every time a heavy Hyundai flies between the pylons with an idea faster than a Seat model. On the other hand, the Spaniard feels significantly more agile and alive while driving, the steering is more precise and more susceptible to feedback, everything feels much lighter and more agile. In addition, Tarraco weighs almost 100 kg less, 3,5 centimeters shorter and three centimeters shorter.

However, the reason he is a little slower in slalom and avoids obstacles is probably due to the hasty intervention of the stabilization program. This is of no practical importance, because both SUV models are truly exemplary on the road, show practically no noticeable reaction to changes in dynamic load and, thanks to the dual transmission, only encounter traction problems in exceptional cases.

Economy seat

The braking systems of both cars leave the same positive impression. After all, great progress has been made in this area, especially in the SUV segment. Modern compact and mid-size SUVs, like the ones we test, now stop at over 10 g of negative acceleration, a value that was once considered the benchmark for sports cars. This means that when braking at 100 km/h, both models freeze in place after 36 meters of braking distance – and almost simultaneously.

Both models have a solid arsenal of electronic active safety assistants. As you know, today adaptive cruise control is almost mandatory, the same goes for devices that monitor compliance and change lanes. They are also vigilant to ensure the maximum safety of test participants - they even went a little overboard at Tarraco. Here, the standard active belt tension assistant alerts you to take control, even if you haven't let go of the steering wheel at all. In some cases, the system has initiated a warning stop without appeal.

Good and easy control of all systems in the car has already proven itself as one of Hyundai's strengths, and Santa Fe is no exception. True, in the spirit of the times it does not look as great as large touch surfaces and talkative voice assistants with acute hearing, but it is incredibly useful for safely controlling functions in the car.

Nearly all of this works just as well with the Seat – partly because here you can choose another infotainment system from VW's rich selection, which has two old-fashioned rotary buttons on either side of the monitor. And here the rule applies - not so fashionable, but effective.

Have we forgotten something? Oh yeah, stories. Perhaps the reason is that, for one thing, powerful diesels are still a great engine for large cars, especially if both meet the Euro 6d-Temp standard. Secondly, they work so well and discreetly.

The Seat block stroke is a little smoother and quieter, and the Hyundai engine delivers better dynamic performance. But the measured and perceived discrepancies are much smaller than would be expected with a difference of 50 hp. and 100 Nm. Subjectively, the Tarraco is even perceived as more agile, which is likely due to the sometimes rather playfully shifting up and down automatic transmission. It is also more economical - the difference of 0,7 liters per 100 km is not so small. So the last scene is a happy ending for the Seat Tarraco.

Text: Heinrich Lingner

Photo: Ahim Hartmann

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