What Nissan is comparable to the Hyundai Santa Fe?

Hyundai Santa Fe

Likes

• Wireless charging
• New advanced safety tech
• New grille design

Dislikes

• No high mounted centre console on entry grade
• Curtain airbags don’t cover the third row
• Warranty could be longer

Nissan Qashqai

Likes

• Head-turning looks
• More practical than before
• High level of standard safety

Dislikes

• Australian pricing to be confirmed
• Underpowered engine
• Still using a CVT

Summary

Hyundai Santa Fe

Good timing. Why? Well if you had bought a Santa Fe halfway through 2020, you’d now be driving around in the old one. 

See, Hyundai has just updated the Santa Fe and it’s not a small revision, it’s a pretty significant overhaul which has added a new look, new features, new and refreshed engines and new safety tech. I’m here to tell you all about it.

And I should know, because not only did I go to the Australian launch of updated Santa Fe, where I drove it on beautiful country roads but I also lived with it in Sydney on awful traffic-choked roads.

I drove it in the rain, battled for spaces in multi-level car parks, did the preschool run, the swimming lessons dash, ferried home small trees and cow manure in it (don’t tell Hyundai) and then turned it from a Santa Fe into Santa's sleigh when we did the Christmas presents shopping in it.

Anyway, there’s a lot to tell you. Ready? Let’s go.

Nissan Qashqai

Nissan’s most important model of 2022 isn’t the new Z sports car or even the Navara ute, we’d argue it’s the Qashqai small SUV.

Competing against the likes of the Mazda CX-30, Kia Seltos and Hyundai Kona in one of the hottest segments in Australia, the Qashqai has the potential to sell in big numbers.

Just think about it, when was the last time you went to the shops and didn’t see a small SUV?

The Qashqai also represents the vanguard for a new Nissan, as the first of four all-new models due in Australian showrooms over the next 12-18 months, and will be followed by the aforementioned Z, as well as the X-Trail, Pathfinder and probably the Ariya EV.

So, instead of waiting for this car to come to us, we thought we’d take a trip across the world to see if it lives up to the hype.

Verdict

Hyundai Santa Fe8.1/10

The previous Santa Fe was outstanding among its rivals and this new one in most ways is even better. Yes, I didn’t find the new Santa Fe quite as engaging to drive as the outgoing one, but it’s comfortable and easy to pilot, plus the new features, tech and safety equipment, along with increased practicality make the new version better overall than the old one.

The sweet spot in the range is the Active grade which comes with a proximity key, dual-zone climate control, leather seats, the high mounted centre console and privacy glass without the price tag of the Elite or Highlander.

Nissan Qashqai8.5/10

Forget the Z, GT-R, Leaf or Juke, we reckon the 2022 Qashqai perfectly encapsulates the new Nissan.

Its styling is bold and confident, it’s driving dynamics are objectively good, and it sets a new high watermark for what customers should expect from standard safety equipment.

The missing piece of the puzzle is, of course, pricing, but if Nissan can keep the asking price relatively affordable, the Qashqai could be Australia’s new small SUV yardstick.

Design

Hyundai Santa Fe8/10

This updated model looks so different from the front that we were stopped in a car park by another family in a Santa Fe who asked if this was the new-generation car. 

The answer is no, but it’s a really big update which has added a new rectangular grille, inset LED headlights, T-Shaped LED running lights and new tail-lights which are now joined by a horizontal reflective strip.   

This generation Santa Fe has always been a good looking mid-sized SUV and the new face lands a punch filled with attitude. 

It’s interesting that this grille is a departure from the Y-shaped frame used across the brand’s range during the past decade and if I didn’t know better it could be a glimpse of the changing face of Hyundai.

The Santa Fe isn’t huge, but you should check to see if it’s going to fit in your garage. A glance at the dimensions reveals it’s grown in length by 15mm and now measures 4785mm end-to-end. With roof rails the Santa Fe stands 1710mm tall and it’s 1900 mm across.

From the outside all Santa Fes look pretty much the same, but inside there are two quite different cockpits. Look at the images of the entry-grade Santa Fe’s dashboard, now look at the Highlander’s. Yep the entry grade Santa Fe doesn’t get the ‘floating’ high-mounted centre console which is on all the other grades above. 

That’s a shame, as the new centre console not only looks great but puts the buttons for climate and media within easier reach. The shifting buttons on the raised centre console also look beautiful – the entry-grade misses out on this, too.

Still, the cabin, even on the entry-grade car, is a premium feeling place with the layered effect to the design of the dash we first saw in 2018 when this generation Santa Fe was introduced. The range-topping Highlander goes ‘next level’ with Nappa leather seats and the virtual instrument cluster.

The Highlander is the grade I spent the most time in and while the cabin looks posh, the interior feels tough. Our car had the 'Camel' Nappa leather, but the Highlander also can be had with black Nappa leather at no extra cost. The standard black suede headliner is also a nice touch on this grade.

The entry-grade Santa Fe has black and grey cloth upholstery (see the images), the Active gets black leather, while the Elite comes in a choice of black or 'Cognac' leather.

There are eight exterior paint colours. The two standard ones are: 'Glacier White' and 'White Cream.' The premium colours are: 'Typhoon Silver', 'Magnetic Force', 'Phantom Black', 'Taiga Brown', 'Rain Forest' and 'Lagoon Blue.' 

Nissan Qashqai9/10

Can you believe Nissan’s second-generation Qashqai has been on sale in Australia since 2014?

And after eight years, the small SUV has received a nip here and a tuck there to keep things fresh. But let’s be honest, this new-generation model is exactly what the doctor ordered.

It looks sleek, modern and confident while retaining that familiar Nissan DNA, and is now a genuine rival to head-turning SUVs like the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross and Peugeot 2008.

The first thing you’ll notice at the front is the new 'V-motion' front grille, which blends together with boomerang-shaped headlights and daytime running lights.

You’ve also got the bonnet lines feeding right into the grille and a heavily sculpted bumper that combine for a sharp and angular face.

In profile, the high hip line makes the Qashqai look much taller and more substantial than its small SUV size would indicate.

A door scallop also breaks up the huge expanse of metal, while Nissan has kept the black plastic wheelarch cladding to a minimum for a more upmarket look.

This test car’s two-tone paint finish, mixing what Nissan calls 'Fuji Red Sunset' with a contrasting black roof, is also particularly eye catching, while optional 20-inch wheels are fitted.

In the rear, the Qashqai sports a roof-mounted rear spoiler which is reminiscent of a baseball cap being worn backwards.

The chunky rear bumper with a contrasting element makes the Qashqai look a little more rugged, while the new Nissan models also sports the latest automotive design trend of proudly spelling its name with individual lettering across the tailgate.

One of the areas that let the old Qashqai down, especially in the last few years, was its dated cabin design. So, we’re happy to report the new version brings this space well and truly into 2022.

A large part of this is due to the new floating-style multimedia touchscreen system, which cleans up the whole centre stack and looks more Nintendo Switch than Nintendo Gameboy.

The all-digital instrument cluster is also a welcome sight, and features clear, concise and customisable readouts.

Nissan has also lifted the cabin atmosphere with the use of soft-touch blue leather on the dashboard, doors and transmission tunnel, at least in this high-grade variant, and the overall feeling in inside is of modernity and style.

Practicality

Hyundai Santa Fe8/10

I think the Santa Fe can pull off a better balancing act than its mid-sized SUV rivals of being practical while still being stylish.    

There are seven seats as standard and yes that third row isn’t big enough for me, but I’m 191cm (6'3") tall and I can sit behind my driving position in the second row with even more room now in this updated version. Headroom in the second row is also excellent – even with the sunroof.

My six-year old son had no issues climbing in and out of the second row, and those wide opening rear doors offered plenty of space for me to get in and fasten him into his car seat.

The front passenger seat has a power adjustment on the side of the bolster for rear passengers to move it back and forth. Parents beware: kids will be drawn to this and small fingers might get squashed if they play with it.

Boot space with the third row in place remains the same at 130 litres, but with those back seats folded there's 24 litres more space now with a luggage capacity of 571 litres.

The handsfree tailgate opens just by standing next to it with the key in your pockets which sounds brilliantly convenient but there were times when it opened when I didn’t want it to and was just walking past.

Cabin storage is good with cupholders on either side of the third row, two in the second row and another two up front.

There’s a large centre console storage box and medium sized door pockets. And under the floating centre console (on the Active grades up) is an area large enough to stow a small backpack

The upright design of the wireless phone charger with its little trapdoor is ingenious. All Santa Fes come with the wireless charger, plus two USB ports for the second row and two more up front.

There’s dual-zone climate control, and that means no temperature setting for the second row, although there are directional air vents in all three rows.

Nissan Qashqai10/10

Though the Qashqai is classed as a small SUV, it genuinely feels like there is enough room inside to rival some cars a size above.

Part of the reason is the new Qashqai has grown in all dimensions, affording front and rear occupants more space.

The new Qashqai measures 4425mm long, 1835mm wide, 1625mm tall and features a 2665mm wheelbase.

In the front row, there is heaps of head-, shoulder- and legroom, while the seats and steering wheel offer plenty of adjustability for all shapes and sizes.

Storage options range from a bottle-swallowing door bin, two large cupholders, a wireless smartphone tray, and a deep, two-tiered, underarm cubby.

However, it’s in the second row where the Qashqai’s expanded size really makes a difference, especially in legroom.

Head-, and shoulder-room are substantial, too, even in the middle seat, while ISOFIX points means even babies can enjoy the ambiance.

Here you’ll find door pockets that will happily swallow a large bottle, a fold-down armrest with cupholders, map pockets, air vents and charging ports.

Boot space measures a sizeable 504 litres – up a massive 74L over the previous model – thanks to a lower boot floor that also features customisable floorboards.

Stow the split-fold 60/40 second-row seats down, and space swells to 1593L – plenty of room for Ikea furniture, pets or a big-screen TV.

Price and features

Hyundai Santa Fe9/10

The entry-grade Santa Fe is now simply called the Santa Fe and the petrol version costs $44,700. Then, there’s the Active for $48,300, with the Elite next up at $54,300, and at the top of the range is the Highlander for $61,700. These are the prices for the petrol variants, and diesel versions are $3500 more for each. 

Santa Fes with a petrol engine are front-wheel drive and the diesel-powered versions are all-wheel drive.

New features on the entry-grade Santa Fe include: super bright LED headlights (the previous entry-grade non-LED headlights were really dim), there’s the 8.0-inch screen (an inch bigger than before); and there’s a wireless charger now. 

The rest of the standard features list includes cloth seats, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, air con, leather steering wheel, drive modes, rear parking sensors, roof rails, a rear-view camera and 17-inch alloys.

There’s also new safety tech which I’ll cover in the section below.

Stepping up to the Active adds 18-inch alloy wheels, leather seats, a proximity key, front parking sensors, rear privacy glass, dual-zone climate control, puddle lamps, electronic child locks, rain-sensing wipers and power folding mirrors. 

The Active also gets new stuff in the form of paddle shifters, plus a raised centre console with gear shifting buttons (and a terrain mode control). 

The Elite sits above the Active and scores new equipment such as 20-inch alloy wheels, a 10.25-inch media display, and a Harman Kardon stereo. This is on top of its previous standard features such as sat nav, digital radio, power driver’s seat, power tailgate, luggage net and rear door blinds.

The top-of-the-range Highlander gets the most new stuff. There are 20-inch alloy wheels (19-inch on the old car). Also new is the Nappa leather interior, the 10.25-inch media screen, a Harman Kardon stereo, and a 12.3-inch fully digital instrument cluster and remote smart parking assist. 

That’s on top of other standard equipment such as the panoramic sunroof, head-up display, heated and ventilated front seats, heated steering wheel and heated rear outboard seats, plus LED tail-lights.

All Santa Fes come with seven seats, too. 

Is it good value? The prices have gone up a smidge, but the value is outstanding.

Rivals include the Mazda CX-8, Nissan X-Trail, Skoda Kodiaq and the Kia Sorento.

Nissan Qashqai7/10

How much will this new Qashqai cost when it lands in Australian showrooms?

Right now, no one but Nissan Australia knows for sure, but we can make a few educated guesses.

The current line-up starts at $28,590, before on-road costs, but that’s for the entry-level manual, which will no longer be offered with this new-generation Qashqai.

That means pricing could jump up to around $34,000, and could stretch all the way to about $44,000, spread over four grades – the ST, ST+, ST-L and Ti.

But buyers will be compensated with a long list of standard kit that comes with the new Qashqai.

Standard equipment on the 2022 Qashqai includes 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, a 7.0-inch digital instrument display, cloth interior, push-button start, and an 8.0-inch multimedia colour touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.

Stepping up to the ST+ adds 18-wheel wheels, rain-sensing wipers, LED fog lamps and a 9.0-inch multimedia unit with wireless Apple CarPlay and satellite navigation.

Buyers opting for the ST-L will be treated to 19-inch wheels, dual-zone climate control, part-leather seat trim, a wireless smartphone charger, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel and auto high beam.

But the top-of-the-range 2022 Qashqai, known as the Ti, similar to the one we have on test, scores all the fruit, adding a panoramic glass roof, powered tailgate, leather interior, massive 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 10.8-inch head-up display and a 10-speaker Bose sound system.

The most expensive variant of the Qashqai basically has everything you’d want in a new car in 2022, but it’s great to see even entry-level Qashqais still get important tech like smartphone mirroring.

Engine & trans

Hyundai Santa Fe8/10

You can choose between a diesel or a petrol engine to power your Santa Fe, and a hybrid powertrain is coming soon.

The petrol is a refreshed version of the previous 3.5-litre V6 making 200kW/331Nm, while the 2.2-litre diesel is new and produces 148kW/440Nm.

Also new is the eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission found in the diesel variant. It’s a wet-clutch type of DCT and it’s smooth and quick.

The V6 has a regular eight-speed automatic.

The hybrid power train arriving in 2021 looks to be promising and it'll be all-wheel drive.

Nissan Qashqai8/10

Powering this Qashqai is a 1.3-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder with 12-volt mild-hybrid technology, outputting 116kW and 270Nm.

With drive sent to the front wheels via a continuously variable transmission, or CVT, this Qashqai can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 9.2 seconds.

Look, it’s not blisteringly quick, but it isn’t trying to be. This engine and transmission get the job done.

Australian cars however, won’t be getting this particular engine.

All Australian Qashqais at launch will be equipped with a 1.3-litre turbo-petrol engine sans the mild-hybrid technology, with outputs pegged at 110kW/250Nm.

Though figures are down compared with overseas models, the 2022 Qashqai does produce 4kW and 50Nm more than the outgoing model, which used a 2.0-litre, naturally aspirated engine.

However, the new Qashqai still lags behind rivals like the 130kW/265Nm 1.6-litre-equipped Kia Seltos and 139kW/252Nm 2.5-litre-equipped Mazda CX-30.

All Aussie cars will also be front-wheel drive and fitted with a CVT as the base six-speed manual has been discontinued.

Nissan has also confirmed an e-Power variant that will launch in late 2022, which uses a 1.5-litre petrol engine to charge a lithium-ion battery and an electric motor that drives the wheels.

Total outputs in the e-Power grade will be 140kW/330Nm, so those wanting a bit more performance in the new Qashqai might want to wait.

Fuel consumption

Hyundai Santa Fe8/10

Hyundai says that after a combination of open and urban roads the V6 petrol should use 10.5L/100km. That’s pretty thirsty.

The diesel engine goes through less, even though it’s powering all four wheels. Hyundai says the mileage after the same sort of combination of roads should be 6.1L/100km. 

I covered 174 km in my fuel test of the diesel Highlander and the trip computer said I used an average of 8.1L/100km.

A hybrid variant makes so much sense on an SUV which is likely to spend a lot of time in urban and suburban settings and we're expecting it to be highly fuel efficient. 

Nissan Qashqai8/10

Official fuel consumption figures for this Nissan Qashqai are pegged at 6.4 litres per 100km, while our time with the car yielded a figure of 7.3L/100km covering a healthy mix of inner-city, freeway and country driving.

This is despite the 12-volt mild-hybrid tech that powers the Qashqai’s electrical systems at low speeds, which Nissan says reduces engine running time, and therefore, fuel consumption.

To be fair, our driving skewed more heavily towards country and freeway trips, so if we stayed in the inner city a little longer, our fuel consumption average might be a bit lower.

Strangely, Australian Qashqai’s without the mild-hybrid tech boast an even lower fuel consumption average of 6.1L/100km, but we’ll have to wait to drive one on local soil to see how accurate that claim is.

Driving

Hyundai Santa Fe8/10

This generation Santa Fe came out in 2018 and since then I’ve covered thousands of kilometres in all grades in every engine variant. I’ve also driven and tested its competitors and it has stood out from them in terms of how good it is to drive. 

Not many of its competitors were able to offer the combination of connection, comfort and easiness which the Santa Fe offered.

For this updated Santa Fe only the diesel variants were available to drive at the Australian launch and I tested the top-of-the-range Highlander and the entry-grade Santa Fe. 

To me this new Santa Fe rides more comfortably than that previous model, but offers less of that connected feel that made the outgoing car feel planted and sporty. This may be down to a different suspension set-up. 

Hyundai told us that for this new Santa Fe, rather than have an Australian-specific suspension set-up (as with the previous car), this new one has a global, one-size-fits-all tune. Hyundai still had an input, but the tune isn’t exclusively for Australia.

Yup, the last Santa Fe was so good that this new one has big shoes to fill, and to me it can’t quite match its predecessor’s all-rounder driving qualities.

Still, the new Hyundai Santa Fe is better to drive than almost all of its competitors, with good engines and transmissions, great visibility, and ease of control which makes it a breeze to pilot anywhere from dirt roads and motorways to car parks.

Nissan Qashqai8/10

The new-generation Qashqai represents Nissan turning over a new Leaf (pun intended) and nowhere is this more evident than from the driver’s seat.

For a small SUV the old model was fun to drive, but let down immensely by a dated powertrain.

This new engine fixes some of the problems, and thankfully makes use of a turbocharger for a big boost in torque that is available much sooner in the rev range.

The result is a punchier-feeling car, especially around town, and it makes moving about in traffic feel that much snappier and more enjoyable.

We’re also happy to report that Nissan has retuned the CVT, making it feel much more organic and natural than it did before. But there's still a bit of lag off the line and a rubbery feel when pushing the Qashqai hard.

All Australian models feature a multi-link rear suspension set-up (yes!) and the Qashqai is well-tuned to soak up small bumps, while also offering plenty of feedback to the driver.

The steering can stray a little to the numb side, but it's never vague, and the lightness is an advantage when manoeuvring around town.

Overall, everything just feels nice, predictable and unintimidating – exactly what you want out of a small SUV like the Nissan Qashqai.

The new multimedia system is also super responsive, and is displayed on a much larger screen than before.

This means there is less lag when using things like the satellite navigation, and retention of physical buttons for the climate controls is a plus.

The massive glasshouse also means great visibility all around, while the panoramic glass roof is just plain awesome, especially when exploring country back roads.

Of note, though, road and wind noise can stray towards the ‘too loud and annoying’ side of things. But this only happens at freeway speeds and on coarse road surfaces, and could be an effect of our test car’s 20-inch wheels.

It will be interesting to see how much different the engine found in Australian models will be compared to this one with mild-hybrid tech.

Overall, though, this new-gen Qashqai is not only a clear step up over the old one, but a genuine rival to something like the Kia Seltos or Mazda CX-30.

Safety

Hyundai Santa Fe8/10

For a car that’s not a new-generation model there’s been a lot of changes and this goes for the safety tech as well.

Previously, all Santa Fes came with AEB, effective from 10-65km/h  for pedestrian and cyclists, and up to 75km/h for cars. Now there’s a 'Junction Turning' function from the entry-grade up. 

This means that when you’re turning right at an intersection with your indicator on the Santa Fe will brake to avoid a collision with an oncoming car, cyclist or crossing pedestrian.  Also new from the entry-grade up is lane following assist.

The Highlander is also given new safety equipment in the form of a blind spot view monitor, and parking collision avoidance

All Santa Fes have adaptive cruise control, and rear cross traffic alert with braking and lane keeping assist.

For child seats there are two ISOFIX points and three top tether mounts across the second row.

A weakness in an otherwise outstanding array of safety equipment is the curtain airbags which don’t completely cover those third-row windows. The Kia Sorento also has this gap in its defences.

Here’s some good news. In a world of space saver spare tyres becoming the disappointing norm, it makes this reviewer’s day knowing Hyundai has made a full-sized spare wheel standard across the Santa Fe range. The spare is located under the car.

The Santa Fe has a maximum five-star ANCAP rating, but this was awarded back in 2018 and these days the standard to get full marks is higher.

Nissan Qashqai9/10

The 2022 Nissan Qashqai has not been tested by ANCAP, but was awarded a maximum five-star rating from Euro NCAP in 2021.

It scored highly in the adult and child occupant protection tests with a 91 per cent result, but truly excelled in the safety assist category.

The Qashqai’s 95 per cent score in the safety assist assessment is the highest recorded by Euro NCAP, matching the Subaru Outback and Volvo XC60, and exceeding the likes of the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Toyota Yaris Cross and Tesla Model X in that particular test.

Luckily, Nissan Australia has locked in standard safety gear for local cars, and the list is long and comprehensive, including autonomous emergency braking (AEB), adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, rear AEB, lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, traffic sign recognition, driver attention alert, automatic high beams, front and rear parking sensors, and a reversing camera.

In fact, so extensive is the standard list of safety equipment, only automatic wipers, a surround-view monitor and lane-keep assist are added from the ST+ up.

Nissan’s 'ProPilot' driving assist system is also available to all variants baring the entry-level ST, which allows the Qashqai to accelerate to speed, slow down to a stop and stay in lane under certain conditions.

Having experienced the ProPilot tech on a freeway setting, we can say that the system is excellent, able to gently slow down and seamlessly match the speed of vehicles in front while keeping the car dead centre in lane.

It’s one of the best implementations of this level of driving assistance tech we’ve experienced thus far in a real-world setting.

Ownership

Hyundai Santa Fe8/10

The Hyundai Santa Fe is covered a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty. 

Servicing is recommended every 12 months/15,000km and the pricing for the V6 petrol is capped at $399 for each service for five years while the diesel is $459 for the same time.

Nissan Qashqai9/10

Like all new Nissan’s sold in Australia, the 2022 Qashqai comes with a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty with roadside assist over that period.

This matches the assurance period offered by most top 10 brands, including Toyota, Mazda and Hyundai, but falls short of the benchmark 10 years on offer from Mitsubishi and the seven years available from Kia.

Scheduled service intervals are every 12 months or 10,000km, whichever occurs first, but Nissan is yet to reveal pricing.

However, there will be capped-price servicing for the new Qashqai.

For context, each service for the outgoing car costs an average of around $300.

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