by Believe it or not, in just a few months, it will have been three years since Hyundai launched the fifth-generation Santa Fe. That makes the popular midsize SUV due for a mid-cycle refresh, and Hyundai has already begun road-testing early prototypes. Things, however, haven’t gone entirely to script.
Earlier this week, a camouflaged Santa Fe test vehicle caught fire in South Korea, not far from Hyundai’s Ulsan manufacturing hub. According to local reports, the driver managed to escape before the blaze took hold, but local firefighters weren’t able to bring it under control before the front of the vehicle was reduced to a charred shell.
Review: 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Steps Up In All Areas
Early indications suggest it originated somewhere in or near the engine compartment. The flames gutted the entire front section of the SUV, leaving a twisted, melted wreck where the nose had been.
Hyundai has acknowledged that it’s investigating the cause of the fire, though so far it hasn’t shared any details about the prototype’s powertrain. It’s worth noting, however, that like many other carmakers, Hyundai is looking to grow its hybrid offerings, and the refreshed Santa Fe could be sold as an extended-range EV, or EREV, for the first time.
No technical details are available about this new version, but it could prove particularly popular in certain markets, including the United States, combining the ease of use of an ICE-powered model with the ability to travel respectable distances on electric power alone.
This new version may be offered alongside the existing 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and, in certain markets, the existing 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid will be retained.
What About The Design?
So what’s changing on the outside? That part remains unclear. Official details on design tweaks haven’t surfaced yet, though given the current Santa Fe’s divisive styling, Hyundai may be planning a few strategic revisions, especially at the rear.
Development of the updated Santa Fe is still in the early stages, and it’s not expected to reach the US market until the 2027 model year
