Hyundai Santa Fe Loses ESC
August 7, 2007 by Alborz Fallah
Hyundai has taken a step backwards and removed Electronic Stability Control (ESC/ESP/DSC) and side & curtain airbags from the entry level Hyundai Santa Fe. GoAuto reports the move by Hyundai has caused the RACV to voice concerns.
The cut in safety equipment comes at a saving of $2,000 for Hyundai customers. It is an interesting move from the South Korean manufacturer given the company recently launched a marketing campaign to demonstrate its commitment to safety and ESC technology, criticising the likes of Holden for not offering ESC sooner.
“If ESC was standard, to then make it available only on selected models is a backward step, we are calling on all manufacturers to make ESC available, ideally as standard equipment, and if not then at least an affordable option.” RACV chief engineer Michael Case told GoAuto.
Before the July update, the Hyundai Santa Fe entry model, the 2.7-litre Santa Fe SLX was priced at $35,990 with ESC and Side & Curtain airbags, the new entry model, the 2.7-litre Santa Fe SL starts from $33,990 without ESP and side & curtain airbags. Buyers will now need to spend $37,990 on the 3.3-litre variant to get ESC and additional airbags.
The Santa Fe competes with the Holden Captiva, Ford Territory and Toyota Kluger in the SUV market. The Korean made Captiva retails for $1,000 more than the new Santa Fe but comes standard with both ESC and front side and curtain airbags.
The Territory, which is starting to show its age, retails for $4,000 more than the new Santa Fe at $37,990 and come standard with ESC (but not side & curtain airbags). The new Toyota Kluger will come with ESC as standard.
Hyundai points to a lack of demand for ESC as the reason behind the move. Noting that many buyers are not interested in the technology (perhaps as they are not aware of its benefits).
CarAdvice road tested the 2006 model Hyundai Santa Fe and recently went along to the MY08 Santa Fe launch. Expect a first steer on the updated Santa Fe soon.
Tags: Hyundai Santa Fe
Silly mistake by Hyundai!!!! It should be standard with all vehicle makers as there should be not skimping on safety
with all the positive news about hyundai making the step up to be on par with jap cars, its sad to see a cost cutting decision to lower its value . Certain safety elements like ESC,side & curtain airbags should be made mandatory in all cars in this day and age regardless of what the public perception is. These technologies will and has help save lives and not just be an option for the slighty richer.
shame on you Hyundai!
Well said Arsenalroc. Consumers should shop with their feet and walk down to Holden and pick up a Captiva where these items are standard.
Side Airbags, Curtain Airbags and ESP will no doubt be common place eventually, just as Dual Front Airbags have become. It’s just a shame they’re not going to be here sooner.
Sales are obviously all that matter to Hyundai. Pity they won’t have anyone to sell cars to if their customers are killed because they pull this sort of caper.
The salesman should try and educate people why it would be a good idea to have these features but they won’t because most of them have no idea themselves…
I’m convinced Hyundai has lost the plot.
To start with they sold cheap, basic cars for a drive-away price, and couldn’t keep up with demand.
It’s not a bad thing to move upmarket from a poor beginning, after all, Toyota did it – anyone remember the Tiara?
But a Santa Fe CRDi Elite is $47,000 !!!!!!!! The previous models of Santa Fe were $37000 or less.
One model upgrade does not equal that kind of price premium – there is a big choice of superb Euro vehicles at around $47000 and you’d have to be a mug to pay that much for the Santa Fe.
Hyundai sales YTD are well down, reflecting the point I’m making – it’s very hard to crawl out of the crappy suburbs and no-one will help you do it quickly, even if your quality ratings are improving.
Slam your prices up faster than your improvements and pay the price. To respond by cutting safety features is a marketing disaster.
SAFETY AND DRIVER DEFENSIVE COURSES IS SOMETHING GOVERNMENT AND CAR MAKERS SHOULD NOT DO ON A PROFIT AND LOSS STATEMENT VIA AN ACCOUNTANT: Me thinks that there should be driver defensive courses for all people starting out first time as compulsory (is this the case now???). Further, depending on age, there should be reviews of license re-testing and driver defence courses partly funded by Government as an intiative towards driver responsibility on our roads. People who lose points and are close to losing license should all be put through this. Many times there are people on the road who drive bad, dangerously and these people should be put through the paces like all of us by having periodic reviews. As for safety; to trim costs for car makers build smarter and with costs savings implemented on the factory floor and the office; and NOT at the expense of safety items that should be dam well compulsory in every car (high level ABS, high level EBS, high level ESP, Airbags in front / knee front for driver / side front / curtain in front and back and these should not be tiny things either but a certain big size like in Commodore or Falcon! Who cares how the media or car makers dissect this; I have a whiplash injury that is still causing me grief more than 14yrs down the track so if you have an opinion… SHOVE IT! Thus all you armchair experts, HEAPS OF SAFETY IN CARS COMPULSORY AND NOT OPTIONAL!
REAP WHAT CAR MAKERS SOW WHEN YOU REMOVE ITEMS AS STANDARD = DISASTER!!!
The Ford Territory does have Side and Curtain Airbags. It was the first Australian built car to have the Curtain Airbags available. See the Ford website for specs…as for dated…its still the class leader and pretty hard to beat.
the base model, which is what is being referred to in the article, does not have S&C airbags as standard
Ford Territory is a gas guzzler and barely class leader as under siege with rising petrol prices being on drives minds now.
If Ford Territory is so good, how come no diesel or hybrid or LPG only motor as they are lagging behind the 8 ball where others are starting to jump the queue and waking up. I drive a BA LPG only ute and I enjoy watching people fill up and they get nowhere near $48 full tank for 550-600kms as I enjoy. Isn’t it funny the Government can offer rebates to encourage LPG and to some manufactures for developing hybrids or better ways to save fuel and help the environment… they should offer hefty rebates for hybrid only cars to look after out backyard and not sqaunder money on useless things… if they got rid of all State Governments and made the Federal Arena more broader to have less red tape, less fat cat Pollies then we could be bit better off $ wise and then we could bet significant rebates towards drivers buying better economical cars
Roberto if the Territory was behind the 8 ball why is it still selling consistantly well???? Turbo diesel is coming for Territory, LPG is pointless due to packaging constraints.
THE Victorian government and its agencies would do well to wait a little for the COMMONWEALTH to issue an ADR specifically for EBS.
THE UNECE process is developing this. I would expect, with a bit of luck, an ADR towards the end of 2008 early 2009.
The curtain airbag issue, as VIC would see it, could see domestic cars fitted with US spec side airbags, these may or may not in time be found to be compliant with UNECE Standards, and assorted mutural recognition issues could come into play as well.
Now the COMMONWEALTH of AUSTRALIA is bound by UNECE.
Patience is required.