2022 Hyundai Santa Fe: Six-seat option in line for Australia

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe has gained a new six-seat layout in South Korea – and while it is yet to be officially confirmed for Australia, it's expected the configuration will make its way to local showrooms next year.

Available as a $900 option in Hyundai's home market, the six-seat Santa Fe trades the second row bench seat for a pair of 'captain's chairs' – trimmed in synthetic leather or quilted nappa leather, depending on variant, with the latter available in black, 'Camel' beige, or light grey – and adds third-row air conditioning vents, and 'one-touch' electric walk-in functionality for the second row.

The six-seat layout joins the five-seat and seven-seat configurations already available on the Santa Fe in South Korea – though only the latter of the pair is offered in Australia.

The new seating option will position the Santa Fe as a rival for six-seat, LE-badged versions of the Mazda CX-8 and CX-9, which offer second row captain's chairs with heating, ventilation and electric adjustment.

While Hyundai Australia couldn't confirm the six-seat Santa Fe for Australia, Drive expects it will become available sometime next year, as part of a Model Year 2022 update – though official details are yet to be confirmed.

Confirmed to join the local 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe line-up next year is a frugal hybrid option, which Drive understands is set for launch in the first quarter or (early in the) second quarter of 2022. For more details on the Santa Fe Hybrid's mechanicals, click here to read our earlier coverage.

Stay tuned to Drive for all the latest updates on the 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe range.