Hyundai unveils new i20 Active and Santa Fe SUV at Frankfurt

Two new SUV models have been unveiled at Hyundai’s stand at the Frankfurt Motor Show: the all-new Hyundai i20 Active and the revised Hyundai Santa Fe.

The Hyundai i20 Active is an all-new crossover based on the standard i20 hatchback, while the Hyundai Santa Fe has had a facelift in order to remain competitive with the likes of the Kia Sorento and Honda CR-V.

Hyundai says the introduction of these two new models means it's now offering its youngest-ever line-up of cars since arriving on the European market.

Hyundai has also used its show stand to showcase its first ‘N’ performance model, a concept car for the future and the addition of Android Auto to the i40 range.

New Hyundai i20 Active

The Hyundai i20 Active is designed to be a rugged crossover hatchback that blends SUV styling and a raised ride height with the compact dimensions of the standard i20.

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Thick cladding has been applied to the bumpers and side skirts and the wheelarches are chunkier, too. Roof rails also feature and the 20mm increase in ride height improves visibility. Hyundai claims that over half of the exterior body parts are different to those of the standard i20 hatchback.

The Active model will be the third Hyundai to wear the i20 nameplate, which is already used for a conventional five-door hatchback and a three-door ‘Coupe’. The brand says it's aiming the new crossover at “customers with adventurous lifestyles”. It’ll rival cars like the Fiat Panda Cross, Nissan Juke and Vauxhall Mokka.

The i20 range will also benefit from a new 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine towards the end of 2015. Available with either 99 or 118bhp, this engine has been designed to maximise fuel economy. The 99bhp version can return up to a claimed 61.4mpg and CO2 emissions of 106 grams per kilometre, for £20 annual road tax.

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From early 2016, the i20 line-up will have the option of TomTom LIVE services via subscription. The package includes real-time traffic updates and weather data, plus speed camera locations in certain countries. Certain models will come with seven years of the service for free.

New Hyundai Santa Fe

The new Hyundai Santa Fe is more of a mid-life facelift than an all-new model. A subtle redesign alters the look of the front end, which is now more swept-back than its predecessor’s. The chrome grille has been changed so the Santa Fe now chimes better with the smaller Hyundai Tucson SUV. New materials and subtle design changes feature inside.

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The biggest change to the Santa Fe comes on the options list. A huge amount of extra safety kit will be available, including autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and auto-dipping headlights. Other technology options include a 360-degree camera system and parking assistance.

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Although Hyundai is offering more engines in continental Europe, UK models will only be available with a 197bhp 2.2-litre diesel and four-wheel drive. Fuel economy is a claimed 46.3mpg, while the six-speed manual version emits 161g/km of CO2 for £180 annual road tax. The automatic raises that figure to 177g/km, so you’ll pay £225 a year.

Android Auto for Hyundai i40

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The Hyundai i40 saloon and estate will feature Android Auto from November of this year. This system mirrors your Android smartphone's screen on the car's touchscreen infotainment system, so you don’t have to look at your phone on the move.

For more information on the current Hyundai range, take a look at Carbuyer's reviews page.