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Spin:
Hyundai Santa Fe
Sand, Sun,
Slush and Snow
– Santa Fe Pulls Through
Words and Pics
by Roderick
Eime | Gallery
of Images
Not everybody who buys a 4WD wants to emulate Burke and Wills or the
Leyland Brothers. Often the toughest task demanded of the vehicle is
to navigate Coles carpark or traverse the mighty M4.
So just what can you really
do in a mid-priced off-the-shelf 4WD?
The Santa Fe might ride like
a comfy Sunday cruiser and go like a half decent sedan, but we were
pleasantly surprised in what we could do and where we could go without
the slightest modification and barest minimum preparation.
Checklist: Maps, GPS, 12v
Compressor, CB Radio, mobile phone, cameras.
Our first detour took us
out of Tintinara through SA’s Ngarkat National Park, past the
ominously named Mount Rescue and back to Keith. It turned out to be
a full morning negotiating windy, narrow and very sandy tracks that
kept our speed well under 40 kph at most times. Test 1: Pass
Next it was south out of
Bordertown to Victoria’s Little Desert National Park. Recent rain
had torn up many of the tracks and even the detours looked messy. Again,
shallow wallows and mud baths proved more fun than folly and despite
the trademark mess, we were on our way with no fuss. The sturdy [tyre
brand] were little more than robust road tyres, yet were not fazed by
anything we had thrown up so far.
Toward the Eastern section
of the park, near Dahlenburg’s Mill, the tracks became very challenging,
made more so by recent ranger activity with heavy vehicles. The soft
sand and deep ruts kept us on our toes and we considered reducing tyre
pressure, but were afraid to stop for fear of sinking into the soft
powdery mass. With the sun long gone, it was with some relief that the
lights of Dimboola eventually appeared guiding us toward the eastern
exit. Test 2: Pass
Next; Mount Buller and the
heady climb up to the ski lodges was completed effortlessly despite
a full load of luggage. A fresh dusting of snow greeted us the next
morning and the iced rocks and autumn colours provided a stark contrast
to the often featureless mallee we passed through only the day before.
Test 3: Pass
Conclusion; the
Santa Fe, with its fulltime 4WD and sophisticated traction distribution
system, is more than capable of adding modest off-tarmac fun to the
family holiday without the need for expensive “adventure”
equipment – and still travel in highway comfort!
Link: Santa
Fe at Hyundai.com.au
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