Hyundai (sort of) made Santa Fe XRT Concept a reality after all

Remember when Hyundai unveiled the mean-looking Santa Fe XRT Concept? With an emphasis on going off the beaten path with its go-anywhere capability, the tricked-out crossover SUV not only looks rugged but it appears it can take on the road less traveled with ease.

Unfortunately, Hyundai said that a production version will not be made, or so they said. Recently, Hyundai launched the all-new Santa Fe for the North American market. While it looks the same as the ones revealed in Korea and Europe, there was one variant that instantly stood out.

That’s right, Hyundai released an XRT variant of the next-generation Santa Fe, and while it’s not as outlandish as the concept version, Hyundai says that it’s still an “outdoor-focused sport model tailored to the diverse needs of enthusiasts”.

While it may not look like it, the XRT version gets nearly 1.5 inches of additional ground clearance along with Continental TerrainContact 245/60/R18 all-terrain tires that ensure the Santa Fe XRT can go anywhere it pleases. It’s also complemented by a wide array of dark chrome and black trim accents throughout its exterior, black roof rails, and body cladding to protect its body from the elements while going off-road.

If that’s not enough, Hyundai says the XRT is rated to have a maximum towing capacity of 4,500 lbs or 2,041 kg. That’s enough towing capability to haul a trailer or a mobile home with ease.

No powertrain details were revealed by Hyundai for the XRT variant. However, it most likely comes with the 2.5-liter turbocharged Theta III gasoline engine which cranks out 280 PS at 5800 rpm along with 422 Nm of torque between 1700 - 4000 rpm. It is then mated to an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission.

With North America being the latest market to get the all-new Santa Fe, we’re wondering when will Hyundai Motor Philippines Inc. bring the next-generation crossover SUV to the local market. With the Santa Fe already having a following in the country, we won’t be surprised if there is already interest from customers regarding the all-new SUV.