It is impossible not to pay attention to the Hyundai Santa Fe or Kia Sorento when buying a non-premium mid-size crossover. The recommended price of 3–3.5 million rubles, moderate for today, promises powerful and rich all-wheel drive versions, even with the third row. However, dealers sell cars from stock only at a markup, often in excess of a million. And under the order they do not give any specific delivery dates or prices. What if you opt for a larger crossover from a lesser-known brand and save even more? I see Exeed VX as an alternative.
For the price of a mid-size SUV, the Chinese offer a five-meter car with a seven-seat interior. Naturally, we would like to see a three-row Sorento side by side, but the Russian office of KIA rejected the idea of such a comparative test. Hyundai did without snobbery, providing an updated Santa Fe, however, a five-seater – there are no more spacious cars in the press park.
Exeed is delivered to Russia only with a supercharged 2.0 petrol engine with 249 hp. The Santa Fe portfolio in our market includes aspirated 2.5 and 3.5, as well as a 2.2 turbodiesel. We chose him. It is inferior in power to 50 forces, but surpasses the competitor’s “four” in torque – 440 N • m versus 385. Otherwise, parity: both crossovers are equipped with preselective gearboxes and a multi-plate clutch in the rear axle drive.
Exeed picked up the bumpers and sills high, which is practical, and almost caught up with the Hyundai Palisade with its considerable dimensions, but it still doesn’t look like a crossover. Due to the flat sidewalls and the sheer tailgate, this is more of a raised minivan. It’s also not very well assembled: the gaps between the body panels are uneven. Santa Fe has no problems with this, and the design seems more interesting thanks to the two-story optics. Gloss is given by body-colored bumpers and embossed arches. Such is the feature of the most expensive execution of Calligraphy, as well as 20-inch alloy shurikens.
It is more convenient to sit on the driver’s seat – the front pillars are less littered, the doorways are wider and higher. The low-set seat is pleasant: solidly built, with unobtrusive lateral support and a pleasant profile. The modest ranges of steering adjustment do not prevent you from sitting comfortably “by hand” without bending your legs too much.
The Santa Fe’s less sloping steering wheel moves in greater ranges, and a comfortable position is found faster. The landing geometry is more crossover. A seat with pliable filler, more advanced lumbar support and a cushion extension is more comfortable. In general, Hyundai is ergonomically verified, although the door pockets are narrow.
These notches of resounding plastic do not let you forget that Hyundai is a mass brand. Although the Calligraphy version does its best to distance itself from such an image. The seats here are trimmed in two-tone Nappa leather, the center console is decorated with real aluminum, and the ceiling is covered in Alcantara. Two high-resolution displays with a high-quality picture also correspond to the level. Santa Fe supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto protocols, while Exeed only accepts Apple gadgets.
It is easier to get into the second row of a Chinese car, there is noticeably more space in the legs and above the head, a wider range of longitudinal adjustment of the sofa. Enough width to sit three together, and the average passenger can put his feet on a wide and low tunnel. It’s a pity that an overly convex back is matched to a comfortable sofa cushion. But the third row is hospitable even to adults over 180 cm tall. You can easily make your way there, you sit normally without contact with the chairs in front or the ceiling.
In the “calligraphic” Santa Fe, the third row is not provided, but for 120-160 thousand rubles it is available for expensive Prestige and High-tech trim levels in a package with a Smart Sense security complex. Having found a seven-seater car at the dealer (what a task!) And after sitting in it, I quickly retreated. The gallery not only frustrates with tightness in all directions, but also forces you to sit in an uncomfortable position with your knees up. The optional separate air conditioning is little consolation.
Here the second row is quite competitive. The width of the cabin Santa Fe even surpasses the “Chinese”. The hump on the floor is lower, there are curtains on the windows, and most importantly, the sofa is much more comfortable. It does not push, but gently hugs due to the soft padding. Here you could fall asleep, like photographer Dima Pitersky on the way to the shooting, especially since the angle of the backrest is not.
It is impossible not to pay attention to the Hyundai Santa Fe or Kia Sorento when buying a non-premium mid-size crossover. The recommended price of 3–3.5 million rubles, moderate for today, promises powerful and rich all-wheel drive versions, even with the third row. However, dealers sell cars from stock only at a markup, often in excess of a million. And under the order they do not give any specific delivery dates or prices. What if you opt for a larger crossover from a lesser-known brand and save even more? I see Exeed VX as an alternative.
For the price of a mid-size SUV, the Chinese offer a five-meter car with a seven-seat interior. Naturally, we would like to see a three-row Sorento side by side, but the Russian office of KIA rejected the idea of such a comparative test. Hyundai did without snobbery, providing an updated Santa Fe, however, a five-seater – there are no more spacious cars in the press park.
Exeed is delivered to Russia only with a supercharged 2.0 petrol engine with 249 hp. The Santa Fe portfolio in our market includes aspirated 2.5 and 3.5, as well as a 2.2 turbodiesel. We chose him. It is inferior in power to 50 forces, but surpasses the competitor’s “four” in torque – 440 N • m versus 385. Otherwise, parity: both crossovers are equipped with preselective gearboxes and a multi-plate clutch in the rear axle drive.
Exeed picked up the bumpers and sills high, which is practical, and almost caught up with the Hyundai Palisade with its considerable dimensions, but it still doesn’t look like a crossover. Due to the flat sidewalls and the sheer tailgate, this is more of a raised minivan. It’s also not very well assembled: the gaps between the body panels are uneven. Santa Fe has no problems with this, and the design seems more interesting thanks to the two-story optics. Gloss is given by body-colored bumpers and embossed arches. Such is the feature of the most expensive execution of Calligraphy, as well as 20-inch alloy shurikens.
Salon Iksida is similar to the stand of the exhibition of other people’s achievements. At the top of the pliable front panel is a pair of 12.3-inch displays under common glass, like in Mercedes. Below is a touch-sensitive climate control unit a la Land Rover. With the British, the Chery concern at least has a joint venture …
Ergonomics sucks. The central touchscreen is removed from the driver, and there is no full-fledged backup control on the central tunnel – only a couple of hot keys that send you to the previous or main menu. In addition, the response of all touch surfaces is inhibited, and the buttons on the steering wheel spokes are so close to the rim that you accidentally press them every now and then.
It is more convenient to sit on the driver’s seat – the front pillars are less littered, the doorways are wider and higher. The low-set seat is pleasant: solidly built, with unobtrusive lateral support and a pleasant profile. The modest ranges of steering adjustment do not prevent you from sitting comfortably “by hand” without bending your legs too much.
The Santa Fe’s less sloping steering wheel moves in greater ranges, and a comfortable position is found faster. The landing geometry is more crossover. A seat with pliable filler, more advanced lumbar support and a cushion extension is more comfortable. In general, Hyundai is ergonomically verified, although the door pockets are narrow.
These notches of resounding plastic do not let you forget that Hyundai is a mass brand. Although the Calligraphy version does its best to distance itself from such an image. The seats here are trimmed in two-tone Nappa leather, the center console is decorated with real aluminum, and the ceiling is covered in Alcantara. Two high-resolution displays with a high-quality picture also correspond to the level. Santa Fe supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto protocols, while Exeed only accepts Apple gadgets.
It is easier to get into the second row of a Chinese car, there is noticeably more space in the legs and above the head, a wider range of longitudinal adjustment of the sofa. Enough width to sit three together, and the average passenger can put his feet on a wide and low tunnel. It’s a pity that an overly convex back is matched to a comfortable sofa cushion. But the third row is hospitable even to adults over 180 cm tall. You can easily make your way there, you sit normally without contact with the chairs in front or the ceiling.
In the “calligraphic” Santa Fe, the third row is not provided, but for 120-160 thousand rubles it is available for expensive Prestige and High-tech trim levels in a package with a Smart Sense security complex. Having found a seven-seater car at the dealer (what a task!) And after sitting in it, I quickly retreated. The gallery not only frustrates with tightness in all directions, but also forces you to sit in an uncomfortable position with your knees up. The optional separate air conditioning is little consolation.
Here the second row is quite competitive. The width of the cabin Santa Fe even surpasses the “Chinese”. The hump on the floor is lower, there are curtains on the windows, and most importantly, the sofa is much more comfortable. It does not push, but gently hugs due to the soft padding. Here you could fall asleep, like photographer Dima Pitersky on the way to the shooting, especially since the angle of the backrest is not
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