It’s all to do with low gasoline prices and popularity of hybrid/EVs.
You may be disappointed if you have been waiting for a diesel-powered Santa Fe in the U.S. Hyundai just confirmed that the diesel-powered midsize crossover will not be available in the United States. This is good news, as the South Korean marque plans to sell the all new Palisade eight seater SUV in the summer 2019.
According to Green Car Reports the South Korean marque confirmed the bad news for diesel hopefuls through Brandon Ramirez. Ramirez also confirmed that the three-row version was not available. According to Ramirez, studies show that Santa Fe buyers aren’t interested in turbodiesel.
Hyundai’s lack of a three row version won’t be a problem since the Palisade fills the gap. This aligns with the goals of Hyundai’s sister firm, Kia. Remember, Kia just launched the Telluride, a three-row crossover that is full of versatility. The Palisade’s 3.8-liter V6 gasoline engine powers it, much like the Telluride.
Subaru is another automaker that is interested in the three-row crossover segment. It is currently betting on the popularity and appeal of the Ascent.
Hyundai has an alternative to the diesel and three-row Santa Fes. The Santa Fe plugin combination will be available after 2019. Your guesses are just as good as ours as to which midsize crossover will come with electrification. We may need to wait for confirmation from the automaker, so we will keep our eyes open for a while.