Yesterday, we poked some lighthearted fun at the Hyundai Ioniq 5 Disney100 Platinum Edition for being a bit half-hearted. Other than a snazzy set of wheels, some brown upholstery, and a unique infotainment welcome animation, it didn’t offer much over the cheaper “regular” Ioniq 5. Well, our timing is impeccable as ever, because Disney isn’t the only company Hyundai is teaming up with. The Korean automaker still knows how to make a special edition because the Santa Fe NHL Edition is actually special, although Americans can’t have it. This is an incredibly Canadian special edition, but it feels like a shame to limit sales to north of the border considering just how much premium spec this thing comes with.
Here’s a car fact for you to sequester deep inside your brain until the opportunity for use arises: Hyundai Canada is not only the official automotive partner of the NHL, but also the National Hockey League Player’s Association and the NHL Alumni Association. How’s that for a hat trick? Sure, winning the Stanley Cup and driving off in a Venue seems unlikely, but this partnership makes sense when you see just how popular Hyundai is in Canada. The original Pony wasn’t just sold in Canada, it was a best-seller. Today, Hyundai is Canada’s third-bestselling car brand, and it really shows on the roads up here.
As with many modern special editions, the Hyundai Santa Fe NHL Edition gets a relatively modest visual treatment consisting of matte white paint reminiscent of an ice rink, blacked-out wheels, special door sills, and branded Weathertech floor and cargo liners in any NHL team of the buyer’s choosing. It’s rather minimalist for a special edition, but the sports partnership isn’t what makes this Santa Fe really appealing.
Strip away the branding, and the Santa Fe NHL Edition grows more tantalizing because it takes everything from the fully-loaded Calligraphy trim and puts a hybrid powertrain underneath it. Combustion-powered duties are carried out by a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, electric motors do the rest, and it’s all managed through a six-speed automatic transmission. Total output? A respectable 232 horsepower and 271 lb.-ft. of torque. This will be the only way to get a fully-loaded Santa Fe Hybrid, and the feature content is absolutely immense. We’re talking about pecan brown Nappa leather, fancy ultra-adjustable seats, dual wireless smartphone chargers, a Bose 12-speaker sound system for blaring “Fifty Mission Cap“, a UVC disinfecting glovebox, and more USB-C ports than your average office.
It’s also worth noting that if you aren’t a massive NHL fan, you can take solace in the fact that most of the branded stuff appears to be easily removable, leaving you with an incredibly nice hybrid Santa Fe that not many others have. Hyundai is limiting sales to 500, and pre-orders open on Feb. 16.
With its blend of efficient hybrid power and just about every option under the sun, the Santa Fe NHL Edition seems like the sort of parts bin creation that should be a regular production model. There’s absolutely a market for a fully-loaded hybrid, and I think Hyundai’s American product planners should copy their Canadian counterparts’ homework.
(Photo credits: Hyundai)
Support our mission of championing car culture by becoming an Official Autopian Member.
-
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 Disney100 Platinum Edition Is One Super Weird Special Edition
-
Here’s What Makes The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe Surprisingly Clever
-
The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe Looks Way Bolder, Way Tougher, And Way Nicer
-
You Can Buy The Most Eye-Searing Corvette Special Edition Ever Made
-
Citroën Built A Special Edition Car Based On A Disposable Pen And It Just Makes No Sense
Got a hot tip? Send it to us here. Or check out the stories on our homepage.
The exterior of this vehicle looks a lot like a Ford Flex! ( just sayin’)
Which I like, so they found their market in me!
Hyundai Flexa Fe ヽ(͡◕ ͜ʖ ͡◕)ﾉ
While including The Hip is appropriate, the song is wrong.
You really need Tom Cochrane and “Big League”
https://www.google.com/search?q=red+rider+hockey+song&rlz=1C1GCEA_enUS1033US1033&oq=red+rider+hockey+song&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIGCAEQRRhA0gEIODAyNmowajeoAgCwAgA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#vhid=5kmcPTYxL11iGM&vssid=videos-d26fb1b2
The Santa Fe could be a competent ice surfacing vehicle.
https://youtu.be/vVkJbvv3pHg?si=lTSdfkr8IWsniseY
I feel like it needs a couple of gaps in the grill to really be an NHL edition.
I want a Gritty Edition. When you put the car in reverse Gritty pops up on screen and scares the hell out of you. Digital rear view mirror – Gritty! Hyundai’s turn signal camera – Gritty! Open the glove box – GRITTY!
Okay, I just got my dose of internet oddness for the day!
Requires selecting the orange shag interior, and googly eye headlights.
It’s only available in Canada. You get Youppi!
Wow this is a real power play from Hyundai. This special edition is really the icing on the cake.
I’m gonna let you skate on this one.
Nsane… bringing the slapstick.
What can I say….I drive a farting car and I’ve got puns for days, it’s my goal to entertain
Seems kinda rinky dink.
Dear Hyundai design team,
A ruler should be one of your design tools, not your only design tool.
Here are the versions of this SUV based on Canadian teams:
Toronto Maple Leafs – Way too expensive for what you get, drivers annoy everyone except each other, and no matter how good it is, people call in to talk radio to complain they should fire Shanny.
Montreal Canadiens — this SUV hasn’t been really good for a long time, but got by on excellent braking and a fanatical devotion by its drivers, who remember when it was a lot better.
Ottawa Senators — This model’s a couple of years away from being really good, or so we’re told every year, only to see it rust out completely by mid February. At least the owner’s family sold the car…
Winnipeg Jets — This model’s been almost good a few times, but never good enough. The cold weather means it’s hard to get started. Drivers are becoming impatient.
Calgary Flames — Should be better than it is, but one of the drive wheels came off and rolled to Florida. Another one rolled to Columbus. They got replacements, at high cost, but it haven’t been the same since.
Edmonton Oilers — Freaking FANTASTIC motor, but safety and braking are lacking. But man, that motor….drivers love that motor.
Vancouver Canucks — better than expected, but this SUV is still raising questions about how deep it can go into the woods.
I don’t follow the NHL so I’m not sure how accurate this is, but I got a chuckle out of it anyway. 🙂
The Nordiques version is only available in Colorado.
I’m scared to try and do one of these for the Red Wings. If we can see Windsor from the other side of the river, it’s close enough to count.
You’ll get several great drives in a row, but it will be terrible experience for the month of December.
(From a Red Wings fan)
Oilers one has no brakes. Completely unable to stop anything.
Their goalies have a save percentage. It’s a low percentage, but it’s a percentage.
I firmly believe that if they got Connor Hellebuyck, they’d win the Cup. Of course, I am a Jets fan so I am glad they don’t.
If it’s an NHL edition car, It really should only come with an ICE drivetrain.
And “cup” holders has two, vastly different meanings…
Though if it’s the Leafs edition there’s really no need for them.
I have been enjoying all the snappy hockey repartee, but this is the one that really got me. Kudos!
No special edition is truly special unless it’s 1 of 1.
Will this be a regular thing or is it just a one-timer?
All these new SUVS are turning into penalty boxes, eh.
I assume if you pick the Leafs mats, they’ll overcharge you and you’ll need to take the extended warranty because it’s going to fail constantly. Maybe slap on an ad for Conn Smythe’s long defunct quarry as well (Tim Horton worked there in the offseason! There’s a Tim Horton’s on the site today!). You know, why else would Maple Leafs be blue?
Matte white. Seems fun to keep clean. But it does look good in white spec and I’m a sucker for brown leather.
Brown/tan leather is waaaaay too rare on cars. I can’t afford a $100K car just to get the beautiful camel leather. 🙁
Any thoughts on the idea of buying one of these, sticking it in an inflatable bubble, then trotting it out for the 2054 RM-Sotheby’s-Barrett-Jackson Plus auction in New Scottsdale?
“Any team of the buyer’s choosing”
So, of 500 there will be 300 Leafs versions, 200 Habs versions and STFU if you’re West of Thunder Bay
If I lived in Canada, might be tempted to create what’d surely be a 1 of 1 Anaheim Ducks edition
Painting it white is a bummer though.