Hyundai has introduced a heavy-duty tow kit designed to suit the locally-tuned suspension of the Santa Fe SUV.
Priced at $187, the load assist kit raises the down ball rate from the figure of 120kg for the standard tow kit to 150kg. The standard kit includes towbar, towball and a wiring harness for the trailer, and the load assist kit comprises two new springs for the rear suspension. Towing capacity is unaltered –2000kg for auto models and 2500kg for manuals – but the importer also claims that ride and handling are unaffected by the new springs, which complement the work carried out by local engineers during the development of the new model.
The kit can be retrofitted by Hyundai dealers, provided the standard tow kit (costing $722.50) is already fitted.
Hyundai's announcement follows by a couple of weeks a similar initiative from Kia, for the Sorento. In the case of the Sorento, Kia's heavy duty kit also raises the down ball load from the 120kg rating of the standard kit to 150kg. Pricing is steeper than the Santa Fe's Load Assist Kit, at $239.78 plus fitting, and the total cost of tow kit and heavy duty rear springs for the Sorento amounts to $977.34, plus fitting. Kia offers the standard and heavy duty tow kits on both its FWD and 4WD variants of the Sorento. Read the latest news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site...