Buying a car is almost always a momentous decision. In this regard, who buys guided only by his heart, and who does what weight to give to reason. Price and features, BMW X3 and Hyundai Santa Fe, perfectly illustrate these two options. More … Who is right? Keep reading.

Philosophically, buying a car is usually a measure taken in response to conditions as varied as people have to decide. The reality, however, is much simpler. This decision ends up being simply a matter of attend our head or our heart. BMW X3 xDrive 20d 190 hp, and Hyundai Santa Fe 2.2 CRDi 4×4 197, illustrate well either product concept. Why while a high percentage of buyers of BMW do with social relevance that involves bringing a car of this brand, which are decided by the Hyundai value more the practicality of your product. But not anticipate events, and what each car desgranemos delivery in exchange for what you pay.

5 or 7 seats

Starting with the packaging, do not enter to value aesthetic, very subjective aspects, but what is hidden under their “wrappers”. In this sense, and although both models practically Calcan its external action, Hyundai makers would have taken more imagination to the inner definition your model. And is that Santa Fe offers up to seven seats, while BMW conforms with five. Moreover, in the front seats in the center row seat occupants have additional 5 centimeters long, which are noted to make long trips.

And that’s not just its advantages. The Hyundai also has longitudinal adjustment of the second row of seats. An important detail, since it allows modular interior space depending on the needs of specific load. Yes, the Interior modularity, It has influence in measuring the capacity of its trunk.

In this regard and if we use the seven seats, the cargo area is only 140 liters capacity. But if we ignore the places the trunk, that capacity will range between 550 and 760 liters, depending on the position ahead or behind the second row seats. In the BMW everything it is easier. Using the five seats, its trunk could hold a maximum of 455 liters luggage.

As seen, both in terms of habitability, such as load capacity and modularity, the Korean model devastates his German rival.

mixed feelings

In analyzing the dynamic sections, however, the German model recovers ground whenever it is rolling on asphalt. And is that although it has a somewhat smaller engine, 1,995 cubic cm3 compared with 2,200 of its rival, and his Power is also lower in 7 hp, the X3 leads to Santa Fe in efficiency. And we do not mean only for its slightly better performance, but because its frame has a set-up clearly aimed at efficiency. stand out the firm suspension, which make the BMW offers the very near mood to a traditional saloon, whether we move from simple road layout, or the most twisted.

Santa Fe is much more bourgeois in this sense, since their suspensions are betting more for comfort than for behavior. But this comment is not misinterpreted, because although inertias are more noticeable, and support changes are solved in a somewhat more slowly, the general behavior is also chaired by a very progressive and very easy to control reactions. Moreover, despite the weight overcome X3, the off-hook with Hyundai powerful brake equipment, which even manages to surpass BMW at speeds between 70 and 130 km / h.

If the analysis we take the field of “off-road” Santa Fe is more adapted. And in this area they have a decisive influence over the soft suspensions, better absorb irregularities and generate less rebounds wheels and, therefore, greater inaccuracies in the path. also their better bounds TT, and one AWD that locks the center differential, make a difference on the German model. In other words, new point for the Korean model.

The ‘peel’ is the ‘stripping’

Now let’s look at what each brand gives us in exchange for what you pay. And in this section it is again the Korean model which stands out, with a much more favorable ratio than its rival. And is that despite cost 1,554 euros less, count with one equipment much more complete series. Elements such as knee airbags and rear side, the alarm lane departure, rear view camera, rear parking sensor, headlights adaptive xenon, self-leveling rear suspension, leather upholstery and heated front and rear seats, sunroof, browser, alloy wheels 19" or burglar alarms, are part of that provision in the BMW must pay. In fact and equipment to match the serial BMW to Hyundai, German require us to disburse around 6,700 additional euros. And that figure will exceed 16,000 if you want your X3 “look” as fresh as the pictures of the story.

In short, we will not deny the value of the BMW X3 in social terms, or higher resale value, but using the head, the more balanced and reasonable option is the Korean model, offering more than his rival under what is pay.

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