Some of the most iconic designs in history have also been among the most controversial, divisive, and polarizing.

From the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre Pyramid in Paris, France, to the Guggenheim Museum in New York and finally the Shard in London, UK, these designs were harshly received at first but have since become integral to their respective skylines. They are landmarks, points of reference and interest.

They stood out because they were different when they were introduced. And that difference makes them unique, different, easily identifiable in a sea of similarities.

At The Drive List, we identify with this philosophy, as we, too, stand apart. Not quite this nor that. A hodgepodge of many different things that make us very much unique.

We are much like the Santa Fe, Hyundai’s latest seven-seat midsize crossover. It’s very different compared to everyone else. Let’s take a closer look.

Let’s start with the basic design. Many Japanese rivals favor a softer, more organic two-box design that tempers their stance with rounded exterior surfacing. The Santa Fe, by contrast, embraces a distinctly boxy silhouette with sharp angles and slab-sided surfaces — the antithesis of the rounded curves seen elsewhere in the segment. It projects an assertively masculine presence, an interesting contrast to its softer name.

The chassis underpinning the Santa Fe is a unibody platform, very different from the pick-up based body on frame chassis of most of its competitors. Power comes from a 2.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine producing 277 hp and 422 Newton-meters of torque, whereas many rivals rely on CRDi diesel power.

The advantage? Better on-road handling characteristics and responsiveness, better NVH and refinement, and typically more interior space within its respective footprint. Plus better top-end power.

It drives all four wheels via an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT) while competitors make do with a traditional torque-converter equipped automatic transmission.

The DCT makes seamless fast upshifts and downshifts, and the eight forward gears help spread out power delivery and put it down more efficiently while providing improved economy on both the highway and city.

The taller 8th gear provides better cruising characteristics while the shorter lower gears deliver better acceleration and response without the power-sapping drivetrain drag of a torque converter.

Inside, the interior is roomy and clad in supple Nappa leather. The seating position is also more car-like, making for a more engaging and inspiring drive.

Your hands find the 3-spoke steering wheel with multiple auxiliary controls for the infotainment system and the driver assistance system. A large panoramic display is actually composed of two 12.3-inch screens, one for the driver’s instrument cluster and the other for the infotainment system.

There are also dual wireless charging pads and three USB-C charging ports atop a wide center console that has a deep glovebox and a semi-hidden storage shelf underneath, useful to keep valuables away from prying eyes. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard. There’s also a panoramic glass sunroof to help bring in more light, or see the starry night sky when you take the Sta Fe for a long drive out, which you will.

Interestingly, in a health-conscious, post-pandemic world, the Santa Fe also features a UV-C disinfection system.

There is also Hyundai’s SmartSense ADAS Safety Suite. It’s a system of cameras, radar and various sensors to enable advanced active features like lane -keeping assist, forward collision mitigation, lane following assist, blind spot collision avoidance assist plus smart cruise control with stop and go.

Very much par for the course, but also works quite obtrusively, it gets bothersome after a while. Learning to adapt to its quirks takes time, but does make you a more conscientious and attentive driver.

On the road, the Santa Fe feels restless in traffic and low-speed driving. It craves the open road, hard acceleration and highway cruising speeds. It barely settles into its stride at 100 km/h, feeling as though it wants to go even faster. The highway is its natural habitat, or at least, fast and flowing a-roads.

The steering is light, but offers good feel, better than typical pickup-based ‘utes and the brakes offer precise and responsive feedback that rewards you with amazing pedal feel and overall confidence.

Sports sedan it may not be, but the Santa Fe feels light and easy to drive. You feel confident taking it far, exploring new roads and vistas, with family or friends in tow along with matching gear. And speaking of gear, there’s a healthy 413 liters of cargo space with all 3 rows in use, expanding to 1,148 liters with the third row down, to finally, 2,267 liters with even the second row folded. Thank the boxy body as it allows the most useable space in its design.

The 21-inch piano black mesh style wheels wrapped in grippy Kumho Ecsta tires sized 245/45R21 provide surprising levels of comfort and compliance despite being a tire size better suited to a sports sedan than a sport-utility vehicle. And they are very grippy: accelerate through the apex all the way to corner exit and the Santa Fe doesn’t complain. It feels game to be hustled.

The massive wheels are truly another intricate piece of design that calls your attention, much like the front grill with the H-themed daytime running lamps in the LED headlights, tied together with a broad LED strip across the width of the fascia. Striking and unique, it’s truly unforgettable.

Surprisingly the rear end is finished rather simply, as if lacking some pizzazz to tie up with the front end. The H-theme continues with its rear brake lamps also displaying prominent H logos. The tailgate also gets a bold Santa Fe logo just so cars following in its wake know what left them behind. Give the Santa Fe a long leash and it will leave many unsuspecting motorists.

Striking, almost polarizing design, unique convenience features inside, impressive driving dynamics, advanced safety features, and a very premium, upscale and classy vibe coupled with excellent fit and finish. Few seven-seat crossover SUV’s possess the Santa Fe’s unique set of skills. And few will ever be as memorable, or desirable as this.