Hyundai Santa Fe dual clutch transmission extreme endurance test | Auto Expert John Cadogan

Extreme 2021 Santa Fe clutch-slipping, heat loading reverse torture test for Hyundai’s new eight-speed dual clutch transmission, in the driveway from hell. Yesssssssssssssss!

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In this report I thrash Hyundai's new 8sp DCT in the diesel 2021 Santa Fe for 12 rounds up the driveway from hell (tight, twisty and 5m ascent for 20-ish metres of lineal concrete).

This is an example of a worst-case scenario for a transmission like this - times 12.

Hyunda-Kia’s latest eight-speed DCT, by comparison, is a wet clutch system (meaning, the clutches operate in an oil bath) - and the oil is fed into an external convective cooler to manage overheating.

This is a completely separate oil system - as in, the oil that cools the clutches is separate from the oil that lubricates the gears.

Clutch durability is really simple to understand - all you need to know is that heat kills clutches. We’re about to put that to the test. Quite a severe one.

I want to see for myself (and show you) whether or not I can induce a near-death heat experience in the Santa Fe diesel dual clutch, by doing some severe real-world reversing.

And if it does go poopy in its trousers I’ll be reporting that, and doubtless there will be a terse telephone call with Hyundai, the temperature of which will be somewhat less than the clutch pack.

If nothing else, you know how I always say: ‘Never buy a demonstrator.’? Yeah. Well, this would be one reason why. (Actually, it should be fine. I’m told the transmission has inbuilt thermal overload protection, but let’s find out anyway.)

it strikes me that some of you really like the idea of buying a Santa Fe diesel (or its under-the-skin twin, the Kia Sorento diesel, which shares exactly the same powertrain) but some of you are somehow disinclined to buy a vehicle with a dual-clutch transmission - so scary - mainly thanks to Ford’s terrifying efforts, with its horrific ‘PowerShift’ dual-clutch transmission, and its appalling reliability.

Let's try and get a definitive result on heavy load endurance and duty cycle tolerance for this transmission.