Chabak: Exploring the Korean car camping trend with the all-new Santa Fe
Over the years, camping has evolved from a rugged, adventurous activity to one that has been prioritising convenience and luxury more and more. Nowadays, outdoor enthusiasts are no longer just pitching tents and braving the elements; they’re looking for modern amenities that bring the comforts of home into the wilderness.
A car camping trend, that has been making waves in South Korea, is now making its way across the globe: chabak. Riding at the forefront of this phenomenon is the all-new Hyundai Santa Fe – an SUV that balances adventure and comfort.
The rise of chabak
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed how we travel. For Koreans, holidays abroad were once the standard, but since the pandemic, they are enjoying domestic trips. Chabak arose as a safe and economical alternative.
In Korean, cha translates to ‘car’, and bak means ‘stay’. Essentially, chabak describes the trend of using your car for mini camping trips. This trend is redefining the way we experience the outdoors, offering flexibility that traditional camping cannot match. Whether last-minute destination changes or setting up your campsite within minutes, chabak caters to holidaymakers who crave the outdoors but don’t want to sacrifice comfort.
The rise of chabak is part of hallyu – the broader Korean wave of cultural exports that is sweeping the globe. Just as K-pop, Korean skincare, and Korean food are captivating audiences worldwide, chabak is making its mark. This trend aligns with the modern desire for comfort and convenience, prioritising amenities like Wi-Fi, toilets, and cosy sleeping arrangements while on holiday.
Hyundai Santa Fe: a chabak companion
Santa Fe is not just an SUV; it’s a mobile sanctuary. Designed during the lockdown, the chief concept behind the model was using the car as an extended space, allowing you to go anywhere, anytime.
We understood that people were seeking new and safe ways to travel during the lockdown. The inspiration for Santa Fe was to create a vehicle that’s not just transport but a gateway to adventure – a private retreat on wheels that combines home comforts with the great outdoors.
The relaxation seat with leg rest in the front row allows for total restfulness. You can recline comfortably – in near weightlessness. It’s like having your favourite armchair with you while camping.
The rear-seat arrangement can be modified with ease. You can collapse the second and third-row seats to create a roomy and comfortable sleeping area. Can you expect that from a tent?
And imagine blending two worlds by opening the wide tailgate: the cosiness of the interior and the scenery and fresh air of nature. The designers moved the shut lines outside to achieve the widest tailgate possible.
Designed from the inside out, our focus was on creating a large interior space. Using a ‘Low Poly’ design language inspired by the gaming industry, we achieved that while also creating large exterior surfaces, which allows for great space on the roof. The wide tailgate also provides a terrace-like view from the car, making it perfect for any journey, whether it’s a weekend escape or a long-awaited countryside adventure. Santa Fe blends functionality with aesthetics, offering an exciting and comfortable travel experience.
With the bilateral multi-console storage space, both front and rear passengers are within arm’s reach of their belongings. Additionally, the centre console is designed with an extra drawer, exclusively for the second row. No more lost sunglasses or misplaced bottles of bug spray.
Santa Fe also has a high-speed, dual wireless charging system. Delivering up to 27W of power, your smartphone, e-reader, or any other device that supports USB-C will never be out of juice.
Hygiene is also important, especially out in the wild. You can use the UV-C sterilisation tray to easily sterilise frequently used items. With clean smartphones and wallets, you can make sure that germs stay outdoors.
Santa Fe is a gateway to new experiences, offering the freedom to explore the great outdoors while keeping the comforts of home close by.
Are you ready to embrace the chabak lifestyle? Your next adventure is right around the corner.
Disclaimer: CO2 and emissions data
- Fuel consumption combined for the Hyundai Santa Fe 1.6 T-GDI Hybrid with 2WD in l/100 km: 6.9 - 6.4; CO2 emissions combined in g/km: 157 - 145 (WLTP)
- Fuel consumption combined for the Hyundai Santa Fe 1.6 T-GDI Hybrid with 4WD in l/100 km: 7.3 - 6.9; CO2 emissions combined in g/km: 166 - 156 (WLTP)
- Fuel consumption combined for the Hyundai Santa Fe 1.6 T-GDI Plug-in Hybrid in l/100 km: 1.7; electricity consumption combined in kWh/100 km: 19.1; CO2 emissions combined in g/km: 38 (WLTP)
Contacts
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Adriana Cerami
Head of Section Corporate & Brand PR
acerami@hyundai-europe.comElvira Herrera
Corporate Communications Expert
eherrera@hyundai-europe.comMaria Bricio
Corporate & Brand Communications Expert
mbricio@hyundai-europe.comÁngel Pino Pérez
Product PR & Communications Expert
apinoperez@hyundai-europe.comKatharina Kupper
Hyundai Newsroom Lead
