When you are in the market searching for a suitable 7-seater SUV, there seems to be limited choice as more and more people will prefer to get a MPV if they need to sit 7 person comfortably. Visit to any parallel importer, the lot is usually fill with Alphard, Vellfire and Estima, where all are from Toyota. Well, a van look MPV usually does not sustain well in an accident and if one precious the life of his/her love one, I would strongly recommend skipping an MPV, but getting a car or SUV that has better safety structure.
The Santa Fe seems a direct competitor to Hyundai owned Tucson, as most family will not really need a 7-seater SUV. At the price you are paying for, you get a 2.4-litre (174hp/226Nm) Theta II engine mated to a 6-speed gearbox, which is being shared with its brother, the Kia Sorento. Of course, the Santa Fe does looks much better than the Sorento. Hyundai does offer a diesel variant of the Santa Fe and by paying a lot more, you can get the Premium version. Worth it or not, it is you that shall define it.
Comparing the size below, using Tucson as a reference, only the X-Trail and Sorento could compete in this mid-sized SUV range. Honda CRV will compete with the like of Mazda CX-5 and Hyundai Tucson. The Mazda CX-9 is out of the league as it is significantly larger and more expensive. The CX-7 is no longer in production as its in-between CX-5 and CX-9 size has proven to be a slow seller.
The Santa Fe seems a direct competitor to Hyundai owned Tucson, as most family will not really need a 7-seater SUV. At the price you are paying for, you get a 2.4-litre (174hp/226Nm) Theta II engine mated to a 6-speed gearbox, which is being shared with its brother, the Kia Sorento. Of course, the Santa Fe does looks much better than the Sorento. Hyundai does offer a diesel variant of the Santa Fe and by paying a lot more, you can get the Premium version. Worth it or not, it is you that shall define it.
Comparing the size below, using Tucson as a reference, only the X-Trail and Sorento could compete in this mid-sized SUV range. Honda CRV will compete with the like of Mazda CX-5 and Hyundai Tucson. The Mazda CX-9 is out of the league as it is significantly larger and more expensive. The CX-7 is no longer in production as its in-between CX-5 and CX-9 size has proven to be a slow seller.
| Santa Fe | X-Trail | Sorento | Tucson | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Length (mm) | 4690 | 4640 | 4780 | 4410 |
| Width (mm) | 1880 | 1820 | 1890 | 1820 |
| Height (mm) | 1690 | 1715 | 1685 | 1660 |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 2700 | 2705 | 2780 | 2640 |
| Price | 160k | 166k | 157k | 117k |
The interior of the Santa Fe is really nice, especially the Brown Nappa leather seat available for the premium variant. For the Elegance model, you get it in black though. If safety is your utmost concern, you have to put your cheque book down for the premium version, as this will be equipped with every safety features you could think of, such as 6-airbag, rearview camera + recorder, cornering light and HID headlight. The elegance version makes do with all the basic a car can get, which is a big let down. When budget is a constraint, you can start looking elsewhere for a cheaper and better specifications car, such as the Sorento! There are reasons why Santa Fe is not doing well in Malaysia! For RM160k, even for the basic version, one will want it with high specifications. Sime Darby Hyundai should have known better.
So, you have 2 kids, wife, dad and mom and maybe a maid, add up to the magic number 7, and MPV is not what you want, then go ahead to start shopping for a 7-seater SUV. Do note that once you kids start growing, the rear seats are not design to ferry them comfortably. If you prefer a MPV, do remember to drive them safely. A bus is not a high speed vehicle, similar to a MPV. SUV will always fair better in safety standard.
