Verdict
At RM166,800, the Tiggo 9 leaves RM58,200 in hand versus the RM225,000 Santa Fe and brings 251 hp, 390 Nm, AWD and an 0-100 km/h time of eight seconds. It is also more lavishly specified with heated, ventilated and massaging front seats, a 15.6-inch screen and auto parking. The Santa Fe counters with hybrid assistance, RM120 annual road tax against RM439, a longer 2,815-mm wheelbase and an eight-year/160,000-km warranty. No rated fuel-economy figure is stated for the Hyundai, so the hybrid’s running-cost advantage cannot be quantified.
Pick the Chery Tiggo 9 if you want RM58,200 more buying power, 251 hp and 390 Nm, plus AWD and a longer equipment list.
Pick the Hyundai Santa Fe if lower RM120 annual road tax, hybrid assistance, navigation and an eight-year/160,000-km warranty matter more than outright output.
Key differences
- Price: RM166,800 for the Chery Tiggo 9 versus RM225,000 for the Hyundai Santa Fe.
- Petrol engine output: 251 hp and 390 Nm versus 177 hp and 265 Nm.
- Driveline: all-wheel drive versus front-wheel drive.
- Annual road tax: RM439 versus RM120.
- Warranty: seven years/150,000 km versus eight years/160,000 km.
- Boot space: 448-2,065 litres versus 628 litres.
Tiggo 9
- RM58,200 lower purchase price
- 251 hp, 390 Nm and all-wheel drive
- Heated, ventilated and massaging front seats plus auto parking
- RM439 annual road tax versus RM120
- Seven-year/150,000-km warranty trails the Hyundai’s eight-year/160,000-km cover
- No built-in navigation listed
Santa Fe
- RM120 annual road tax with hybrid assistance
- Eight-year/160,000-km warranty
- Navigation and two USB-C ports for the third row
- RM58,200 higher purchase price
- 177 hp and 265 Nm petrol engine with front-wheel drive versus 251 hp, 390 Nm and AWD
- Tyre repair kit instead of a full-size spare tyre
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM166,800✓ | RM225,000 |
| Body type | SUV | SUV |
| Segment | D-Segment | D-Segment |
| Assembly | CKD | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM439 | RM120✓ |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC with Turbocharger, Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing | 16-valve DOHC Direct Injection with Turbocharger, Variable Valve Timing with Hybrid Assistance |
| Capacity | 1,998 cc | 1,598 cc |
| Horsepower | 251 hp at 4,000 rpm✓ | 177 hp at 5,500 rpm |
| Torque | 390 Nm at 1,750 rpm✓ | 265 Nm at 1,500 rpm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 4 | Inline 4 |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol Hybrid/REV |
| Bore × Stroke | — | 75.6 mm × 89 mm |
| Compression Ratio | — | 10.5 |
| Number of Motors | — | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | — | 64 hp |
| Motor Torque | — | 264 Nm |
| Battery Capacity | — | 1.49 kWh |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 7-speed DCT | 6-speed Automatic |
| Gears | 7 | 6 |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 8 seconds | — |
| Rated Economy | 8.3 L/100 km | — |
| Top Speed | 210 km/h | — |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,810 mm | 4,830 mm |
| Width | 1,925 mm | 1,900 mm |
| Height | 1,741 mm | 1,720 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,800 mm | 2,815 mm |
| Weight | 1,887 kg | — |
| Fuel Tank | 65 litres | 67 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 7 | 7 |
| Boot Space | 448-2065 litres | 628 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 245/50R20 | 255/45R20 |
| Rear Tyre | 245/50R20 | 255/45R20 |
| Spare Tyre | Full Size | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit |
| Factory Tyres | Kumho Ecsta PS71 | Kumho Ecsta PS71 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Korea (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | MacPherson Struts |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 20" Alloys | 18" 5-arm Alloy Wheels |
| Rear Wheels | 20" Alloys | 18" 5-arm Alloy Wheels |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 10 (Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Rear Side, Front Center Airbag, Driver's Knee Airbag, Curtain Airbags) | 10 (Driver & Front Passenger, Front Side and Rear Curtain Airbags, Front Centre Airbag and Driver's Knee Airbag) |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | — |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Electronic for Rear Doors | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 7 Three-point | 7 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available for two outer middle row passenger seats, third row seats | Available for 2nd & 3rd Row Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Automatic LED Projector with Auto High Beam | LED Reflectors |
| Taillamps | Full LED | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Powered Front Seats, Driver Side Memory with Heating, Ventilation & Massaging | Powered Front Seats with Driver's Side Memory |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-folding Middle Row, 50:50 Split-folding Last Row | 60:40 Split-folding Middle Row with One-touch Tumble, Manual Recline, 50:50 Split-folding Last Row |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Rear AC Vents with Heating & Ventilation | Rear AC Vents & Blower Controls |
| Sunroof | Panoramic Glass Roof | — |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 2 USB Front, 2 USB Second Row | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger Front, 2 USB-C Front, 2 USB-C Second Row, 2 USB-C Third Row |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Middle Row, 2 Last Row | 2 Front, 4 Second Row, 2 Third Row |
| Sun Shade | Panoramic Glass Roof Shade, Manual Rear Window Shades | Rear Window Shades |
| Audio | 15.6" Touchscreen with Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 14-speaker Sony Sound System | 12.3" Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, 6-speaker Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Entry (Push Button Start) |
| Locks | Keyless Operation, with Proximity Sensor Auto Lock/Unlock | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | — |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Paddle Shift | — | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | ✓ | — |
| Boot Operation | Powered Boot with Remote Control Activation | Contactless Opening, Powered Boot |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, with 360-degree Camera | Yes, 360-degree Monitor |
| Auto Parking | Yes | — |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | — | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | ✓ | — |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | 150,000 km | 160,000 km✓ |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 7 years | 8 years✓ |
| Warranty Notes | 10-year or one million km warranty for the engine | — |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
Used Tiggo 9 & Santa Fe for sale
Tiggo 9 vs Santa Fe FAQ
Is the Chery Tiggo 9 or Hyundai Santa Fe better?
The Tiggo 9 is the sharper value and performance pick, costing RM58,200 less while quoting 251 hp, 390 Nm and AWD. Choose the Santa Fe for its RM120 road tax, hybrid assistance, navigation and longer warranty.
What is the price difference?
The Hyundai Santa Fe costs RM58,200 more than the Chery Tiggo 9: RM225,000 against RM166,800.
Which SUV has more boot space?
The Santa Fe lists 628 litres, exceeding the Tiggo 9’s stated 448-litre lower figure. The Tiggo 9 lists up to 2,065 litres with its seats folded, so it has the larger stated maximum.
