Verdict
These SUVs serve very different Malaysian households. The Santa Fe is 4,830 mm long with seven seats and a 628-litre boot, so it has the space for a proper family load and third-row passengers. The Aceman is 754 mm shorter, carries five and has a 300-litre boot, but its 54.2-kWh battery delivers a claimed 406 km EV range and accepts 11 kW AC or 95 kW DC charging. Choose space and seating capacity, or compact electric running with a much stronger 215-hp motor.
Pick the Hyundai Santa Fe if you need seven seats, a 628-litre boot and rear air-con with third-row USB-C ports.
Pick the MINI Aceman if you want a five-seat EV with 406 km of claimed range, 95 kW DC charging and a 215-hp motor.
Key differences
- Price: Hyundai Santa Fe RM225,000; MINI Aceman RM213,888.
- Seating: Hyundai Santa Fe 7 seats; MINI Aceman 5 seats.
- Boot space: Hyundai Santa Fe 628 litres; MINI Aceman 300 litres.
- Length: Hyundai Santa Fe 4,830 mm; MINI Aceman 4,076 mm.
- Battery and range: Hyundai Santa Fe 1.49 kWh with no EV range stated; MINI Aceman 54.2 kWh and 406 km.
- Airbags: Hyundai Santa Fe 10; MINI Aceman 6.
Santa Fe
- Seven seats and a 628-litre boot
- Rear air-con blower controls plus USB-C ports for all three rows
- 10 airbags and lane-keeping steering correction
- Costs RM11,112 more
- At 4,830 mm long, it is 754 mm longer than the Aceman
- No EV driving range or AC/DC charging rate is stated
Aceman
- 406 km claimed EV range with 11 kW AC and 95 kW DC charging
- 215 hp and 330 Nm electric motor output
- Head-up display, front-seat massage function and auto parking
- Five seats and a 300-litre boot, against the Santa Fe's seven seats and 628 litres
- Six airbags versus the Santa Fe's 10
- Lane-keeping gives warnings only, while the Santa Fe provides steering correction
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM225,000 | RM213,888✓ |
| Body type | SUV | SUV |
| Segment | D-Segment | B-Segment |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM120✓ | RM200 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC Direct Injection with Turbocharger, Variable Valve Timing with Hybrid Assistance | 400V architecture |
| Capacity | 1,598 cc | — |
| Horsepower | 177 hp at 5,500 rpm | — |
| Torque | 265 Nm at 1,500 rpm | — |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 4 | — |
| Fuel | Petrol Hybrid/REV | Electric |
| Bore × Stroke | 75.6 mm × 89 mm | — |
| Compression Ratio | 10.5 | — |
| Number of Motors | 1 | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | 64 hp | 215 hp✓ |
| Motor Torque | 264 Nm | 330 Nm✓ |
| Battery Capacity | 1.49 kWh | 54.2 kWh✓ |
| EV Range | — | 406 km |
| Charging Rate (AC) | — | 11 kW |
| Charging Rate (DC) | — | 95 kW |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Single Ratio Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 6-speed Automatic | — |
| Gears | 6 | — |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | — | 7.1 seconds |
| Top Speed | — | 170 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,830 mm | 4,076 mm |
| Width | 1,900 mm | 1,754 mm |
| Height | 1,720 mm | 1,515 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,815 mm | 2,606 mm |
| Fuel Tank | 67 litres | — |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 7 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 628 litres✓ | 300 litres |
| Front Tyre | 255/45R20 | 225/40R19 |
| Rear Tyre | 255/45R20 | 225/40R19 |
| Spare Tyre | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit | — |
| Factory Tyres | Kumho Ecsta PS71 | Goodyear Assurance ComfortTred |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Korea (CBU) | China (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Struts | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 18" 5-arm Alloy Wheels | 19" Hexagram Alloy Wheels |
| Rear Wheels | 18" 5-arm Alloy Wheels | 19" Hexagram Alloy Wheels |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Assist) |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 10 (Driver & Front Passenger, Front Side and Rear Curtain Airbags, Front Centre Airbag and Driver's Knee Airbag) | 6 (Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Curtain) |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for Rear Doors | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 7 Three-point | 5 Three-point belts |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available for 2nd & 3rd Row Seats | Available on 2 Outer Rear Seats, Front Passenger Seat |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Warning Only |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | For All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Reflectors | LED Projector |
| Taillamps | Full LED | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Powered Front Seats with Driver's Side Memory | Powered Front Seats with Driver's Side Memory and Massage Function |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-folding Middle Row with One-touch Tumble, Manual Recline, 50:50 Split-folding Last Row | 60:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate |
| Rear Air-con | Rear AC Vents & Blower Controls | — |
| Power Sockets | 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 and Ambient Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 4 Second Row, 2 Third Row | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | Rear Window Shades | — |
| Audio | 12.3" Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, 6-speaker Sound System | 9.4" OLED Display with MINI OS, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Harman Kardon 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 Entry (Push Button Start) | Keyless Flip Switch |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Active Cruise Control (Requires Subscription) |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | — |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Contactless Opening, Powered Boot | Powered Tailgate |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | — |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | — |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, 360-degree Monitor | Yes, with 360-degree View 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 | 160,000 km | Unlimited✓ |
| Warranty Mileage Extended | — | Unlimited |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 8 years✓ | 2 years |
| Warranty Extended | — | 2 years |
| Warranty Notes | — | Repair Inclusive extendable up to 5 years, 8-year/160,000 km Battery Warranty |
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 Santa Fe & Aceman for sale
Santa Fe vs Aceman FAQ
Is the Hyundai Santa Fe or MINI Aceman better?
The Santa Fe is better for larger families because it has seven seats, a 628-litre boot and rear air-con. The Aceman is better for drivers able to charge regularly, with 406 km of claimed range and far smaller 4,076 mm dimensions.
What is the price difference?
The Hyundai Santa Fe costs RM225,000 and the MINI Aceman costs RM213,888, making the Santa Fe RM11,112 more expensive.
Which is easier to use in the city?
The MINI Aceman is easier to place in tight urban spaces: it is 4,076 mm long and 1,754 mm wide, versus the Santa Fe at 4,830 mm long and 1,900 mm wide. It also has auto parking.
