Verdict
At RM225,000, the seven-seat Hyundai Santa Fe costs RM3,200 more than the RM221,800 Toyota Camry, yet its 628-litre boot, 2,815-mm wheelbase and third row suit a Malaysian family carrying people and luggage. Its 1.6-litre hybrid setup also cuts annual road tax to RM120, far below the Camry’s RM867. The Camry answers with 201 hp, an eight-speed automatic and a 210-km/h top speed, but it is strictly a five-seat sedan with a 524-litre boot. Choose space and lower annual tax, or the stronger conventional petrol sedan.
Pick the Hyundai Santa Fe if you need seven seats, a 628-litre boot and RM120 annual road tax.
Pick the Toyota Camry if you want 201 hp, an eight-speed automatic and a better-equipped front cabin for five people.
Key differences
- Price: Hyundai Santa Fe RM225,000; Toyota Camry RM221,800.
- Seating and boot space: Hyundai Santa Fe 7 seats and 628 litres; Toyota Camry 5 seats and 524 litres.
- Powertrain: Hyundai Santa Fe 1.6-litre hybrid with 177 hp engine output and one 64-hp motor; Toyota Camry 2.5-litre petrol with 201 hp.
- Annual road tax: Hyundai Santa Fe RM120; Toyota Camry RM867.
- Transmission: Hyundai Santa Fe 6-speed automatic; Toyota Camry Direct Shift 8-speed automatic.
- Dimensions: Hyundai Santa Fe 4,830 mm long and 1,720 mm tall; Toyota Camry 4,920 mm long and 1,445 mm tall.
Santa Fe
- Seven seats and a 628-litre boot.
- RM120 annual road tax.
- Ten airbags and ISOFIX for second- and third-row seats.
- 177 hp versus the Camry’s 201 hp.
- Six-speed automatic versus the Camry’s eight-speed unit.
- No head-up display or front foglamps.
Camry
- 201 hp from its 2.5-litre petrol engine.
- Eight-speed automatic, 8.9-second 0-100 km/h time and 210-km/h top speed.
- Head-up display, auto high beam and nine-speaker JBL audio.
- Five seats versus the Santa Fe’s seven.
- 524-litre boot versus the Santa Fe’s 628 litres.
- RM867 annual road tax versus RM120.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM225,000 | RM221,800✓ |
| Body type | SUV | Sedan |
| Segment | D-Segment | D-Segment |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM120✓ | RM867 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC Direct Injection with Turbocharger, Variable Valve Timing with Hybrid Assistance | 16-valve DOHC, naturally-aspirated with dual variable valve timing |
| Capacity | 1,598 cc | 2,487 cc |
| Horsepower | 177 hp at 5,500 rpm | 201 hp at 6,600 rpm✓ |
| Torque | 265 Nm at 1,500 rpm✓ | 246 Nm at 4,200 rpm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 4 | Inline 4 |
| Fuel | Petrol Hybrid/REV | Petrol |
| Bore × Stroke | 75.6 mm × 89 mm | 87.5 mm × 103.4 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 10.5 | 14 |
| Number of Motors | 1 | — |
| Motor Horsepower | 64 hp | — |
| Motor Torque | 264 Nm | — |
| Battery Capacity | 1.49 kWh | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 6-speed Automatic | Direct Shift 8-speed Automatic |
| Gears | 6 | 8 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | — | Aisin |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | — | 8.9 seconds |
| Top Speed | — | 210 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,830 mm | 4,920 mm |
| Width | 1,900 mm | 1,840 mm |
| Height | 1,720 mm | 1,445 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,815 mm | 2,825 mm |
| Weight | — | 1,565 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 67 litres | 60 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 4 |
| Seats | 7 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 628 litres✓ | 524 litres |
| Front Tyre | 255/45R20 | 235/45R18 |
| Rear Tyre | 255/45R20 | Space Saver |
| Spare Tyre | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit | Tyre Repair Kit |
| Factory Tyres | Kumho Ecsta PS71 | Bridgestone Turanza T005A |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Korea (CBU) | Thailand (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Struts | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Double Wishbone |
| Front Wheels | 18" 5-arm Alloy Wheels | 18" Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 18" 5-arm Alloy Wheels | 18" Alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 10 (Driver & Front Passenger, Front Side and Rear Curtain Airbags, Front Centre Airbag and Driver's Knee Airbag) | 7 (Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Driver's Knee, Front and Rear Curtain) |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | — | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for Rear Doors | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 7 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available for 2nd & 3rd Row Seats | Available for two outer rear passenger seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes, Pre-collision Braking |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Reflectors | Bi-LED Projector with Auto High Beam |
| Taillamps | Full LED | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | — | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Powered Front Seats with Driver's Side Memory | 8-way Power Adjustable Driver's Seat with Memory Function, Power Adjustable 4-way Ottoman Passenger Seat |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-folding Middle Row with One-touch Tumble, Manual Recline, 50:50 Split-folding Last Row | Fixed Rear Seats |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Rear AC Vents & Blower Controls | Rear Vents |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger Front, 2 USB-C Front, 2 USB-C Second Row, 2 USB-C Third Row | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 3 USB Front, 2 USB Rear |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting | Map Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 4 Second Row, 2 Third Row | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | Rear Window Shades | Manual Rear Sun Shades |
| Audio | 12.3" Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, 6-speaker Sound System | 12.3" Touchscreen with Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, 9-speaker JBL 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 Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Tiptronic | — | ✓ |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | — | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Contactless Opening, Powered Boot | Remote Control Activation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, 360-degree Monitor | Yes, With 360 Degree Camera |
| 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 Manufacturer | 8 years✓ | 5 years |
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 & Camry for sale
Santa Fe vs Camry FAQ
Is the Hyundai Santa Fe or Toyota Camry better?
The Santa Fe is better for a seven-person family, with seven seats, a 628-litre boot and much lower RM120 road tax. The Camry is better for five occupants wanting 201 hp, an eight-speed automatic, head-up display and JBL audio.
What is the price difference?
The Hyundai Santa Fe costs RM3,200 more than the Toyota Camry. That gap brings two extra seats, 104 litres more boot space, four extra USB-C ports across the cabin and a powered contactless-opening boot.
Which has lower running tax and more luggage room?
The Hyundai Santa Fe does both: annual road tax is RM120 against the Camry’s RM867, while its boot holds 628 litres against 524 litres. The Santa Fe also has a 67-litre fuel tank, compared with 60 litres in the Camry.
