Verdict
At RM225,000, the seven-seat Hyundai Santa Fe undercuts the RM281,073 Xpeng X9 by RM56,073 and suits buyers who want a 67-litre petrol-hybrid SUV with an eight-year/160,000-km vehicle warranty. The X9 is the more specialised family carrier: its 535-km EV range, 94.8-kWh battery and 537-kW DC charging suit drivers with charging access, while its 3,160-mm wheelbase and 721-litre boot give it a clear space advantage. Its RM365 annual road tax versus RM120 is the trade-off, along with a five-year/120,000-km vehicle warranty.
Pick the Hyundai Santa Fe if you want the lower entry cost, lower RM120 road tax and longer eight-year/160,000-km vehicle warranty in a seven-seat SUV.
Pick the Xpeng X9 if charging access is sorted and you want a 535-km EV, a 721-litre boot and captain-seat second-row comfort.
Key differences
- Road tax per year: Hyundai Santa Fe RM120; Xpeng X9 RM365.
- Battery capacity: Hyundai Santa Fe 1.49 kWh; Xpeng X9 94.8 kWh.
- Boot space: Hyundai Santa Fe 628 litres; Xpeng X9 721 litres.
- Wheelbase: Hyundai Santa Fe 2,815 mm; Xpeng X9 3,160 mm.
- Vehicle warranty: Hyundai Santa Fe eight years/160,000 km; Xpeng X9 five years/120,000 km.
- Length: Hyundai Santa Fe 4,830 mm; Xpeng X9 5,316 mm.
Santa Fe
- Lower RM120 annual road tax.
- Eight-year/160,000-km vehicle warranty.
- 10 airbags, versus nine in the X9.
- Smaller 628-litre boot than the X9's 721 litres.
- No DC charging rate or EV range, unlike the X9's 537-kW DC charging and 535-km range.
- Second row is a 60:40 split bench with manual recline, rather than ventilated individual captain seats with 14-way adjustment.
X9
- 535-km EV range with a 94.8-kWh battery.
- 721-litre boot and 3,160-mm wheelbase.
- Ventilated, massaging front seats, ventilated second-row captain seats and powered rear sliding doors.
- RM365 annual road tax, against RM120 for the Santa Fe.
- Five-year/120,000-km vehicle warranty is shorter than the Santa Fe's eight-year/160,000-km cover.
- Nine airbags, one fewer than the Santa Fe's 10.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM225,000✓ | RM281,073 |
| Body type | SUV | MPV |
| Segment | D-Segment | D-Segment |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM120✓ | RM365 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC Direct Injection with Turbocharger, Variable Valve Timing with Hybrid Assistance | 800V 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 | 315 hp✓ |
| Motor Torque | 264 Nm | 450 Nm✓ |
| Battery Capacity | 1.49 kWh | 94.8 kWh✓ |
| EV Range | — | 535 km |
| Charging Rate (AC) | — | 11 kW |
| Charging Rate (DC) | — | 537 kW |
| V2L | — | 3.3 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 | — | 8.2 seconds |
| Top Speed | — | 200 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,830 mm | 5,316 mm |
| Width | 1,900 mm | 1,988 mm |
| Height | 1,720 mm | 1,785 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,815 mm | 3,160 mm |
| Weight | — | 2,750 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 67 litres | — |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 7 | 7 |
| Boot Space | 628 litres | 721 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 255/45R20 | 235/50R20 |
| Rear Tyre | 255/45R20 | 235/50R20 |
| Spare Tyre | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit | — |
| Factory Tyres | Kumho Ecsta PS71 | Michelin e-Primacy |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Korea (CBU) | China (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Struts | Double Wishbones with Air Suspension |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link with Air Suspension |
| Front Wheels | 18" 5-arm Alloy Wheels | 20" Alloys with Floating Logo |
| Rear Wheels | 18" 5-arm Alloy Wheels | 20" Alloys with Floating Logo |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | — | Air Suspension, Rear-axle Steering |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 10 (Driver & Front Passenger, Front Side and Rear Curtain Airbags, Front Centre Airbag and Driver's Knee Airbag) | 9 (Driver and Front Passenger, Side and Curtain Airbags, Integrated Second Row Seat Airbags, Front Centre Airbag) |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | — | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for Rear Doors | Electronic for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 7 Three-point | 7 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available for 2nd & 3rd Row Seats | Available on Second & Third Row Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Reflectors | LED Projectors |
| 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 | Driver and Front Passenger Powered Seats, Front Seat Ventilation and Massaging |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-folding Middle Row with One-touch Tumble, Manual Recline, 50:50 Split-folding Last Row | 14-way Second Row Individual Captain Seats with Ventilation, 60:40 Split-folding Third Row with One-touch Electric Folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System |
| Rear Air-con | Rear AC Vents & Blower Controls | Triple-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Sunroof | — | Double Glass Roof |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger Front, 2 USB-C Front, 2 USB-C Second Row, 2 USB-C Third Row | 1 Front, 2 USB Front, 4 Wireless Chargers, 2 USB Second Row, 2 USB Third Row |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lighting |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 4 Second Row, 2 Third Row | 2 Front, 2 Second Row, 2 Third Row |
| Sun Shade | Rear Window Shades | Sunroof Shade, Rear Window Shades |
| Audio | 12.3" Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, 6-speaker Sound System | 17.3" Touchscreen with Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 27-speaker XOpera 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 Start (Depress Brake Pedal) |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | — |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Contactless Opening, Powered Boot | Contactless Opening, Powered Boot |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, 360-degree Monitor | Yes, with 360-degree Surround View |
| Auto Parking | — | Yes |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | — | ✓ |
| Power Door | — | Front Doors & Rear Sliding Doors |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | 160,000 km✓ | 120,000 km |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 8 years✓ | 5 years |
| Warranty Notes | — | 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 & X9 for sale
Santa Fe vs X9 FAQ
Is the Hyundai Santa Fe or Xpeng X9 better?
The Xpeng X9 is better for EV driving, larger luggage capacity and second-row comfort, with 535 km of range and a 721-litre boot. The Hyundai Santa Fe is the stronger choice for lower road tax and longer vehicle warranty coverage.
What is the price difference?
The Xpeng X9 costs RM56,073 more than the Hyundai Santa Fe.
Which one is better for charging on long trips?
The Xpeng X9 is the only choice here for plug-in charging: it has 11-kW AC and 537-kW DC charging, plus a 94.8-kWh battery and 535-km EV range. The Santa Fe is a petrol hybrid with a 1.49-kWh battery.
