Verdict
At RM225,000, the Santa Fe costs RM555,000 less than the RM780,000 GX, and its RM120 annual road tax undercuts RM2,352 dramatically. Its hybrid combines a 177 hp 1.6-litre turbo four with a 64 hp motor, plus seven seats and 628 litres of boot space, which makes more sense for family duty. The GX answers with 349 hp, 650 Nm and all-wheel drive, along with a 1,063-litre boot, but it is a five-seater and 185 mm longer. Choose it only if those figures outweigh the ownership-cost gap.
Pick the Hyundai Santa Fe if you need seven seats, hybrid assistance and far lower purchase and road-tax costs.
Pick the Lexus GX if 349 hp, 650 Nm, all-wheel drive and a 1,063-litre boot matter more than having a third row.
Key differences
- Price: Hyundai Santa Fe RM225,000; Lexus GX RM780,000.
- Annual road tax: Hyundai Santa Fe RM120; Lexus GX RM2,352.
- Power and torque: Hyundai Santa Fe 177 hp and 265 Nm, plus a 64 hp/264 Nm motor; Lexus GX 349 hp and 650 Nm.
- Driveline: Hyundai Santa Fe front-wheel drive; Lexus GX all-wheel drive.
- Seating and boot space: Hyundai Santa Fe seven seats and 628 litres; Lexus GX five seats and 1,063 litres.
- Length: Hyundai Santa Fe 4,830 mm; Lexus GX 5,015 mm.
Santa Fe
- Seven seats with ISOFIX for the second and third rows.
- Hybrid system with a 1.49 kWh battery and 64 hp electric motor.
- Eight-year, 160,000 km manufacturer warranty.
- Front-wheel drive versus the GX's all-wheel drive.
- 177 hp and 265 Nm from the petrol engine trail the GX's 349 hp and 650 Nm.
- 628-litre boot is smaller than the GX's 1,063 litres.
GX
- 349 hp, 650 Nm twin-turbo V6 and all-wheel drive.
- 1,063-litre boot space.
- Adaptive high beam, head-up display and ventilated, heated front seats.
- RM780,000 price is RM555,000 higher than the Santa Fe.
- Five seats versus the Santa Fe's seven.
- RM2,352 annual road tax versus RM120.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM225,000✓ | RM780,000 |
| Body type | SUV | SUV |
| Segment | D-Segment | D-Segment |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM120✓ | RM2,352 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC Direct Injection with Turbocharger, Variable Valve Timing with Hybrid Assistance | 24-valve DOHC, twin-turbocharged with direct fuel injection and dual variable valve timing |
| Capacity | 1,598 cc | 3,445 cc |
| Horsepower | 177 hp at 5,500 rpm | 349 hp at 4,800 rpm✓ |
| Torque | 265 Nm at 1,500 rpm | 650 Nm at 2,000 rpm✓ |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 4 | V 6 |
| Fuel | Petrol Hybrid/REV | Petrol |
| Bore × Stroke | 75.6 mm × 89 mm | 85.5 mm × 100 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 10.5 | 10.3 |
| 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 | 10-Speed Direct Shift |
| Gears | 6 | 10 |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | — | 7 seconds |
| Top Speed | — | 175 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,830 mm | 5,015 mm |
| Width | 1,900 mm | 2,000 mm |
| Height | 1,720 mm | 1,890 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,815 mm | 2,850 mm |
| Weight | — | 3,110 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 67 litres | 80 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 7 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 628 litres | 1,063 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 255/45R20 | 265/70R18 |
| Rear Tyre | 255/45R20 | 265/70R18 |
| Spare Tyre | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit | Full-size |
| Factory Tyres | Kumho Ecsta PS71 | — |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Korea (CBU) | Japan (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Struts | Double Wishbones |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 18" 5-arm Alloy Wheels | 18" Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 18" 5-arm Alloy Wheels | 18" Alloys |
| 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, Front and Rear Curtain, Driver's Knee) |
| 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 on two rear passenger seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | For All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Reflectors | Bi-LED Projector with Adaptive High Beam and Sequential Indicators |
| Taillamps | Full LED | LED Combination |
| 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 Front Seats with Driver's Memory Function, Ventilated and Heated |
| 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 Control with Lexus Climate Concierge |
| Rear Air-con | Rear AC Vents & Blower Controls | Rear Vents |
| Sunroof | — | Front |
| 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 |
| 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 | Sunroof Shade and Rear Window Shades |
| Audio | 12.3" Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, 6-speaker Sound System | 14" Touchscreen with Bluetooth, Navigation, Voice Recognition, Wired Android Auto, Wireless Apple CarPlay and 10-speaker Pioneer 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 (with Smart Card Key) |
| Auto Start/Stop | — | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | — | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Contactless Opening, Powered Boot | Powered Boot |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, 360-degree Monitor | Yes, with Surround View 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 & GX for sale
Santa Fe vs GX FAQ
Is the Hyundai Santa Fe or Lexus GX better?
The Santa Fe is the better choice for most Malaysian families: it has seven seats, hybrid assistance and costs RM555,000 less. The GX is the choice for buyers who specifically need its 349 hp, 650 Nm, all-wheel drive and larger 1,063-litre boot.
What is the price difference?
The Lexus GX costs RM780,000 and the Hyundai Santa Fe costs RM225,000, so the GX carries a RM555,000 premium.
Which SUV carries more people?
The Hyundai Santa Fe seats seven people, compared with five in the Lexus GX. The GX instead has the larger boot, at 1,063 litres against the Santa Fe's 628 litres.
