Verdict
At RM225,000, the Hyundai Santa Fe costs RM13,888 less yet brings seven seats and a 628-litre boot, against the Lexus LBX’s five seats and 315 litres. It is also 640 mm longer, so this is a substantial D-segment SUV beside a B-segment one. The Santa Fe’s 1.6-litre turbo hybrid engine makes 177 hp and 265 Nm; the LBX’s 1.5-litre naturally aspirated unit makes 90 hp and 120 Nm. The LBX is the handier 4,190-mm choice, but the Santa Fe is the clear Malaysian family-car pick.
Pick the Hyundai Santa Fe if you need seven seats, a 628-litre boot and a larger 4,830-mm SUV for less money.
Pick the Lexus LBX if a compact 4,190-mm five-seat SUV, a 93-hp electric motor and unlimited-mileage vehicle warranty suit your use better.
Key differences
- Price: Hyundai Santa Fe RM225,000; Lexus LBX RM238,888.
- Seating and boot space: Santa Fe 7 seats and 628 litres; LBX 5 seats and 315 litres.
- Length and wheelbase: Santa Fe 4,830 mm and 2,815 mm; LBX 4,190 mm and 2,580 mm.
- Engine output: Santa Fe 177 hp and 265 Nm; LBX 90 hp and 120 Nm.
- Fuel tank: Santa Fe 67 litres; LBX 36 litres.
- Warranty: Santa Fe 8 years/160,000 km; LBX 5 years/unlimited mileage.
Santa Fe
- Seven seats and a 628-litre boot.
- 177-hp, 265-Nm 1.6-litre turbo hybrid engine.
- 10 airbags, 360-degree monitor and six front/rear parking sensors.
- No alarm, while the LBX has one.
- Vehicle warranty is capped at 160,000 km; the LBX vehicle warranty has unlimited mileage.
LBX
- Shorter 4,190-mm body and 2,580-mm wheelbase.
- 93-hp electric motor and 64-colour ambient lighting.
- Unlimited-mileage five-year vehicle warranty, plus an eight-year unlimited-mileage hybrid-battery warranty.
- Only five seats and a 315-litre boot versus the Santa Fe's seven seats and 628 litres.
- 90-hp, 120-Nm engine trails the Santa Fe's 177 hp and 265 Nm.
- Eight airbags versus the Santa Fe's 10.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM225,000✓ | RM238,888 |
| Body type | SUV | SUV |
| Segment | D-Segment | B-Segment |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM120 | RM120 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC Direct Injection with Turbocharger, Variable Valve Timing with Hybrid Assistance | 12-valve DOHC, naturally-aspirated, Atkinson cycle with variable valve timing |
| Capacity | 1,598 cc | 1,490 cc |
| Horsepower | 177 hp at 5,500 rpm✓ | 90 hp at 5,500 rpm |
| Torque | 265 Nm at 1,500 rpm✓ | 120 Nm at 3,600 rpm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 4 | Inline 3 |
| Fuel | Petrol Hybrid/REV | Petrol Hybrid/REV |
| Bore × Stroke | 75.6 mm × 89 mm | 80.5 mm × 97.6 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 10.5 | 14 |
| Number of Motors | 1 | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | 64 hp | 93 hp✓ |
| Motor Torque | 264 Nm✓ | 185 Nm |
| Battery Capacity | 1.49 kWh | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | eCVT Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 6-speed Automatic | E-CVT |
| Gears | 6 | — |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | — | 9.6 seconds |
| Top Speed | — | 170 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,830 mm | 4,190 mm |
| Width | 1,900 mm | 1,825 mm |
| Height | 1,720 mm | 1,550 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,815 mm | 2,580 mm |
| Fuel Tank | 67 litres | 36 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 7 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 628 litres✓ | 315 litres |
| Front Tyre | 255/45R20 | 215/60R17 |
| Rear Tyre | 255/45R20 | 215/60R17 |
| Spare Tyre | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit | Tyre Repair Kit |
| Factory Tyres | Kumho Ecsta PS71 | Dunlop Enasave ECC300+ |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Korea (CBU) | Japan (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Struts | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Torsion beam |
| Front Wheels | 18" 5-arm Alloy Wheels | 17" Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 18" 5-arm Alloy Wheels | 17" 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) | 8 (Driver and Passenger, Front Knee, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Front Cushion Bag) |
| 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 Outer 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 | LED Projectors |
| Taillamps | Full LED | LED Combination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Powered Front Seats with Driver's Side Memory | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Memory 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 Control with nanoe Ioniser |
| 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 | 4 USB-C Ports, 2 12V sockets |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights (64 Colours) |
| 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 | 9.8" Multimedia Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and 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 Entry (Push Button Start) | Keyless Push Start |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Active Cruise Control |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | — |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| 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 |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| 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 |
| Warranty Notes | — | 8-year, unlimited mileage warranty on hybrid battery |
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 & LBX for sale
Santa Fe vs LBX FAQ
Is the Hyundai Santa Fe or Lexus LBX better?
The Santa Fe is better for carrying people and luggage: it has seven seats, a 628-litre boot and a 177-hp engine. The LBX is better only if its much shorter 4,190-mm footprint and unlimited-mileage vehicle warranty matter more.
What is the price difference?
The Lexus LBX costs RM13,888 more than the Hyundai Santa Fe. The Santa Fe is RM225,000 and the LBX is RM238,888.
Which has more practical cabin space?
The Hyundai Santa Fe. It has seven seats, a 2,815-mm wheelbase and a 628-litre boot, compared with five seats, a 2,580-mm wheelbase and 315 litres in the Lexus LBX.
