Verdict
At RM225,000, the seven-seat Hyundai Santa Fe costs RM2,311 more than the five-seat Subaru Forester at RM222,689, but it is a distinctly larger family car: 4,830 mm long with a 2,815 mm wheelbase and a 628-litre boot. Its 1.6-litre turbo hybrid combines 177 hp with a 64-hp motor, and its RM120 annual road tax is far below the Forester’s RM838. The Subaru counters with all-wheel drive, X-Mode and 182 hp, but its 247 Nm arrives at 3,700 rpm against the Hyundai’s 265 Nm from 1,500 rpm.
Pick the Hyundai Santa Fe if you need seven seats, a 628-litre boot, lower RM120 road tax and a longer eight-year/160,000-km warranty.
Pick the Subaru Forester if all-wheel drive, X-Mode, a space-saver spare tyre and a 9.7-second 0-100 km/h figure matter more than third-row space.
Key differences
- Price: Hyundai Santa Fe RM225,000; Subaru Forester RM222,689.
- Seats and boot space: Hyundai Santa Fe 7 seats and 628 litres; Subaru Forester 5 seats and 496 litres.
- Driveline: Hyundai Santa Fe front-wheel drive; Subaru Forester all-wheel drive.
- Road tax: Hyundai Santa Fe RM120 per year; Subaru Forester RM838 per year.
- Warranty: Hyundai Santa Fe 8 years/160,000 km; Subaru Forester 5 years/100,000 km.
- Powertrain: Hyundai Santa Fe 1.6L turbo hybrid with 177 hp plus a 64-hp motor; Subaru Forester 2.5L naturally aspirated petrol with 182 hp.
Santa Fe
- Seven seats and a 628-litre boot
- RM120 annual road tax
- Eight-year/160,000-km warranty
- Front-wheel drive versus the Forester's all-wheel drive
- Tyre repair kit instead of a space-saver spare
- No published 0-100 km/h or top-speed figure
Forester
- All-wheel drive with SI-Drive and X-Mode
- Space-saver spare tyre
- Published 9.7-second 0-100 km/h time
- Only five seats versus the Santa Fe's seven
- 496-litre boot is 132 litres smaller
- RM838 annual road tax and a shorter five-year/100,000-km warranty
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM225,000 | RM222,689✓ |
| Body type | SUV | SUV |
| Segment | D-Segment | C-Segment |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM120✓ | RM838 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC Direct Injection with Turbocharger, Variable Valve Timing with Hybrid Assistance | 16-Valve DOHC, naturally-aspirated with variable valve timing |
| Capacity | 1,598 cc | 2,498 cc |
| Horsepower | 177 hp at 5,500 rpm | 182 hp at 5,800 rpm✓ |
| Torque | 265 Nm at 1,500 rpm✓ | 247 Nm at 3,700 rpm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 4 | Boxer 4 |
| Fuel | Petrol Hybrid/REV | Petrol |
| Bore × Stroke | 75.6 mm × 89 mm | — |
| Compression Ratio | 10.5 | — |
| Number of Motors | 1 | — |
| Motor Horsepower | 64 hp | — |
| Motor Torque | 264 Nm | — |
| Battery Capacity | 1.49 kWh | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | CVT Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 6-speed Automatic | Lineartronic |
| Gears | 6 | — |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | — | 9.7 seconds |
| Top Speed | — | 205 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,830 mm | 4,655 mm |
| Width | 1,900 mm | 1,830 mm |
| Height | 1,720 mm | 1,730 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,815 mm | 2,670 mm |
| Weight | — | 1,643 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 67 litres | 63 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 7 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 628 litres✓ | 496 litres |
| Front Tyre | 255/45R20 | 225/55R18 |
| Rear Tyre | 255/45R20 | 225/55R18 |
| Spare Tyre | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit | Space Saver |
| Factory Tyres | Kumho Ecsta PS71 | Falken Ziex ZE001A A/S |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Korea (CBU) | Japan (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Struts | MacPherson Struts |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Double Wishbones |
| 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 Assist) |
| Chassis Notes | — | SI-Drive and X-Mode |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 10 (Driver & Front Passenger, Front Side and Rear Curtain Airbags, Front Centre Airbag and Driver's Knee Airbag) | 8 (Driver and Passenger, Driver's Knee & Front Passenger Seat Cushion, Front Side, 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 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 Projector |
| 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 | 10-way power adjustable driver with memory, 8-way powered adjustment front passenger |
| 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 |
| Rear Air-con | Rear AC Vents & Blower Controls | Rear AC 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, 2 USB Front, 1 Wireless Charger |
| 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 | — |
| Audio | 12.3" Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, 6-speaker Sound System | 11.6" HD Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti Pinch | Four Windows, Driver and Front Passenger 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 with Stop and Go |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Contactless Opening, Powered Boot | Powered Boot |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | — |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, 360-degree Monitor | Yes, 360-degree View Monitor |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | — |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Backlit Analogue |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | 160,000 km✓ | 100,000 km |
| 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 & Forester for sale
Santa Fe vs Forester FAQ
Is the Hyundai Santa Fe or Subaru Forester better?
The Santa Fe is the better family choice: it has seven seats, a 628-litre boot and RM120 road tax. Choose the Forester for all-wheel drive, X-Mode and its space-saver spare tyre.
What is the price difference?
The Hyundai Santa Fe costs RM225,000 and the Subaru Forester costs RM222,689, so the Santa Fe is RM2,311 more expensive.
Which has more passenger and luggage space?
The Hyundai Santa Fe does. It has seven seats, a 2,815 mm wheelbase and a 628-litre boot, against the Forester's five seats, 2,670 mm wheelbase and 496-litre boot.
