Verdict
The RM27,800 dearer BMW X1 is the sharper paper-spec choice for outright urge: its 2.0-litre turbo makes 201 hp and 300 Nm, reaches 100 km/h in 7.6 seconds and has a 236 km/h top speed. But the Hyundai Santa Fe is the more practical Malaysian family car. It brings seven seats, a 628-litre boot and a 67-litre tank against the X1’s five seats, 476 litres and 45 litres, while its 1.6-litre turbo-hybrid setup cuts annual road tax to RM120 versus RM439. The BMW’s 19-inch wheels and adaptive LED projectors add polish, but the Santa Fe’s eight-year/160,000-km warranty is hard to ignore.
Pick the BMW X1 if you want 201 hp, 300 Nm and a claimed 7.6-second 0-100 km/h time in a smaller five-seat SUV.
Pick the Hyundai Santa Fe if seven seats, a 628-litre boot, RM120 annual road tax and an eight-year/160,000-km warranty matter more.
Key differences
- Price: BMW X1 RM252,800; Hyundai Santa Fe RM225,000.
- Power and torque: BMW X1 201 hp/300 Nm; Hyundai Santa Fe 177 hp/265 Nm petrol engine plus a 64 hp/264 Nm motor.
- Size: BMW X1 4,500 mm long with a 2,692 mm wheelbase; Hyundai Santa Fe 4,830 mm and 2,815 mm.
- Seating and boot: BMW X1 has 5 seats and 476 litres; Hyundai Santa Fe has 7 seats and 628 litres.
- Annual road tax: BMW X1 RM439; Hyundai Santa Fe RM120.
- Warranty: BMW X1 2 years with unlimited mileage; Hyundai Santa Fe 8 years/160,000 km.
X1
- 201 hp and 300 Nm from a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine.
- Claimed 0-100 km/h in 7.6 seconds and 236 km/h top speed.
- Adaptive LED projector headlamps and Parking Assistant.
- RM27,800 more expensive than the Santa Fe.
- Only five seats and a 476-litre boot versus seven seats and 628 litres.
- RM439 annual road tax and a two-year warranty, versus RM120 and eight years/160,000 km.
Santa Fe
- Seven seats, 628-litre boot and 2,815 mm wheelbase.
- 1.6-litre turbo-hybrid setup with RM120 annual road tax.
- Eight-year/160,000-km warranty, adaptive cruise control and a 360-degree monitor.
- Its petrol engine’s 177 hp and 265 Nm trail the X1’s 201 hp and 300 Nm.
- No stated 0-100 km/h time or top speed.
- Tyre repair kit instead of the X1’s space-saver spare tyre.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM252,800 | RM225,000✓ |
| Body type | SUV | SUV |
| Segment | C-Segment | D-Segment |
| Assembly | CKD | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM439 | RM120✓ |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC direct injection with twin-scroll turbocharger, variable valve timing | 16-valve DOHC Direct Injection with Turbocharger, Variable Valve Timing with Hybrid Assistance |
| Capacity | 1,998 cc | 1,598 cc |
| Horsepower | 201 hp✓ | 177 hp |
| Torque | 300 Nm✓ | 265 Nm |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol Hybrid/REV |
| Bore | 82 mm | 75.6 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 11.1 | 10.5 |
| Number of Motors | — | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | — | 64 hp |
| Motor Torque | — | 264 Nm |
| Battery Capacity | — | 1.49 kWh |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | Steptronic Dual-clutch | 6-speed Automatic |
| Gears | 7 | 6 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Getrag | — |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 7.6 seconds | — |
| Rated Economy | 7.2 L/100 km | — |
| Top Speed | 236 km/h | — |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,500 mm | 4,830 mm |
| Width | 1,845 mm | 1,900 mm |
| Height | 1,642 mm | 1,720 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,692 mm | 2,815 mm |
| Fuel Tank | 45 litres | 67 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 7 |
| Boot Space | 476 litres | 628 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 245/45R19 | 255/45R20 |
| Rear Tyre | 245/45R19 | 255/45R20 |
| Spare Tyre | Space Saver | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit |
| Factory Tyres | Continental EcoContact 6 Q | Kumho Ecsta PS71 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Korea (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | MacPherson Struts |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 19" V-spoke style 867 Bicolour Light Alloy Wheels | 18" 5-arm Alloy Wheels |
| Rear Wheels | 19" V-spoke style 867 Bicolour Light Alloy Wheels | 18" 5-arm Alloy Wheels |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Crash Safety Ratings | ||
| EuroNCAP | 5 stars | — |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Front, front-side, rear | Driver & Front Passenger, Front Side and Rear Curtain Airbags, Front Centre Airbag and Driver's Knee Airbag |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | — | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for Rear Doors | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 7 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on front passenger seat and two outer rear passenger seats | Available for 2nd & 3rd Row Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Warning Only | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Adaptive LED Projector | LED Reflectors |
| Taillamps | LED Combination | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power Adjustable Front Seats | Powered Front Seats with Driver's Side Memory |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-folding | 60:40 Split-folding Middle Row with One-touch Tumble, Manual Recline, 50:50 Split-folding Last Row |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Rear AC Vents | Rear AC Vents & Blower Controls |
| Power Sockets | 2x USB-C front, 2x USB-C rear | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger Front, 2 USB-C Front, 2 USB-C Second Row, 2 USB-C Third Row |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 4 Second Row, 2 Third Row |
| Sun Shade | — | Rear Window Shades |
| Audio | 10.7" BMW Operating System 8 with Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto | 12.3" Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay & 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 Push Button | Keyless Entry (Push Button Start) |
| Locks | Keyless Entry | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | — |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation | Contactless Opening, Powered Boot |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes | Yes, 360-degree Monitor |
| Auto Parking | Parking Assistant | — |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Power Door | No | — |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited✓ | 160,000 km |
| Warranty Mileage Extended | Unlimited | — |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 2 years | 8 years✓ |
| Warranty Extended | 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 X1 & Santa Fe for sale
X1 vs Santa Fe FAQ
Is the BMW X1 or Hyundai Santa Fe better?
The Santa Fe is better for larger families: it has seven seats, a 628-litre boot, lower RM120 road tax and an eight-year/160,000-km warranty. Choose the X1 for its 201 hp, 300 Nm, 7.6-second 0-100 km/h claim and smaller footprint.
What is the price difference?
The BMW X1 costs RM252,800 and the Hyundai Santa Fe costs RM225,000, so the X1 is RM27,800 more expensive.
Which has more passenger and luggage space?
The Hyundai Santa Fe does. It seats seven and has a 628-litre boot, compared with five seats and 476 litres in the BMW X1. Its wheelbase is also 2,815 mm, 123 mm longer than the X1’s 2,692 mm.