Hyundai Santa Fe vs Omoda Jaecoo J8
Verdict
The Hyundai Santa Fe is the more family-shaped SUV: seven seats, a 628-litre boot, 10 airbags, a 1.5 kWh hybrid battery and RM120 annual road tax. The Omoda Jaecoo J8 hits back hard on value and pace, costing RM46,200 less while giving 246 hp and 385 Nm from its 1,998 cc petrol engine, against the Hyundai Santa Fe’s 177 hp and 265 Nm. But with only five seats and 200 litres of boot space, it gives away real utility.
Pick the Hyundai Santa Fe if you need seven seats, the 628-litre boot, lower RM120 road tax and the extra airbag count more than outright power.
Pick the Omoda Jaecoo J8 if you want the lower entry price, stronger 246 hp/385 Nm outputs and a five-seat SUV layout.
Key differences
- Price: Hyundai Santa Fe RM225,000; Omoda Jaecoo J8 RM178,800
- Seats: Hyundai Santa Fe 7; Omoda Jaecoo J8 5
- Engine/output: Hyundai Santa Fe 1,598 cc, 177 hp/265 Nm; Omoda Jaecoo J8 1,998 cc, 246 hp/385 Nm
- Boot space: Hyundai Santa Fe 628 litres; Omoda Jaecoo J8 200 litres
- Airbags/warranty: Hyundai Santa Fe 10 airbags/8 years; Omoda Jaecoo J8 6 airbags/7 years
- Road tax: Hyundai Santa Fe RM120/year; Omoda Jaecoo J8 RM439/year
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 225,000 | RM 178,800✓ |
| Body type | SUV | SUV |
| Segment | D-Segment | D-Segment |
| Seats | 7 | 5 |
| Assembly | CBU | CKD |
| Powertrain | ||
| Fuel | Petrol Hybrid/REV | Petrol |
| Engine | 1,598 cc | 1,998 cc |
| Power | 177 hp | 246 hp✓ |
| Torque | 265 Nm | 385 Nm✓ |
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Driven wheels | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Performance | ||
| 0–100 km/h | — | 9.0 s |
| Top speed | — | 200 km/h |
| Efficiency | ||
| Battery | 1.5 kWh | — |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,830 mm | 4,820 mm |
| Width | 1,900 mm | 1,930 mm |
| Height | 1,720 mm | 1,699 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,815 mm | 2,820 mm |
| Boot space | 628 L✓ | 200 L |
| Fuel tank | 67 L | 65 L |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 10✓ | 6 |
| Auto emergency braking | Yes | Yes |
| Ownership | ||
| Warranty | 8✓ | 7 |
| Road tax / year | RM 120✓ | RM 439 |
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.
Santa Fe
- Seven-seat cabin
- 628-litre boot
- 10 airbags and 8-year warranty
- RM46,200 dearer
- Lower 177 hp/265 Nm outputs
J8
- RM46,200 cheaper
- Stronger 246 hp and 385 Nm
- 9.0-second 0-100 km/h claim
- Only five seats
- 200-litre boot
- RM439 annual road tax
Santa Fe vs J8 FAQ
Is the Hyundai Santa Fe or Omoda Jaecoo J8 better?
For family use, the Hyundai Santa Fe is the better fit with seven seats, a 628-litre boot and 10 airbags. The Omoda Jaecoo J8 is better if power and purchase price matter more than carrying capacity.
What is the price difference?
The Omoda Jaecoo J8 is RM46,200 cheaper: RM178,800 versus RM225,000 for the Hyundai Santa Fe.
Which SUV is more practical?
The Hyundai Santa Fe is more practical on paper. It has seven seats and 628 litres of boot space, while the Omoda Jaecoo J8 has five seats and 200 litres of boot space.