Hyundai Santa Fe vs Lexus GX
Verdict
The Hyundai Santa Fe is the sensible Malaysian family choice at RM225,000: seven seats, 10 airbags, an eight-year warranty and RM120 road tax make its case clearly. The Lexus GX costs RM780,000, and the RM555,000 gap buys a much larger 3,445 cc petrol engine, 349 hp, 650 Nm, all-wheel drive and a bigger 1,063-litre boot. But it has only five seats, seven airbags and RM2,352 annual road tax, so its strengths are muscle and size rather than head-count value.
Pick the Hyundai Santa Fe if you need seven seats, lower annual road tax and the longer eight-year warranty.
Pick the Lexus GX if you want 349 hp, 650 Nm, all-wheel drive and the larger 1,063-litre boot.
Key differences
- Price: Hyundai Santa Fe RM225,000; Lexus GX RM780,000
- Seats: Hyundai Santa Fe 7; Lexus GX 5
- Power and torque: Hyundai Santa Fe 177 hp/265 Nm; Lexus GX 349 hp/650 Nm
- Driven wheels: Hyundai Santa Fe front-wheel drive; Lexus GX all-wheel drive
- Boot space: Hyundai Santa Fe 628 litres; Lexus GX 1,063 litres
- Road tax: Hyundai Santa Fe RM120/year; Lexus GX RM2,352/year
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 225,000✓ | RM 780,000 |
| Body type | SUV | SUV |
| Segment | D-Segment | D-Segment |
| Seats | 7 | 5 |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Powertrain | ||
| Fuel | Petrol Hybrid/REV | Petrol |
| Engine | 1,598 cc | 3,445 cc |
| Power | 177 hp | 349 hp✓ |
| Torque | 265 Nm | 650 Nm✓ |
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Driven wheels | Front Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance | ||
| 0–100 km/h | — | 7.0 s |
| Top speed | — | 175 km/h |
| Efficiency | ||
| Battery | 1.5 kWh | — |
| 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 |
| Boot space | 628 L | 1,063 L✓ |
| Fuel tank | 67 L | 80 L |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 10✓ | 7 |
| Auto emergency braking | Yes | Yes |
| Ownership | ||
| Warranty | 8✓ | 5 |
| Road tax / year | RM 120✓ | RM 2,352 |
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 seats versus the Lexus GX’s five
- 10 airbags and AEB
- Eight-year warranty with RM120 road tax
- 177 hp and 265 Nm are well below the Lexus GX
- Front-wheel drive only
- Boot is smaller at 628 litres
GX
- 349 hp and 650 Nm
- All-wheel drive
- 1,063-litre boot
- Costs RM555,000 more than the Hyundai Santa Fe
- Only five seats
- RM2,352 annual road tax
Santa Fe vs GX FAQ
Is the Hyundai Santa Fe or Lexus GX better?
For most families, the Hyundai Santa Fe is the better buy because it has seven seats, 10 airbags, an eight-year warranty and far lower road tax. The Lexus GX is better if power, all-wheel drive and boot space matter more than price.
What is the price difference?
The Lexus GX costs RM780,000, while the Hyundai Santa Fe costs RM225,000. That makes the Lexus RM555,000 more expensive.
Which SUV has more space?
The Lexus GX is physically larger and has the bigger boot at 1,063 litres against 628 litres. The Hyundai Santa Fe counters with seven seats, while the Lexus GX has five.