Verdict
The RM24,490 dearer Hyundai Santa Fe makes the stronger case for a large family: it carries seven rather than five, has a 628-litre boot against 570 litres, and brings third-row USB-C ports, blower controls and ISOFIX. Its 1.6-litre petrol hybrid pairs 177 hp with a 64-hp motor, while annual road tax is just RM120 versus the Mazda CX-60’s RM830. The CX-60 counters with 189 hp, rear-wheel drive, eight speeds, adaptive LED headlamps, a panoramic sunroof and Bose audio. Pick it if five seats are enough and those driver-focused extras matter more than space and running costs.
Pick the Hyundai Santa Fe if you need seven seats, a larger 628-litre boot and RM120 annual road tax from the hybrid powertrain.
Pick the Mazda CX-60 if five seats suit your household and you want rear-wheel drive, 189 hp, an eight-speed automatic and premium cabin equipment for less money.
Key differences
- Price: Hyundai Santa Fe RM225,000; Mazda CX-60 RM200,510.
- Seats: Hyundai Santa Fe 7; Mazda CX-60 5.
- Boot space: Hyundai Santa Fe 628 litres; Mazda CX-60 570 litres.
- Annual road tax: Hyundai Santa Fe RM120; Mazda CX-60 RM830.
- Powertrain: Hyundai Santa Fe 1.6L hybrid with 177 hp plus a 64-hp motor; Mazda CX-60 2.5L petrol with 189 hp.
- Warranty: Hyundai Santa Fe 8 years/160,000 km; Mazda CX-60 5 years/100,000 km.
Santa Fe
- Seven seats and 628-litre boot.
- Hybrid powertrain with RM120 annual road tax.
- Eight-year/160,000-km manufacturer warranty.
- Costs RM24,490 more.
- Front-wheel drive and a six-speed automatic versus rear-wheel drive and eight speeds.
- No panoramic sunroof, head-up display or 12-speaker Bose audio.
CX-60
- RM24,490 lower purchase price.
- 189 hp, rear-wheel drive and eight-speed automatic.
- Adaptive LED headlamps, panoramic sunroof and 12-speaker Bose sound system.
- Five seats versus the Santa Fe's seven.
- 570-litre boot is 58 litres smaller.
- RM830 annual road tax and a shorter five-year/100,000-km warranty.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM225,000 | RM200,510✓ |
| Body type | SUV | SUV |
| Segment | D-Segment | Compact Executive |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM120✓ | RM830 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC Direct Injection with Turbocharger, Variable Valve Timing with Hybrid Assistance | 16-valve DOHC, Naturally Aspirated with Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing |
| Capacity | 1,598 cc | 2,488 cc |
| Horsepower | 177 hp | 189 hp✓ |
| Torque | 265 Nm✓ | 261 Nm |
| Fuel | Petrol Hybrid/REV | Petrol |
| Bore | 75.6 mm | 89 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 10.5 | 13 |
| Number of Motors | 1 | — |
| Motor Horsepower | 64 hp | — |
| Motor Torque | 264 Nm | — |
| Battery Capacity | 1.49 kWh | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 6-speed Automatic | 8-speed Automatic |
| Gears | 6 | 8 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | — | Mazda |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | — | 9.6 seconds |
| Top Speed | — | 200 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,830 mm | 4,740 mm |
| Width | 1,900 mm | 1,890 mm |
| Height | 1,720 mm | 1,680 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,815 mm | 2,870 mm |
| Weight | — | 1,680 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 67 litres | 58 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 7 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 628 litres✓ | 570 litres |
| Front Tyre | 255/45R20 | 235/50R20 |
| Rear Tyre | 255/45R20 | 235/50R20 |
| Spare Tyre | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit | — |
| Factory Tyres | Kumho Ecsta PS71 | Toyo Proxes Sport |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Korea (CBU) | Japan (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Struts | Double Wishbones |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 18" 5-arm Alloy Wheels | 20" Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 18" 5-arm Alloy Wheels | 20" Alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver & Front Passenger, Front Side and Rear Curtain Airbags, Front Centre Airbag and Driver's Knee Airbag | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Driver's Knee |
| 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 second row seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Reflectors | Adaptive LED Projector with Auto High Beam |
| Taillamps | Full LED | Full LED |
| 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 Side Memory Function |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-folding Middle Row with One-touch Tumble, Manual Recline, 50:50 Split-folding Last Row | 40:20:40 Split-folding, Manual Recline |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Rear AC Vents & Blower Controls | Rear AC Vents |
| Sunroof | — | Panoramic Sunroof |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger Front, 2 USB-C Front, 2 USB-C Second Row, 2 USB-C Third Row | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 2 USB-C Front, 2 USB-C Rear |
| 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 | Sunroof Shade |
| Audio | 12.3" Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, 6-speaker Sound System | 12.3" Mazda Connect Display with Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, 12-speaker Bose Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti Pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up & Down with Anti-pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Entry (Push Button Start) | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation with Walk-away Auto Lock |
| Auto Start/Stop | — | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Active Cruise Control with Stop and Go |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | — | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Contactless Opening, Powered Boot | Powered with Remote Control Activation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, 360-degree Monitor | Yes, with 360-degree Camera |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | — |
| Head-up Display | — | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | 160,000 km✓ | 100,000 km |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 8 years✓ | 5 years |
| Warranty Notes | — | 5-year/100,000 km free service |
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 & CX-60 for sale
Santa Fe vs CX-60 FAQ
Is the Hyundai Santa Fe or Mazda CX-60 better?
The Santa Fe is better for seven-seat family use, with a 628-litre boot, third-row facilities and lower RM120 road tax. The CX-60 suits five-seat buyers prioritising rear-wheel drive, 189 hp and equipment such as a panoramic sunroof and Bose audio.
What is the price difference?
The Hyundai Santa Fe costs RM225,000 and the Mazda CX-60 costs RM200,510, so the Santa Fe is RM24,490 more expensive.
Which has the lower annual road tax?
The Santa Fe has far lower annual road tax at RM120, compared with RM830 for the CX-60. Its 1.6-litre petrol hybrid powertrain is the key distinction against the Mazda's 2.5-litre petrol engine.