Verdict
The RM11,112 price gap is small beside the difference in remit. At 4,830 mm long with seven seats and a 628-litre boot, the Hyundai Santa Fe is the practical choice for a Malaysian household carrying people and luggage. The MINI Aceman is 754 mm shorter, seats five and has a 300-litre boot, but its 54.2-kWh battery delivers a claimed 406 km range and supports 11-kW AC and 95-kW DC charging. Pick the Santa Fe for space and the Aceman for a proper battery-electric drivetrain.
Pick the Hyundai Santa Fe if you need seven seats, a 628-litre boot and rear air-con for family use.
Pick the MINI Aceman if you want a five-seat EV with a claimed 406 km range, 95-kW DC charging and a lower RM213,888 price.
Key differences
- Price: Hyundai Santa Fe RM225,000; MINI Aceman RM213,888.
- Seating: Hyundai Santa Fe 7 seats; MINI Aceman 5 seats.
- Boot space: Hyundai Santa Fe 628 litres; MINI Aceman 300 litres.
- Length: Hyundai Santa Fe 4,830 mm; MINI Aceman 4,076 mm.
- Battery and range: Hyundai Santa Fe 1.49 kWh with no EV range stated; MINI Aceman 54.2 kWh and claimed 406 km.
- Warranty: Hyundai Santa Fe 8 years/160,000 km; MINI Aceman 2 years with unlimited mileage.
Santa Fe
- Seven seats and a 628-litre boot.
- Rear AC vents with blower controls.
- Lane-keeping steering correction and a front-centre airbag.
- No stated EV range or AC/DC charging rate, unlike the Aceman's 406 km, 11 kW and 95 kW.
- No head-up display, auto parking or front-seat massage function.
Aceman
- 54.2-kWh battery, claimed 406 km range and 95-kW DC charging.
- Smaller 4,076-mm footprint for tighter parking spaces.
- Head-up display, auto parking and front-seat massage function.
- Only five seats and a 300-litre boot versus the Santa Fe's seven seats and 628 litres.
- Two-year manufacturer warranty versus the Santa Fe's eight years/160,000 km.
- No rear air-con vents or blower controls.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM225,000 | RM213,888✓ |
| Body type | SUV | SUV |
| Segment | D-Segment | B-Segment |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC Direct Injection with Turbocharger, Variable Valve Timing with Hybrid Assistance | — |
| Capacity | 1,598 cc | — |
| Horsepower | 177 hp | — |
| Torque | 265 Nm | — |
| Fuel | Petrol Hybrid/REV | Electric |
| Bore | 75.6 mm | — |
| Compression Ratio | 10.5 | — |
| Number of Motors | 1 | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | 64 hp | 215 hp✓ |
| Motor Torque | 264 Nm | 330 Nm✓ |
| Battery Capacity | 1.49 kWh | 54.2 kWh✓ |
| EV Range | — | 406 km |
| Charging Rate (AC) | — | 11 kW |
| Charging Rate (DC) | — | 95 kW |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Single Ratio Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 6-speed Automatic | — |
| Gears | 6 | — |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | — | 7.1 seconds |
| Top Speed | — | 170 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,830 mm | 4,076 mm |
| Width | 1,900 mm | 1,754 mm |
| Height | 1,720 mm | 1,515 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,815 mm | 2,606 mm |
| Fuel Tank | 67 litres | — |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 7 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 628 litres✓ | 300 litres |
| Front Tyre | 255/45R20 | 225/40R19 |
| Rear Tyre | 255/45R20 | 225/40R19 |
| Spare Tyre | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit | — |
| Factory Tyres | Kumho Ecsta PS71 | Goodyear Assurance ComfortTred |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Korea (CBU) | China (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Struts | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 18" 5-arm Alloy Wheels | 19" Hexagram Alloy Wheels |
| Rear Wheels | 18" 5-arm Alloy Wheels | 19" Hexagram Alloy Wheels |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Assist) |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver & Front Passenger, Front Side and Rear Curtain Airbags, Front Centre Airbag and Driver's Knee Airbag | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Curtain |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for Rear Doors | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 7 Three-point | 5 Three-point belts |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available for 2nd & 3rd Row Seats | Available on 2 Outer Rear Seats, Front Passenger Seat |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Warning Only |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | For All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Reflectors | LED Projector |
| 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 | Powered Front Seats with Driver's Side Memory and Massage Function |
| 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 |
| Rear Air-con | Rear AC Vents & Blower Controls | — |
| Power Sockets | 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 and Ambient 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 | 9.4" OLED Display with MINI OS, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Harman Kardon 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 Entry (Push Button Start) | Keyless Flip Switch |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Active Cruise Control (Requires Subscription) |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | — |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Contactless Opening, Powered Boot | Powered Tailgate |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | — |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | — |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, 360-degree Monitor | Yes, with 360-degree View Monitor |
| Auto Parking | — | Yes |
| 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 | Unlimited✓ |
| Warranty Mileage Extended | — | Unlimited |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 8 years✓ | 2 years |
| Warranty Extended | — | 4 years |
| Warranty Notes | — | Repair Inclusive extendable up to 5 years, 8-year/160,000 km Battery Warranty |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM120✓ | RM200 |
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 & Aceman for sale
Santa Fe vs Aceman FAQ
Is the Hyundai Santa Fe or MINI Aceman better?
The Santa Fe is better for carrying up to seven people and 628 litres of luggage. The Aceman is better if a battery-electric powertrain, claimed 406 km range and 95-kW DC charging matter more than rear-seat capacity.
What is the price difference?
The Hyundai Santa Fe costs RM225,000 and the MINI Aceman costs RM213,888, so the Santa Fe is RM11,112 more expensive.
Which is better for a larger family?
The Hyundai Santa Fe is the clear choice: it has seven seats, a 628-litre boot, rear AC vents and ISOFIX points in the second and third rows. The MINI Aceman has five seats and a 300-litre boot.