Hyundai Santa Fe vs Subaru Outback
Verdict
At RM225,000, the Hyundai Santa Fe is RM55,390 cheaper than the RM280,390 Subaru Outback, yet it gives you seven seats, a larger 628-litre boot and an eight-year warranty. It also has lower annual road tax at RM120 versus RM878, helped by its 1.6-litre petrol hybrid setup. The Outback counters with all-wheel drive, a 185 hp 2.5-litre engine and a quoted 9.6-second 0-100 km/h time. For most family use, the Hyundai’s space and running-cost numbers are hard to ignore.
Pick the Hyundai Santa Fe if you need seven seats, a bigger boot, lower road tax and a longer warranty for less money.
Pick the Subaru Outback if all-wheel drive and a quoted 9.6-second 0-100 km/h time matter more than extra seats and boot space.
Key differences
- Price: Hyundai Santa Fe RM225,000; Subaru Outback RM280,390
- Seats: Hyundai Santa Fe 7; Subaru Outback 5
- Boot space: Hyundai Santa Fe 628 litres; Subaru Outback 522 litres
- Driven wheels: Hyundai Santa Fe front-wheel drive; Subaru Outback all-wheel drive
- Warranty: Hyundai Santa Fe 8 years; Subaru Outback 5 years
- Road tax: Hyundai Santa Fe RM120/year; Subaru Outback RM878/year
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 225,000✓ | RM 280,390 |
| Body type | SUV | Wagon |
| Segment | D-Segment | D-Segment |
| Seats | 7 | 5 |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Powertrain | ||
| Fuel | Petrol Hybrid/REV | Petrol |
| Engine | 1,598 cc | 2,498 cc |
| Power | 177 hp | 185 hp✓ |
| Torque | 265 Nm✓ | 245 Nm |
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | CVT Automatic |
| Driven wheels | Front Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance | ||
| 0–100 km/h | — | 9.6 s |
| Top speed | — | 206 km/h |
| Efficiency | ||
| Battery | 1.5 kWh | — |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,830 mm | 4,870 mm |
| Width | 1,900 mm | 1,875 mm |
| Height | 1,720 mm | 1,682 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,815 mm | 2,745 mm |
| Boot space | 628 L✓ | 522 L |
| Fuel tank | 67 L | 63 L |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 10✓ | 7 |
| Auto emergency braking | Yes | Yes |
| Ownership | ||
| Warranty | 8✓ | 5 |
| Road tax / year | RM 120✓ | RM 878 |
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
- RM55,390 lower price
- Seven seats versus five
- Larger 628-litre boot
- Front-wheel drive only
- No 0-100 km/h or top speed quoted
- 177 hp trails the Subaru’s 185 hp
Outback
- All-wheel drive
- 185 hp from its 2.5-litre engine
- Quoted 9.6-second 0-100 km/h time
- Costs RM55,390 more
- Five seats only
- Smaller 522-litre boot
Santa Fe vs Outback FAQ
Is the Hyundai Santa Fe or Subaru Outback better?
For most Malaysian family buyers, the Hyundai Santa Fe is the stronger pick on numbers: it is cheaper, has seven seats, a bigger boot, lower road tax and a longer warranty. The Subaru Outback is better if you want all-wheel drive.
What is the price difference?
The Hyundai Santa Fe costs RM225,000, while the Subaru Outback costs RM280,390. That makes the Subaru RM55,390 more expensive.
Which one has more space?
The Hyundai Santa Fe has more usable family space on paper, with seven seats and 628 litres of boot space. The Subaru Outback has five seats and a 522-litre boot.