Verdict
The Toyota Camry costs RM221,800, RM3,200 less than the RM225,000 Hyundai Santa Fe, and its 201 hp 2.5-litre engine beats the Hyundai’s 177 hp 1.6-litre turbo hybrid engine on engine output. But the Santa Fe is the family tool: seven seats, a 628-litre boot and rear air-con blower controls against the Camry’s five seats, 524 litres and rear vents. Its RM120 annual road tax also undercuts the Camry’s RM867 dramatically. Choose the Camry for a lower-slung five-seat sedan with 8.9-second 0-100 km/h performance; choose the Hyundai when passenger capacity matters.
Pick the Hyundai Santa Fe if you need seven seats, a 628-litre boot and far lower RM120 annual road tax.
Pick the Toyota Camry if five seats are enough and you want 201 hp, an eight-speed automatic and an 8.9-second 0-100 km/h time for RM3,200 less.
Key differences
- Price: Hyundai Santa Fe RM225,000; Toyota Camry RM221,800.
- Seats and boot: Hyundai Santa Fe 7 seats and 628 litres; Toyota Camry 5 seats and 524 litres.
- Engine output: Hyundai Santa Fe 177 hp and 265 Nm; Toyota Camry 201 hp and 246 Nm.
- Road tax: Hyundai Santa Fe RM120 per year; Toyota Camry RM867 per year.
- Transmission: Hyundai Santa Fe 6-speed automatic; Toyota Camry Direct Shift 8-speed automatic.
- Dimensions: Hyundai Santa Fe 4,830 mm long and 1,720 mm tall; Toyota Camry 4,920 mm long and 1,445 mm tall.
Santa Fe
- Seven seats with ISOFIX in the second and third rows.
- 628-litre boot and powered contactless boot opening.
- 1.6-litre turbo hybrid with RM120 annual road tax.
- Costs RM3,200 more than the Camry.
- 177 hp trails the Camry’s 201 hp.
- Six-speed automatic versus the Camry’s eight-speed unit.
Camry
- 201 hp 2.5-litre engine and 8.9-second 0-100 km/h time.
- Costs RM3,200 less.
- Gets a head-up display, 9-speaker JBL audio and front foglamps.
- Only five seats versus the Santa Fe’s seven.
- 524-litre boot is 104 litres smaller than the Santa Fe’s.
- RM867 annual road tax is RM747 higher.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM225,000 | RM221,800✓ |
| Body type | SUV | Sedan |
| Segment | D-Segment | D-Segment |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM120✓ | RM867 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC Direct Injection with Turbocharger, Variable Valve Timing with Hybrid Assistance | 16-valve DOHC, naturally-aspirated with dual variable valve timing |
| Capacity | 1,598 cc | 2,487 cc |
| Horsepower | 177 hp | 201 hp✓ |
| Torque | 265 Nm✓ | 246 Nm |
| Fuel | Petrol Hybrid/REV | Petrol |
| Bore | 75.6 mm | 87.5 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 10.5 | 14 |
| 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 | Direct Shift 8-speed Automatic |
| Gears | 6 | 8 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | — | Aisin |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | — | 8.9 seconds |
| Top Speed | — | 210 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,830 mm | 4,920 mm |
| Width | 1,900 mm | 1,840 mm |
| Height | 1,720 mm | 1,445 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,815 mm | 2,825 mm |
| Weight | — | 1,565 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 67 litres | 60 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 4 |
| Seats | 7 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 628 litres✓ | 524 litres |
| Front Tyre | 255/45R20 | 235/45R18 |
| Rear Tyre | 255/45R20 | Space Saver |
| Spare Tyre | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit | Tyre Repair Kit |
| Factory Tyres | Kumho Ecsta PS71 | Bridgestone Turanza T005A |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Korea (CBU) | Thailand (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Struts | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Double Wishbone |
| Front Wheels | 18" 5-arm Alloy Wheels | 18" Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 18" 5-arm Alloy Wheels | 18" 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, Driver's Knee, Front and Rear Curtain |
| 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 two outer rear passenger seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes, Pre-collision Braking |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Reflectors | Bi-LED Projector with Auto High Beam |
| Taillamps | Full LED | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | — | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Powered Front Seats with Driver's Side Memory | 8-way Power Adjustable Driver's Seat with Memory Function, Power Adjustable 4-way Ottoman Passenger Seat |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-folding Middle Row with One-touch Tumble, Manual Recline, 50:50 Split-folding Last Row | Fixed Rear Seats |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Rear AC Vents & Blower Controls | Rear Vents |
| 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, 3 USB Front, 2 USB 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 | Manual Rear Sun Shades |
| Audio | 12.3" Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, 6-speaker Sound System | 12.3" Touchscreen with Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, 9-speaker JBL 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 Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Tiptronic | — | ✓ |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | — | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Contactless Opening, Powered Boot | 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 | Unlimited✓ |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 8 years✓ | 5 years |
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 & Camry for sale
Santa Fe vs Camry FAQ
Is the Hyundai Santa Fe or Toyota Camry better?
The Santa Fe is better for larger families, with seven seats, a 628-litre boot and third-row USB-C ports. The Camry is better for a five-seat buyer prioritising lower purchase cost, 201 hp and its 8.9-second 0-100 km/h figure.
What is the price difference?
The Hyundai Santa Fe costs RM225,000 and the Toyota Camry costs RM221,800, so the Santa Fe is RM3,200 more expensive.
Which has lower annual road tax?
The Hyundai Santa Fe has much lower annual road tax at RM120, compared with RM867 for the Toyota Camry. That is a RM747 yearly difference.