Verdict
At RM225,000, the seven-seat Hyundai Santa Fe costs RM66,012 less than the RM291,012 Volkswagen Arteon and brings a 628-litre boot, 1.49-kWh hybrid battery and RM120 annual road tax. It is the sensible Malaysian family choice, especially with its eight-year/160,000-km warranty. The Arteon is for a very different brief: its 276 hp, 350 Nm turbo engine, all-wheel drive and 5.6-second 0-100 km/h time promise much stronger pace, but it has only five seats, a 563-litre boot and RM372 road tax.
Santa Fe
Pick the Hyundai Santa Fe if you need seven seats, the larger 628-litre boot and an RM66,012 lower purchase price.
Arteon
Pick the Volkswagen Arteon if you want 276 hp, all-wheel drive and a 5.6-second 0-100 km/h time more than third-row seating.
Key differences
- Price: Hyundai Santa Fe RM225,000; Volkswagen Arteon RM291,012.
- Seating and boot: Santa Fe has 7 seats and 628 litres; Arteon has 5 seats and 563 litres.
- Power and torque: Santa Fe has 177 hp and 265 Nm; Arteon has 276 hp and 350 Nm.
- Driveline and transmission: Santa Fe is front-wheel drive with a six-speed automatic; Arteon is all-wheel drive with a seven-speed wet DSG.
- Road tax: Santa Fe is RM120 per year; Arteon is RM372 per year.
- Dimensions: Santa Fe is 4,830 mm long and 1,720 mm tall; Arteon is 4,862 mm long and 1,450 mm tall.
Santa Fe
- Seven seats and a 628-litre boot.
- 1.49-kWh hybrid battery with one 64-hp, 264-Nm motor.
- Eight-year/160,000-km warranty and lower RM120 road tax.
- 177 hp and 265 Nm trail the Arteon's 276 hp and 350 Nm.
- Front-wheel drive, versus the Arteon's all-wheel drive.
- Six-speed automatic has one fewer ratio than the Arteon's seven-speed DSG.
Arteon
- 276 hp, 350 Nm and a 5.6-second 0-100 km/h time.
- All-wheel drive, adaptive dampers and 19-inch wheels.
- 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio and LED projector headlamps with cornering lights.
- Only five seats, against the Santa Fe's seven.
- 563-litre boot is 65 litres smaller than the Santa Fe's 628 litres.
- RM372 annual road tax is RM252 higher than the Santa Fe's.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM225,000✓ | RM291,012 |
| Body type | SUV | Hatchback |
| Segment | D-Segment | D-Segment |
| Assembly | CBU | CKD |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM120✓ | RM372 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC Direct Injection with Turbocharger, Variable Valve Timing with Hybrid Assistance | 16-Valve DOHC with Twin-Scroll Turbocharger, Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing and Lift |
| Capacity | 1,598 cc | 1,984 cc |
| Horsepower | 177 hp | 276 hp✓ |
| Torque | 265 Nm | 350 Nm✓ |
| Fuel | Petrol Hybrid/REV | Petrol |
| Bore | 75.6 mm | 82.5 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 10.5 | 9.6 |
| Number of Motors | 1 | — |
| Motor Horsepower | 64 hp | — |
| Motor Torque | 264 Nm | — |
| Battery Capacity | 1.49 kWh | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) |
| Transmission Name | 6-speed Automatic | 7-speed DSG |
| Gears | 6 | 7 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | — | Volkswagen AG |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | — | 5.6 seconds |
| Rated Economy | — | 7.4 L/100 km |
| Top Speed | — | 250 km/h |
| Co2 | — | 164 g/km |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,830 mm | 4,862 mm |
| Width | 1,900 mm | 1,871 mm |
| Height | 1,720 mm | 1,450 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,815 mm | 2,837 mm |
| Weight | — | 1,600 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 67 litres | 66 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 7 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 628 litres✓ | 563 litres |
| Front Tyre | 255/45R20 | 245/40R19 |
| Rear Tyre | 255/45R20 | 245/40R19 |
| Spare Tyre | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit | Full-Size 19" Alloy |
| Factory Tyres | Kumho Ecsta PS71 | Pirelli P Zero |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Korea (CBU) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Struts | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-Link |
| Front Wheels | 18" 5-arm Alloy Wheels | 19" Montevideo Two-tone Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 18" 5-arm Alloy Wheels | 19" Montevideo Two-tone Alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | — | Adaptive Dampers |
| Crash Safety Ratings | ||
| EuroNCAP | — | 5 stars — With 7 Airbags, Stability Control and Autonomous Emergency Braking |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver & Front Passenger, Front Side and Rear Curtain Airbags, Front Centre Airbag and Driver's Knee Airbag | Driver and Passenger, Driver Knee, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | — | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | — |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for Rear Doors | — |
| Seat Belts | 7 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available for 2nd & 3rd Row Seats | Available on 2 Outer Rear Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Safety Notes | — | Rear Cross Traffic Alert |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Reflectors | LED Projectors with Cornering Lights and Auto High Beam |
| Taillamps | Full LED | Full LED with Sequential Indicators |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Powered Front Seats with Driver's Side Memory | 14-Way Power-adjustable with Driver's Side Memory |
| 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 Control |
| Rear Air-con | Rear AC Vents & Blower Controls | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| 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 Rear, 2 Front USB-C, 1 Front Qi Wireless Charger |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights (3 Colours) |
| 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 | Discover Pro 9.2" Touchscreen Infotainment System with Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 12-speaker 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 Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | — | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Tiptronic | — | ✓ |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Contactless Opening, Powered Boot | Powered with Contactless Operation |
| 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 | ✓ | ✓ |
| 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 |
| Warranty Notes | — | 3-year/45,000 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 & Arteon for sale
Santa Fe vs Arteon FAQ
Is the Hyundai Santa Fe or Volkswagen Arteon better?
The Santa Fe is better for seven-seat practicality, a larger 628-litre boot and lower running tax. The Arteon is better for performance, with 276 hp, all-wheel drive and a 5.6-second 0-100 km/h time.
What is the price difference?
The Volkswagen Arteon costs RM66,012 more than the Hyundai Santa Fe.
Which has the better warranty and family seating?
The Santa Fe does. It has seven seats, ISOFIX on the second and third rows, and an eight-year/160,000-km warranty. The Arteon has five seats, ISOFIX on its two outer rear seats and a five-year unlimited-mileage warranty.