The geometric-patterned grille spans the vehicle’s entire width, complemented by clamped lower air intakes that emphasise its stable and solid stature (All photos: Shahrill Basri/ The Edge)
When it comes to assessing the credentials of a good family car, versatility is paramount, a capacious cargo space is essential and safety is non-negotiable. It is not enough for the modern family SUV to simply be a jack of all trades; it needs to be a master at them too, effortlessly serving the needs of multitasking individuals who juggle diverse responsibilities amid a busy lifestyle. Whether that is ferrying the children to school, beating traffic to work, running errands around town or bringing the household — and everyone’s luggage — on a long-awaited road trip, these heavy-duty vehicles built for adventure can take it all in their stride.
The Hyundai Santa Fe has always been a solid contender in this segment — an all rounder that ticks the majority of the boxes. Last September, the facelifted fourth-generation hybrid model finally debuted in Malaysia. But with the fifth generation — a complete revamp this time — already cruising on roads in Indonesia and Singapore, it begs the question: Has the ship sailed for the previous edition?
Do a quick Google search for the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid 2025 and one might be confused as to why a Land Rover-like MPV appears on screen. The boxy styling has drawn a stark love-it-or-hate-it response from car enthusiasts everywhere, with the latter group deploring the rear design in particular. It is a far cry from the fourth generation’s mellow lines and cascading front fascia. Plus, if panoramic screens and digital instrument panels are the bane of your existence, the older model, still equipped with tactile knobs and buttons, might be a better fit.
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The geometric-patterned grille spans the vehicle’s entire width, complemented by clamped lower air intakes that emphasise its stable and solid stature. Spreading to the corners, the grille merges with the T-shaped LED daytime running lights, which bisect the main beams. Slim tail lights connect across the rear hatch, again underscoring the vehicle’s width. The red reflector strip near the base is also an addition.
Slide into the driver’s seat and you see a high centre console with all the necessary controls in the form of buttons, including the conventional shift knob. From climate control to heated and ventilated front seat settings, these functions are arranged intuitively, ensuring ease of use. For the first time, the Santa Fe comes with a Drive Mode selector, a control knob for Eco, Sport and Smart presets to make the most of your driving style.
A simple-to-use 8in touchscreen infotainment system can be wirelessly connected to your phone via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Drivers can also keep track of fuel economy and electric motor use with the “Hybrid” tab, where energy flow is displayed in real time. The Santa Fe Hybrid is equipped with the comprehensive Hyundai SmartSense safety suite that includes the usual ADAS features, such as highway driving assist and forward collision-avoidance assist. There is also a monitor which uses the wide side-view cameras to display rear blind spots on the 12.3in LCD instrument cluster when the turn signal is on. While the user interface design is straightforward, the rudimentary design leaves much to be desired.
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It may not look like it, but there are two rows of seats at the back — both of which fold flat to provide a cavernous 2,396L of space for your designer prams, suitcases and furniture — making it a seven-seater. While the third row is serviced by air vents, cup holders and power outlets to charge devices, the smaller proportions and lack of full airbag coverage might render it for occasional use only.
The combination of a 1.6L Gamma II T-GDI petrol engine and a 44.2kW electric motor provides a total system output of 230 PS and 350 Nm of torque. Power goes to the front wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission. The powertrain incorporates Hyundai’s Continuously Variable Valve Duration technology, which instantly adjusts the valve duration for any operating condition, optimising performance and making the vehicle more fuel-efficient.
Over the course of three days, navigating between districts in the Klang Valley and running mostly on Eco mode, we made nary a dent to the fuel tank. Since the Santa Fe is a closed loop hybrid (no recharging from a power socket), it captures energy on the run and under braking to provide propulsion and turns to the petrol engine only when you need to build speed. This makes the car a felicitous choice for city drivers. Even if an out of town meeting is on the agenda, there is no range anxiety involved.
So, has the ship sailed? For some, it might have, especially when a more modern-looking iteration has been introduced. But for others who still value tactile interactions (which actually reduce cognitive load since they enable the driver to adjust the settings while keeping eyes on the road, thereby enhancing safety), the fourth-generation Santa Fe Hybrid, along with its simple digital clusters, may offer the best of both worlds.
There are three CKD variants available in the Malaysian market: the 1.6L Turbo Hybrid Plus at RM195,888, 1.6L Turbo Hybrid Max at RM215,888 and 2.2L Turbo Diesel Max at RM209,888, on the road without insurance.
This article first appeared on Feb 17, 2025 in The Edge Malaysia.
