Review: 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe – Retro, refined, and surprisingly BMW-like
I know what you’re thinking. BMW? What are you smoking? No, hear me out. I’m not saying the new 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe drives like a BMW, but there are moments — especially in the 2.5T Calligraphy — that genuinely remind me of one. More on that later.
Just a quick recap of the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe’s Variants and Prices:
- Prime Hybrid – RM 225,000
- Prestige Hybrid – RM 245,000
- Calligraphy 4WD (2.5T Petrol) – RM 270,000
The new 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe is Hyundai flexing its confidence. This fifth-generation model looks like it was designed with purpose, not permission. The blocky silhouette, squared-off edges, and H-shaped lighting give it real presence. It’s retro and futuristic at the same time, which sounds odd but somehow works, as witnessed in the Ioniq 5.
I admire the boldness, even if I can’t fully warm up to the rear after three days of staring at it. The taillights sit too low for my liking, leaving a lot of empty space above. Functionally, it also means they’re less visible to other drivers, especially when signaling.
Design quirks aside, the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe looks properly substantial in person. Even the base car on 18s carries presence, but the 20- and 21-inch wheels on higher trims complete the look. The Calligraphy variant, especially in black, looks expensive and authoritative.
Step inside and the sense of occasion continues. The cabin feels genuinely premium. The H-pattern dashboard, solid materials, and that steering wheel design reminds me of a Range Rover. Everything feels solid and well thought out. Some of the surfaces even feel better than what you’d find in a few German rivals around this price point.
The hybrid versions come with seven seats, while the 2.5T Calligraphy gets six with captain’s chairs in the middle. They’re comfortable and supportive, though strangely, only the recline function is powered, sliding is manual. Also missing are dedicated rear air-con controls, which seems like an oversight for a car that’s meant to be family-focused.
Powering the hybrid is a 1.6-litre turbo paired with an electric motor, making 235 PS and 367 Nm through a six-speed auto. It’s quiet, smooth, and quick enough for daily use. But once you try the 2.5-litre turbo Calligraphy, it’s hard to go back.
With 281 PS and 422 Nm, the 2.5T feels alive. There’s a cohesion between the power delivery, steering, and chassis that’s rare in SUVs this size. It genuinely reminds me of BMW’s calibration. There’s precision, confidence, and it’s quick to respond. The DCT shifts seamlessly at speed, though I didn’t have enough time behind the wheel to see how it behaves in stop-and-go traffic.
Ride comfort is excellent across both variants. The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe takes bumps with a sense of maturity and calm, feeling like a more expensive SUV than it is. Wheel articulation is impressive, and it would ride even better with thicker tyre profiles. On the highway, it’s settled and composed; through corners, it stays tidy and predictable despite the size.
In isolation, the hybrid feels perfectly fine. But drive the 2.5T, and the difference is clear. It’s the variant that feels genuinely cohesive and rewarding.
And that’s really the point. Hyundai hasn’t really been playing catch-up in recent years. It’s now at a stage where it knows exactly how to make a car. What sets it apart can’t be summarised on a spec sheet – it’s how the whole car comes together.
Chinese brands can impress you with numbers, giant screens, and features that make you go “wow” in the showroom. But they haven’t yet mastered the art of driving. The cohesion I felt in the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe simply doesn’t exist in any of them. It may not matter to everyone, but to me, a car that’s well sorted is a safer car. One that does exactly what you ask of it, without vagueness or hesitation.
That’s the story Hyundai Motor Malaysia needs to tell. There’s a sea of Chinese cars out there, all shouting for attention. The Santa Fe doesn’t need to shout. It’s the one that gets it right because it’s built to be more than skin deep.
Related Posts
