Previewed: 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe – 3 Variants, launches July 2

The newly formed Hyundai Motor Malaysia (HMY) principal entity officially announced itself today and previewed three new models.

The newly established Hyundai Motor Malaysia (HMY) made its arrival known officially earlier today. The occasion also saw the firm hosting a special press preview featuring a trio of new models that are set to launch this year.

Leading the trio is of course the new and very squared 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe. It has been a long two-year wait for this fully redesigned new fifth generation model, and its local arrival also cuts the outgoing face-lifted model’s cycle drastically short – arguably for the better too.

leading the trio of new metal was the long-awaited fifth-gen Hyundai Santa Fe premium three-row SUV.

For Malaysia, HMY plans to offer the fifth-gen Santa Fe across three main variants. The range starts with a base Prime and mid-range Prestige 7-seater guises. Both will share the same series-parallel (self-charging) hybrid powertrain package too.

The latter consists of a familiar 1.6-litre 4-cyl direct-injected 4-cyl turbo petrol mill (Gamma II), as well as an added hybrid e-motor. Combined, there’s 231 HP and 367 NM on tap to drive the front wheels through a 6-speed automatic transmission.

Next comes a range-topping Calligraphy 6-seater guise and this one packs larger, peppier 2.5-litre T-GDi Theta II 4-cyl mill serving up 281 PS and 422 NM. This variant also gains an 8-speed DCT automatic box plus Hyundai’s HTRAC all-wheel-drive (AWD) setup too.

Both a regular combustion (ICE) 2.5-litre petrol and 1.6-litre turbo petrol hybrid powetrain choices were announced. Unlike its predecessor, the new fifth-gen Santa Fe has no diesel options available.

Also unlike its predecessor, the new fifth-gen Santa Fe has grown in size quite a bit - it's now 45 MM longer and 35 MM taller, whilst its wheelbase has been stretched by 65 MM too.

In terms of footprint, the new 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe sits 4,830 MM long with a lengthy 2,815 MM wheelbase, 1,900 MM wide, and 1,720 MM tall. Versus the outgoing predecessor, this new fifth-gen model sits 45 MM longer, 35 MM taller, and gains a sizeable 65 MM wheelbase stretch too.

We’ve detailed the new Sante Fe’s exterior design in detail from our global launch report prior, but it’s certainly a drastic departure from the model it succeeds – it’s more angular, overly squared and, as a result, arguably more rugged in its stance too.

Key touches here include new all-LED lighting featuring H-shaped elements in both the head- and taillights, wide body-coloured bumper inserts, hexagonal fender flares, short front overhang, as well as distinct 21-inch rolling stock.

The new fifth-gen Santa Fe features a complete redesign, and it arrives with an overly squared and more angular lines that results in an arguably more rugged stance too.

During today’s preview, HMY kept the Santa Fe display unit locked, electing instead to hold off showing the model’s interior until its official launch, which is slated to take place very soon – July 2.

Nevertheless, we know from the model’s global debut that it will feature a curved dual 12.3-inch digital infotainment and instrumentation widescreen, a slew of storage bins including dual passenger gloveboxes, as well as Ioniq-style column-mounted gear selector.

Present too are things like a one-touch reclining front passenger Relaxation Seat with a built-in leg rest, reclinable third-row seats that offer class-leading space, as well as second-row one-touch tilt-and-slide function.

HMY kept their display unit locked, but the new fifth-gen Santa Fe is poised to deliver a very premium, spacious and high-tech cabin that's also very practical.

Other key bits set to headline the fifth-gen Santa Fe’s features list include digital rear-view mirror, 12-inch head-up display (HUD), a slew of USB-C ports across all rows rated at up to 27 watts, and more.

As for practical luggage space, there’s 628 litres to start with when the third-row seats that can be folded down flat. This is expandable up to a cavernous 1,949 litres with second-row seats also folded down flat into the floor. 

Lastly, in terms of safety and driving assist, the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe will come brimmed with a barrage of the latter to grant Level 2 semi-autonomous driving abilities – typical of premium three-row SUVs of similar size and perhaps price.

No prices were mentioned, but this is expected when the model officially launches on July 2. It will also be offered as a CBU offering first before CKD models arrive later this year.

Speaking of price, HMY elected to keep mum about this during today’s preview. The firm is electing to reveal which, along with other key details, during the model’s official launch on July 2.

Additionally, Carz.com.my has also understood the model will be offered as a fully imported (CBU) offering first before local assembly(CKD) efforts at the Inokom plant in Kulim, Kedah, begins later this year.

Until then, what do you folks reckon then? Keen on this left-field yet stylish and charged left-field Korean three-row number? Share your take on it in the comments below…