HYUNDAI Malaysia recently organised a Hyundai Tucson and Hyundai Santa Fe media drive involving 38 local automotive media representatives, covering the route from Kuala Lumpur to Desaru, Johor — a three-day, two-night affair that ran from 8 to 10 October 2025.
This wasn’t just another chance to drive two of Hyundai Motor Malaysia’s latest SUVs. It was also a thoroughly enjoyable retreat at the Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas — one of the most exclusive luxury resorts in the southern region.
We gathered as early as 9.30am at Hyundai Motor Malaysia’s headquarters at Menara Affin @ TRX, Kuala Lumpur, where the media contingent was divided into 11 groups, with three representatives taking turns behind the wheel of each SUV.
Day One: TRX to Desaru in the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid
The first model we drove for the long haul south to Johor was the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid — one of the most comprehensively equipped hybrid SUVs currently available in Malaysia. Throughout the journey, the Tucson Hybrid made its core character abundantly clear: calm, modern, and impressively efficient.
Hyundai Tucson Hybrid: Composed, Capable and Honest
The Hyundai Tucson 1.6T Prestige Hybrid we drove is the range-topping variant for the Malaysian market, priced at RM197,888 on-the-road without insurance.
This C-segment SUV is powered by the Smartstream 1.6T-GDi HEV hybrid system — combining a 1,598cc petrol engine with a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) and a 1.49kWh lithium-ion battery — delivering a combined output of 235ps @ 5,500rpm and 367Nm of torque @ 4,500rpm.
Paired with a 6-speed automatic (6AT) transmission, this hybrid SUV is capable of reaching a top speed of 185 km/h and sprinting from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.4 seconds in Sport mode.
On paper, the Tucson Hybrid returns 5 litres per 100km in combined city and highway driving, with a 52-litre fuel tank.
Throughout the drive south to Johor, several things stood out worth sharing:
- Responsive and linear acceleration — the electric motor does a great job of masking turbo lag
- Excellent cabin refinement, especially at highway speeds — the interior genuinely feels premium
- Light yet precise steering, well-suited for relaxed long-distance cruising
- Fuel consumption across the KL-Desaru stretch was impressively frugal, particularly in hybrid mode
One minor gripe? The 6AT transmission felt slightly hesitant at times — particularly when kicking down for overtaking — but it wasn’t enough to meaningfully detract from the overall driving experience.
Arriving at Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas
We arrived at Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas at around 4pm, greeted by lush greenery and the resort’s effortlessly calm and luxurious architecture.
The resort is well-known for its relaxed atmosphere, pristine beach frontage, and spacious rooms designed around a modern tropical villa concept — a perfect setting for a media trip like this.
Dinner was held beachside under a specially set-up tent, accompanied by the sea breeze and casual conversations with Hyundai Malaysia’s management team. It had all the right ‘soft luxury vibes’ — relaxed, but still appropriately professional.
Day Two: Hyundai Santa Fe 1.6 Turbo Hybrid — More Mature, More Commanding
On day two, all media were free to choose whichever model they wanted to drive, as long as they arrived at a nearby golf resort by midday for a photography session. I chose the Hyundai Santa Fe 1.6T HEV Prestige.
Bold, Premium and Noticeably More Grown-Up
The new-generation Santa Fe arrives bigger, more premium, and carrying a distinctly bolder American-flavoured design language. It’s powered by the Smartstream 1.6T-GDi HEV hybrid system producing 180ps @ 5,500rpm and a combined torque of 367Nm @ 1,000–4,000rpm.
The 6AT automatic transmission allows this 7-seat mid-size SUV to reach a top speed of 180 km/h, with a 0-100 km/h sprint of 9.6 seconds in Sport mode. The PMSM hybrid motor and 1.49kWh lithium-ion battery deliver a combined fuel consumption of 5.6 litres per 100km, with a 67-litre fuel tank.
Here’s what I took away from the drive:
- Strong acceleration, particularly in Sport mode — this turbocharged four-cylinder genuinely pulls
- Mature suspension tuning — supple yet controlled, with no unwanted floatiness
- Generously spacious cabin, including the third row
- Interior design takes clear inspiration from North American premium SUVs — a significant departure from what came before
Any downsides? Fuel consumption isn’t class-leading, but it’s still reasonable for a high-output turbocharged hybrid SUV of this size.
Day Three: Santa Fe Calligraphy — This Isn’t Just an SUV, This Is a Mini Palisade
For the return trip to Kuala Lumpur, I joined a colleague driving the Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy — or in full, the Hyundai Santa Fe 2.5 T-GDI 8DCT 4WD Calligraphy — the absolute range-topper of the entire Santa Fe family.
This variant is powered by a 2.5T-GDI engine in all-wheel drive (4WD) configuration, paired with an 8-speed dual-clutch (8DCT) transmission.
The turbocharged 2,497cc engine produces 281ps @ 5,800rpm and 422Nm of torque @ 1,700–4,000rpm, with a top speed of 210 km/h and a 0-100 km/h time of 7.9 seconds. Fuel consumption is rated at 8.9 litres per 100km — reasonable given the engine displacement.
Unlike the hybrid variants, this range-topping version comes in a 6-seat configuration with captain’s chairs in the middle row, along with a noticeably more premium and luxurious overall specification.
One Ride and You Immediately Understand Why It’s the Flagship
The Calligraphy variant brings additional exclusive features including:
- Nappa leather seat upholstery
- Exclusive premium interior trim finishes
- A more opulent ambient cabin experience
- Full suite of driver assistance systems
- Distinctive unique alloy wheel design
- The quietest cabin of all variants in the range
Driving impressions:
- Exceptional comfort — genuinely on par with premium European and Japanese SUVs
- The most refined ADAS system in Hyundai’s current Malaysian lineup
- Best NVH performance in the range — ideal for long journeys like Desaru to KL
The convoy made smooth progress along the PLUS highway, arriving back at Hyundai Malaysia’s TRX headquarters by midday without a hitch.
The Good and the Not So Good
Hyundai Tucson Hybrid vs Hyundai Santa Fe — here’s our honest breakdown:
Hyundai Tucson Hybrid
What We Liked
- Highly efficient and responsive hybrid powertrain
- Modern cabin with premium finishing throughout
- Comprehensive ADAS suite
- Excellent NVH refinement
What We Didn’t Like
- The 6AT gearbox can feel slow to react at times
- Rear passenger space is decent but not class-leading
Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy
What We Liked
- Striking, bold, and confidently premium design
- Strong turbocharged engine performance
- Spacious and practical cabin for the whole family
- The Calligraphy variant genuinely rivals premium European SUVs
- Mature and well-composed suspension
What We Didn’t Like
- Fuel consumption isn’t as impressive as the Tucson Hybrid
- Its substantial size may take some adjustment for less experienced drivers
- It comes at a steep price
The Hyundai media drive from KL to Desaru Coast Resort & Villas made one thing very clear — Hyundai Motor Malaysia is in a serious phase of levelling up. The Tucson Hybrid delivers a compelling combination of technology and efficiency that’s highly relevant for urban drivers, while the Santa Fe has evolved into a genuinely mature premium family SUV that deserves to be taken seriously.
Both models bring their own distinct strengths — from performance and comfort to technology and style. If this is the direction Hyundai is heading, the Malaysian SUV market is only going to get more exciting from here.
Hyundai Tucson Hybrid
Hyundai Tucson Turbo
Hyundai Santa Fe 2.5 T-GDI 8DCT 4WD Calligraphy
Hyundai Santa Fe Smartstream 1.6T HEV 6AT 2WD Prestige
