Omoda C9 SHS vs Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

Omoda C9 SHS

C9 SHS AWD Plug-In Hybrid Automatic

ZAR 999,900 ex-showroom

⚡ 440 kW 🔧 915 Nm ⛽ 71.4 km/l

Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid

1.6T Hybrid Elite AWD 6AT Hybrid Automatic

ZAR 1,249,900 ex-showroom

⚡ 175 kW 🔧 367 Nm ⛽ 13.3 km/l

＋ Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

⚡ Performance C9 SHS

⛽ Fuel Economy C9 SHS

🛡 Safety C9 SHS

📦 Practicality C9 SHS

🔑 Ownership C9 SHS

C9 SHS starts ZAR 1249900 cheaper C9 SHS from ZAR 999,900 · Santa Fe Hybrid from ZAR 1,249,900

Key Specs Side by Side

The specs that matter most — highlighted where one car leads.

Spec	C9 SHS	Santa Fe Hybrid
Engine Power	440 kW	175.2 kW
Torque	915 Nm	367 Nm
Engine Size	1.5 cc	1598 cc
Claimed Mileage	71.4 km/l	13.3 km/l
Ground Clearance	165 mm	177 mm
Boot / Load Bay	660 l	413 l
Airbags	Multiple airbags	Driver, passenger, side and curtain airbags
Kerb Weight	-	1980 kg
Seating Capacity	5	7
Warranty	7 Years / 200 000 km	5

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

C9 SHS dominates this comparison with clear advantages across multiple categories.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance C9 SHS +26 pts

Efficiency C9 SHS +37 pts

Safety C9 SHS +66 pts

Practicality C9 SHS +5 pts

Ownership C9 SHS +4 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

C9 SHS

Strengths

More powerful engine output
Better fuel efficiency
Stronger safety package
More practical for daily use
Better long-term ownership value

Weak Spots

No obvious weak spots to flag.

Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency Family Usage

Santa Fe Hybrid

Strengths

Nothing stands out clearly here.

Weak Spots

Less powerful engine setup
Lower fuel efficiency
Less comprehensive safety features
Less practical in daily usage
Shorter warranty coverage

Best suited to: General Use

Which One's Right for You?

C9 SHS

Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
Large families needing more practicality and usability
Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Santa Fe Hybrid

Buyers looking for a balanced all-round vehicle

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec	C9 SHS	Santa Fe Hybrid
Model Introduced Year	2025	Current local generation year not confirmed
Generation	Current South Africa C9 SHS range	Current South African Santa Fe Hybrid listing; generation notes should be kept tied to the local model year and confirmed derivative data.
Facelift History	Current South Africa version listed by official source	Model-year updates can affect trim, wheels, screens, safety equipment and colours. Use the latest South African price list when checking a specific vehicle.
Facelift Launched Since	2025	Original current-generation version
Facelift Version Ending	Current	Current
Body Style	SUV	Seven-seat SUV
Model Year	2026	2026
Production Status	active	published
Segment	SUV	SUV
Vehicle Type	SUV	SUV
Color Note	-	Colour availability changes by model year, production batch and dealer stock, check the current colour selector before ordering.
Dealer Stock Note	-	Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup
Drivetrain Note	-	Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 1.6T Hybrid Elite AWD 6AT

Spec	C9 SHS	Santa Fe Hybrid
Ground Clearance	165 mm	177 mm
Wheelbase	2800 mm	2815 mm
Length	4775 mm	4830 mm
Width	1920 mm	1900 mm
Height	1671 mm	1770 mm
Kerb Weight	-	1980 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight	2717 kg	2675 kg
Seating Capacity	5	7
Boot Space	660 l	413 l
Towing Capacity	-	-
Front Track Width	-	-
Rear Track Width	-	-
Turning Radius	-	-
Load Bed Length	660 l	413 l
Load Bed Width	-	-
Front Legroom	-	-
Rear Legroom	-	-
Front Headroom	-	-
Rear Headroom	-	-
Front Shoulder Room	-	-
Rear Shoulder Room	-	-
Boot Space Seats Folded	1783 l	2253 l
Number of Doors	5	5
Max Payload	-	695 kg
Boot Volume	660 l	413 l
Doors	5	5
Seats	5	7
Fuel Tank Capacity	-	67 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg	2717 kg	2675 kg
Ground Clearance Max	165 mm	177 mm
Ground Clearance Min	165 mm	177 mm
Ground Clearance Mm	165 mm	177 mm
Height Mm	1671 mm	1770 mm
Length Mm	4775 mm	4830 mm
Loadbox Length Mm	660 l	413 l
Loadbox Width Mm	-	-
Payload Kg	-	695 kg
Cargo Volume	660 l	413 l
Tare Mass Kg	-	1980 kg
Turning Circle	-	-
Turning Circle M	-	-
Width Mm	1920 mm	1900 mm

Spec	C9 SHS	Santa Fe Hybrid
Engine	1.5 TGDI plug-in hybrid	1.6-litre turbo petrol hybrid
Engine Type	1.5 TGDI plug-in hybrid	1.6-litre turbo petrol hybrid
Displacement	1.5 cc	1598 cc
Cylinders	4	-
Valves per Cylinder	16	-
Power	440 kW	175.2 kW
Power @ RPM	5500	-
Torque	915 Nm	367 Nm
Torque @ RPM	1750-4000	-
Fuel System	Petrol injection	-
Turbocharger	Standard	-
Top Speed	-	190 km/h
0-100 km/h	-	9.5 sec
Compression Ratio	-	-
Cylinder Bore	-	-
Piston Stroke	-	-
Engine Code	-	-
Power	590.0 bhp	-
Fuel Grade Required	Petrol	Hybrid
Cylinder Layout	Inline	-
Engine Aspiration	Turbocharged	-
Engine Type Config	1.5 TGDI plug-in hybrid	1.6-litre turbo petrol hybrid
0–100 km/h	-	9.5 sec
Engine Displacement	1.5 cc	1598 cc
Engine Displacement Litres	1.5 cc	1598 cc
Acceleration 0 100	-	9.5 sec
Engine Config	1.5 TGDI plug-in hybrid	1.6-litre turbo petrol hybrid
Engine Cylinders	4	-
Engine Displacement Cc	1.5 cc	1598 cc
Engine Power kW	440 kW	175.2 kW
Engine Torque Nm	915 Nm	367 Nm
Engine Valves	16	-
Induction	Turbocharged	-
Max Power kW	440 kW	175.2 kW
Max Torque Nm	915 Nm	367 Nm
Maximum Power	440 kW	175.2 kW
Maximum Torque	915 Nm	367 Nm
Power kW Rpm	5500	-
Torque Nm Rpm	1750-4000	-
Turbo Type	Single turbo	-
Active Exhaust	-	-
System Output	-	175.2

Spec	C9 SHS	Santa Fe Hybrid
Transmission	Automatic	Automatic
Drive Type	AWD	4WD / AWD
Drivetrain Layout	AWD	4WD / AWD
LSD Available	-	-
Transfer Case	-	-
Differential Lock	-	-
Paddle Shifters	Standard	Standard
Final Drive Ratio	-	-
Number of Gears	Hybrid DHT	6 km/h
Transmission Type	Automatic	Automatic
Clutch Type	Automatic clutch	-
Drivetrain	AWD	4WD / AWD
Transmission	Automatic	Automatic
4WD Engagement	-	-
4WD Hi Range	-	-
4WD Lo Range	-	-
4WD Selector	-	-
Automatic Shift Paddles	Standard	Standard
Front Differential Lock	-	-
Gearbox Type	Automatic	Automatic
Low Range	-	-
Axle Layout	AWD	4WD / AWD
Rear Differential Lock	-	-
Transmission Speeds	Hybrid DHT	6 km/h

Spec	C9 SHS	Santa Fe Hybrid
Claimed Mileage	71.4 km/l	13.3 km/l
City Mileage	-	10.9 km/l
Highway Mileage	-	15.4 km/l
Fuel Tank Capacity	-	67 l
Emission Standard	Euro VIb	-
AdBlue Tank Capacity	-	-
Auto Start Stop	Standard	-
Average Fuel Consumption	1.4 l/100km	7.5 l/100km
Claimed Fuel Consumption	1.4 l/100km	7.5 l/100km
Fuel Efficiency	1.4 l/100km	7.5 l/100km
Real-world Mileage	71.4 km/l	13.3 km/l
AC Charging Power	6.6	-
Charging Port Type	Plug-in hybrid AC/DC	-
Charging Time AC Full	5.5 h	-
Charging Time DC Fast 80pct	25 min	-
Charging Type	AC and DC fast charging	-
Combined Consumption	1.4 l/100km	7.5 l/100km
Combined Consumption L 100km	1.4 l/100km	7.5 l/100km
DC Charging Power	70	-
Fuel Economy Combined	1.4 l/100km	7.5 l/100km
Fuel Tank Litres	-	67 l
Fuel Type	Plug-in Hybrid	Hybrid
Low Range Ratio	-	-
Combined Driving Range	1100	-
Electric Consumption	22.7	-
Range Real World Highway	-	-
Range Real World Mixed	1100 km	-
Range Wltp	150 km	-

Spec	C9 SHS	Santa Fe Hybrid
Airbags	Multiple airbags	Driver, passenger, side and curtain airbags
ABS	Standard	Standard
Electronic Stability Control	Standard	-
Traction Control	Standard	Standard
Hill Descent Control	Standard	-
Hill Start Assist	Standard	Standard
Child Safety Lock	Standard	-
ISOFIX Mounts	Standard	-
Brake Assist	Standard	-
Tyre Pressure Monitor	Standard	-
Engine Immobiliser	Standard	-
Seatbelt Warning All Seats	Standard	-
Front Parking Sensors	Standard	Standard
AEB	Standard	-
BA	Standard	-
Brake Override System	Standard	-
Curtain Airbags	Standard	Standard
Driver Airbag	Standard	Standard
EBD	Standard	Standard
Engine Immobiliser	Standard	-
Hill Hold	Standard	Standard
Passenger Airbag	Standard	Standard
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	Standard	-
Seatbelt Pretensioners	Standard	-
Side Airbags	Standard	Standard
TCS	Standard	Standard
Knee Airbag	Standard	-
ABS EBD	Standard	Standard

Spec	C9 SHS	Santa Fe Hybrid
Cruise Control	Standard	Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control	Standard	-
Lane Keep Assist	Standard	-
Lane Departure Warning	Standard	-
Blind Spot Monitoring	Standard	-
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	Standard	-
Parking Sensors	Standard	Front and rear
Rear View Camera	Standard	-
360 Degree Camera	Standard	-
Autonomous Emergency Braking	Standard	-
Driver Fatigue Alert	Standard	-
Traffic Sign Recognition	-	-
Auto Highbeam	Standard	-
Auto Wipers	Standard	-
Drive Modes	Eco / Normal / Sport	-
Rear Parking Sensors	Standard	Standard
Reverse Camera	Standard	-
Adaptive Cruise Control	Standard	-
Park Assist	-	-
Around View Monitor	Standard	-
Blind Spot Warning	Standard	-
Forward Collision Warning	Standard	-

Spec	C9 SHS	Santa Fe Hybrid
Seat Material	Leatherette / leather	Cloth
Heated Seats	Standard	-
Ventilated Seats	Standard	-
Ambient Lighting	Standard	-
Steering Wheel Material	Leather	-
60 40 Split Seat	Standard	-
Driver Seat Adjustment	Power	-
Passenger Seat Adjustment	Power	-
Seat Trim	Leatherette / leather	Cloth
Instrument Cluster Type	-	Digital instrument cluster
Interior Colour Options	-	3
Fabric Seats	-	Cloth
Interior Courtesy Lamps	-	Cabin trim, seating material, screen layout and driver-assistance equipment vary by derivative. Compare the chosen Santa Fe Hybrid grade before assuming a feature is included.
Interior Colours	-	3
Seat Capacity	-	7
Seat Count	-	7

Spec	C9 SHS	Santa Fe Hybrid
Climate Control	Automatic	-
Power Windows	Standard	-
Keyless Entry	Standard	-
Push Button Start	Standard	-
Wireless Charging	Standard	Wireless
Sunroof	Standard	-
Electric Tailgate	Standard	-
Rain Sensing Wipers	Standard	-
AC Type	Automatic	-
Gear Shift Type	Electric	Automatic
Seatbelt Reminder	Standard	-
Service Plan	5 Years / 75 000 km	3 Years / 45000 km
Stability Control	Standard	-
Valves Per Cylinder	4	-
Adaptive Dampers	-	-
Engine Warranty	-	4
Fuel Consumption Combined	-	7.5
Hill Start Assist	-	Standard
Launch Control	-	-
Performance Data Logger	-	-
Rev Matching	-	-
Accelerator 0 100	-	9.5 sec
Bed Extender	-	-
Canopy Fitment	-	-
Load Bed Cover	-	-
Load Bed Light	-	-
Load Bed Steps	-	-
Loadbox Depth Mm	-	-
Loadbox Rope Hooks	-	-
Loadbox Tiedown Brackets	-	-
Source Model Column	-	santa-fe-hybrid
Sport Plus Mode	-	-
Sports Bar	-	-
Tailgate Damper	-	-
Tailgate Lock	-	-
Tow Bar Type	-	-
Trim Level	-	flagship
Variant Role	-	Flagship / premium derivative

Spec	C9 SHS	Santa Fe Hybrid
Infotainment Screen	Touchscreen infotainment	SYNC
Apple CarPlay	Standard	Standard
Android Auto	Standard	Standard
Bluetooth Connectivity	Standard	Standard
Number of Speakers	8	-
Digital Instrument Cluster	Standard	Digital instrument cluster
USB Ports	Front and rear USB where listed	-
Infotainment Screen	10.25-inch or larger by trim	SYNC
Touchscreen	10.25-inch or larger by trim	SYNC
Wireless Apple CarPlay	Standard	Standard
Infotainment Screen Size	10.25-inch or larger by trim	SYNC
Multi Information Display	-	Digital display
Connected Services	-	SYNC
Smartphone Connectivity	-	Bluetooth
Wireless Android Auto	Standard	Standard

Spec	C9 SHS	Santa Fe Hybrid
LED Headlamps	Standard	Halogen
Daytime Running Lamps	Standard	-
Fog Lamps	Standard	-
Roof Rails	Standard	-
Exterior Colour Options	Khaki white, carbon crystal black, moonlight silver, grey and other official Omoda market colours where listed.	3
Headlights	Standard	Halogen
Panoramic Sunroof	Standard	-
Body Type	-	SUV
Led Headlights	Standard	Halogen
Exterior Colour Options	-	3
Headlamps	Standard	Halogen
Headlight Type	Standard	Halogen
Load Bed Liner	-	-

Spec	C9 SHS	Santa Fe Hybrid
Approach Angle	-	-
Departure Angle	-	-
Wading Depth	-	-
Terrain Modes	Standard	-
Locking Differential	-	-
4WD System Type	AWD	4WD / AWD
Breakover Angle	-	-

Spec	C9 SHS	Santa Fe Hybrid
Tyre Size	245/50 R20	-
Front Brake Type	Ventilated Disc	-
Rear Brake Type	Disc	-
Spare Wheel Type	-	-
Wheel Rim Size	245/50 R20	-
Handbrake Type	Electronic parking brake	-
Fifth Wheel Prep	-	-
Wheelbase Mm	2800 mm	2815 mm

Spec	C9 SHS	Santa Fe Hybrid
Front Suspension	MacPherson strut	-
Rear Suspension	Multi-link	-
MagneRide Damping	-	-

Spec	C9 SHS	Santa Fe Hybrid
CO2 Emissions	-	-
Fuel Octane Requirement	Petrol	Hybrid
Hybrid System Type	-	Hybrid
Particulate Filter	-	-

Spec	C9 SHS	Santa Fe Hybrid
Gear Shift Indicator	Standard	Yes
Service Interval	-	15000 km / 12 months
Battery Warranty	-	4
Maintenance Plan	-	3 Years / 45000 km
Engine Oil Change Interval	-	15000 km / 12 months
First Service At	-	15000
Service Plan Duration	5 Years / 75 000 km	3 Years / 45000 km
Service Plan Distance	5 Years / 75 000 km	3 Years / 45000 km
Alternator	-	120A
Battery Type	-	Lead-acid
Service Intervals	-	15000 km / 12 months

Spec	C9 SHS	Santa Fe Hybrid
Ownership Role	flagship or capability-focused	Flagship
Price Source	Official model page price card	South Africa variant price CSV; verify against latest OEM price list
Price Zar	999900 ZAR	1249900 ZAR
Pricing Role	flagship or capability-focused	Current listed price
Starting Price	999900	1249900
Starting Price Zar	999900	1249900

Spec	C9 SHS	Santa Fe Hybrid
Warranty	7 Years / 200 000 km	5
Warranty Years	7 Years / 200 000 km	5
Warranty Kilometers	7 Years / 200 000 km	5
Roadside Assistance	-	5 Years
Anti-Corrosion Warranty	-	5 Years
Basic Warranty	7 Years / 200 000 km	5
Roadside Assistance	-	5 Years
Warranty Roadside Assistance	-	5 Years

Overall Verdict Score

Decision-grade view of the winner, score gap and category strengths.

Weighted / 100

Verdict readout

C9 SHS leads by 29 points

C9 SHS dominates this comparison with clear advantages across multiple categories.

Winner 88 /100

Lead 29 points

Data 72% confidence

#1 Winner

C9 SHS

72% data confidence 4 strong categories

Best at Performance 98 Check Ownership 69

Performance 98

Efficiency 96

Safety 94

Practicality 78

Ownership 69

Leads by 29 points

Santa Fe Hybrid

83% data confidence 2 strong categories

Best at Practicality 73 Check Safety 28

Performance 72

Efficiency 59

Safety 28

Practicality 73

Ownership 65

Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%

Category leaders What moves the verdict

Performance C9 SHS +26 Efficiency C9 SHS +37 Safety C9 SHS +66 Practicality C9 SHS +5 Ownership C9 SHS +4

High confidence result.

Why this score View full breakdown

Overall Winner

C9 SHS

Performance 98/100

Efficiency 96/100

Safety 94/100

Practicality 78/100

Ownership 69/100

Santa Fe Hybrid

Performance 72/100

Efficiency 59/100

Safety 28/100

Practicality 73/100

Ownership 65/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Omoda C9 SHS wins with 88 pts vs 59 pts for Santa Fe Hybrid

In structured scoring, C9 SHS emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Santa Fe Hybrid may appeal to buyers prioritising different factors. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Buyers Also Looked At These

Other comparisons that people in the same boat tend to check out.

Questions Buyers Usually Ask

On our scoring the C9 SHS edges ahead overall. That said, the right choice depends on what you actually use the car for — the breakdown above shows exactly where each one wins and loses.

Efficiency scores: C9 SHS 96 vs Santa Fe Hybrid 59. In the real world, diesel variants of either car will beat the claimed figure on long highways and fall short in Joburg traffic.

Safety scores: C9 SHS 94, Santa Fe Hybrid 28. Check each model page for NCAP ratings and which trim levels include AEB and blind-spot monitoring — those features aren't always standard.

Long-term ownership scores: C9 SHS 69, Santa Fe Hybrid 65. Service intervals, parts availability in SA, and whether a service plan is bundled all factor in — check the individual variant specs for that detail.

Practicality scores: C9 SHS 78, Santa Fe Hybrid 73. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: C9 SHS 98, Santa Fe Hybrid 72. This looks at real-world pace — 0–100 kph, highway flexibility, and how either car feels when you actually need to overtake on an N-road.

Resale varies with colour, spec, and market timing, but Japanese brands — and Toyota specifically — have a strong track record in SA. Check current used prices for both on AutoTrader to see the real gap right now.

Ground clearance and 4WD availability are what matter most here. Scroll to the spec table above to compare both side by side — if either model offers a 4WD variant, that's the version worth comparing.

Fuel, insurance, and service costs are the big three. Diesel variants of both models typically save R800–R1,500/month in fuel at current SA pump prices. The C9 SHS edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The C9 SHS scores better overall, but neither car is a bad buy here. It comes down to what features matter to you — check the full spec table above to see exactly what you gain and lose at each price point.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

The comparison between C9 SHS and Santa Fe Hybrid in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: C9 SHS scores 98 vs 72.

Efficiency: C9 SHS scores 96 vs 59.

Safety: C9 SHS scores 94 vs 28.

Practicality: C9 SHS scores 78 vs 73.

Ownership: C9 SHS scores 69 vs 65.

Final structured scoring gives C9 SHS the advantage in this comparison.

Omoda C9 SHS vs Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid

Omoda C9 SHS

Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Key Specs Side by Side

The Bottom Line

Where They Actually Differ

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

C9 SHS

Santa Fe Hybrid

Which One's Right for You?

C9 SHS

Santa Fe Hybrid

Full Specs, Side by Side

Overall Verdict Score

C9 SHS leads by 29 points

C9 SHS

Santa Fe Hybrid

C9 SHS

Santa Fe Hybrid

So, Which One Should You Buy?

Other Comparisons Worth Checking

Buyers Also Looked At These

Questions Buyers Usually Ask

In Depth — Breaking It All Down