Omoda C9 SHS vs Hyundai Santa Fe

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.

Includes a historical vehicle

Current, upcoming and historical vehicles can be compared side by side. Historical records keep their verified specifications, while price labels show last-listed context rather than current new-car availability.

Hyundai Santa Fe Discontinued model
Omoda C9 SHS in South Africa

Omoda C9 SHS

C9 SHS AWD Plug-in Hybrid 3-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 999,900 ex-showroom
⛽ 71.4 km/l
VS
Hyundai Santa Fe in South Africa

Hyundai Santa Fe

2.2D 4WD Executive Diesel 8-Speed Automatic Discontinued model
ZAR 899,900 last listed
Discontinued model Verified historical specifications remain visible for owner and used-car comparisons.
⚡ 147 kW 🔧 440 Nm ⛽ 13.8 km/l
Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Omoda C9 SHS vs Hyundai Santa Fe: the short answer

C9 SHS has a modest catalogue-index lead, while Santa Fe remains close.

Recorded price context C9 SHS: current from ZAR 999,900 · Santa Fe: last listed from ZAR 899,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification C9 SHS Santa Fe
Maximum Power C9 SHSNot Officially Disclosed Santa Fe147 kW @ 3800 rpm
Maximum Torque C9 SHSNot Officially Disclosed Santa Fe440 Nm @ 1750 rpm
Engine Size C9 SHS1500 cc Santa Fe2199 cc
Combined Fuel Economy C9 SHS71.4 km/l Santa Fe13.8 km/l
Ground Clearance C9 SHS165 mm Santa Fe188 mm

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

Evidence for Hyundai Santa Fe 2.2D 4WD Executive

Source type: Hagalu catalogue record

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Specification evidence leader

C9 SHS

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Fewer listed safety features
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Efficiency

Santa Fe

Strengths
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to: Published Practicality

Which One's Right for You?

C9 SHS

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use

Santa Fe

  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Full Specs, Side by Side

Archived cars use verified historical spec records. Rows remain comparable; unavailable historical values are shown plainly rather than estimated.

Spec C9 SHS Santa Fe
Model Introduced Year 2025 2001
Generation Current South Africa C9 SHS range Fifth generation Santa Fe on Hyundai's i-GMP platform; 'Sensuous Sportiness' design with distinctive parametric LED lighting signature
Facelift History Current South Africa version listed by official source Fifth generation launched in SA in 2022; significant styling and interior quality upgrade; distinctive boxy design language with vertical lighting
Facelift Launched Since 2025 2022
Facelift Version Ending Current Not confirmed
Body Style SUV Not confirmed
Model Year 2026 Not confirmed
Production Status active Not confirmed
Segment SUV Not confirmed
Tare Mass Kg Not Available 1980 kg
Vehicle Type SUV Not confirmed
Spec C9 SHS Santa Fe
Length 4775 mm 4830 mm
Width 1920 mm 1900 mm
Height 1671 mm 1750 mm
Wheelbase 2800 mm 2815 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 165 mm 188 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 140 mm Not confirmed
Fuel Tank Capacity 70 l 67 l
Boot/Cargo Space 660 l 703 l
Kerb Weight 2195 kg 1980 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2717 kg Not confirmed
Payload Capacity 522 kg Not confirmed
Towing Capacity 1500 kg Not confirmed
Seating Capacity 5 seats 7 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows Not confirmed
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.8 m Not confirmed
Front Headroom 1005 mm Not confirmed
Rear Headroom 970 mm Not confirmed
Front Legroom 1070 mm Not confirmed
Rear Legroom 960 mm Not confirmed

In depth: how these cars differ

This C9 SHS and Santa Fe comparison uses the exact South African derivatives selected above. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: C9 SHS 92 vs Santa Fe 74.

Efficiency index: C9 SHS 96 vs Santa Fe 55.

Safety-equipment index: C9 SHS 94 vs Santa Fe 98.

Practicality index: C9 SHS 69 vs Santa Fe 89.

Ownership-cover index: C9 SHS not separately scored vs Santa Fe 65.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.

Specification Evidence Index

A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.

Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout

C9 SHS leads by 9 points

C9 SHS has a modest catalogue-index lead, while Santa Fe remains close.

Evidence leader 87 /100
Lead 9 points
Data 55% source coverage
87
#1 Evidence leader

C9 SHS

55% source coverage 3 strong categories
Best at Efficiency 96 Check Practicality 69
Performance 92
Efficiency 96
Safety 94
Practicality 69
Leads by 9 points
78
#2

Santa Fe

89% source coverage 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 98 Check Efficiency 55
Performance 74
Efficiency 55
Safety 98
Practicality 89
Ownership 65
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance C9 SHS +18 Efficiency C9 SHS +41 Safety Santa Fe +4 Practicality Santa Fe +20

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

C9 SHS

Performance 92/100
Efficiency 96/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 69/100

Santa Fe

Performance 74/100
Efficiency 55/100
Safety 98/100
Practicality 89/100
Ownership 65/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index Omoda C9 SHS leads the specification evidence index with 87 pts vs 78 pts for Santa Fe

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, C9 SHS leads. However, Santa Fe may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

C9 SHS vs Santa Fe questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the exact South African derivatives on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.