Source type: Hyundai Uganda / Motorcare quotation catalogue and model specifications
Hyundai Santa Fe vs Toyota Starlet
A proper head-to-head in Uganda — compare price, performance, fuel economy or electric range, safety and the details that shape long-term ownership.
Hyundai Santa Fe
SANTA FE 2.5L Petrol 4x4 8AT GLS
Petrol
8-Speed Automatic
Current
UGX 210,000,000
ex-showroom
⚡ 143 kW
🔧 246 Nm
⛽ 11.76 km/l
VS
Toyota Starlet
1.5L Petrol AT DELUXE
Petrol
4-Speed Automatic
Current
UGX 98,000,000
ex-showroom
⚡ 77 kW
🔧 138 Nm
⛽ 12.5 km/l
Decision summary
Hyundai Santa Fe vs Toyota Starlet: the short answer
Santa Fe and Starlet are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.
Starlet starts UGX 112,000,000 cheaper
Santa Fe from UGX 210,000,000 · Starlet from UGX 98,000,000
Five key differences
Exact selected derivatives| Specification | Santa Fe | Starlet |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum Power | Santa Fe142.7 kW @ 6100 rpm | Starlet77 kW @ 6000 rpm |
| Maximum Torque | Santa Fe246 Nm @ 4000 rpm | Starlet138 Nm @ 4400 rpm |
| Engine Size | Santa Fe2497 cc | Starlet1462 cc |
| Combined Fuel Economy | Santa Fe11.76 km/l | Starlet12.5 km/l |
| Ground Clearance | Santa Fe177 mm | Starlet150 mm |
Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.
Source type: Toyota Uganda/CFAO specifications; user-supplied estimates for remaining fields
What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)
Specification evidence leader
Santa Fe
Strengths
- More powerful engine output
- Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
- Lower fuel efficiency
- Fewer listed safety features
Best suited to:
Published Performance
Published Practicality
Starlet
Strengths
- Better fuel efficiency
- Stronger listed safety equipment
Weak Spots
- Less powerful engine setup
- Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to:
Published Efficiency
Which One's Right for You?
Santa Fe
- Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
- Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures
Starlet
- Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
- Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
Full Specs, Side by Side
| Spec | Santa Fe | Starlet |
|---|---|---|
| Model Introduced Year | 2023 | 2022 |
| Generation | Current market generation | 1.5-litre Starlet revision introduced to Uganda in June 2023 |
| Facelift History | Current-generation specification | Uganda nameplate launch in February 2022; 1.5-litre engine and revised body introduced in June 2023 |
| Facelift Launched Since | 2023 | 2023 |
| Facelift Version Ending | Current | Current |
| Body Style | SUV | Hatchback |
| Model Year | 2026 | 2023-on Uganda 1.5-litre range |
| Production Status | active | active |
| Segment | SUV | Compact hatchback |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger SUV | Passenger car |
| Spec | Santa Fe | Starlet |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 4830 mm | 3990 mm |
| Width | 1900 mm | 1745 mm |
| Height | 1770 mm | 1500 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2815 mm | 2520 mm |
| Ground Clearance (Default) | 177 mm | 150 mm |
| Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) | 160 mm | 130 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 67 l | 37 l |
| Boot/Cargo Space | Not Officially Disclosed | 314 l |
| Kerb Weight | 1970 kg | 990 kg |
| Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) | Not Officially Disclosed | 1430 kg |
| Payload Capacity | Not Officially Disclosed | 440 kg |
| Towing Capacity | 1500 kg | 750 kg |
| Seating Capacity | 7 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Rows | 3 rows | 2 rows |
| Doors | 5 doors | 5 doors |
| Minimum Turning Radius | 5.5 m | 5.1 m |
| Front Headroom | 1020 mm | Not Officially Disclosed |
| Rear Headroom | 1007 mm | Not Officially Disclosed |
| Front Legroom | 1052 mm | Not Officially Disclosed |
| Rear Legroom | 1075 mm | Not Officially Disclosed |
In depth: how these cars differ
This Santa Fe and Starlet comparison uses the exact derivatives selected above for Uganda. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.
Performance index: Santa Fe 56 vs Starlet 35.
Efficiency index: Santa Fe 46 vs Starlet 52.
Safety-equipment index: Santa Fe 63 vs Starlet 85.
Practicality index: Santa Fe 70 vs Starlet 50.
Ownership-cover index: Santa Fe not separately scored vs Starlet not separately scored.
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.
Model imagery
Santa Fe and Starlet image comparison
Open an image for its full canonical file or visit the model page for the complete vehicle record.
Hyundai Santa Fe
View 8 more Santa Fe images
Toyota Starlet
View 8 more Starlet images
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-index readout
Santa Fe leads by 4 points
Santa Fe and Starlet are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.
Evidence leader
59
/100
Lead
4
points
Data
71%
source coverage
59
#1
Evidence leader
Santa Fe
Performance
56
Efficiency
46
Safety
63
Practicality
70
Leads by 4 points
55
#2
Starlet
Performance
35
Efficiency
52
Safety
85
Practicality
50
Performance 24%
Safety 22%
Practicality 22%
Efficiency 17%
Ownership 15%
Category leaders
What moves the verdict
Performance
Santa Fe +21
Efficiency
Starlet +6
Safety
Starlet +22
Practicality
Santa Fe +20
Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.
Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader
Santa Fe
Performance
56/100
Efficiency
46/100
Safety
63/100
Practicality
70/100
Starlet
Performance
35/100
Efficiency
52/100
Safety
85/100
Practicality
50/100
What the evidence means
In Hagalu's specification evidence index, Santa Fe leads. However, Starlet may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in Uganda.
Related comparisons
Continue with closely related Uganda models and comparable body styles.
Santa Fe vs Starlet questions
There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the models and available derivatives in Uganda 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.