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Hyundai Santa Fe vs BMW X1

What's the difference?

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Hyundai Santa Fe
Hyundai Santa Fe

$44,790 - $77,888

2023 price

BMW X1
BMW X1

$59,988 - $99,900

2023 price

Summary

2023 Hyundai Santa Fe
2023 BMW X1
Safety Rating

Engine Type
Turbo 4, 1.6L

Turbo 4, 2.0L
Fuel Type
Unleaded Petrol/Electric

Premium Unleaded Petrol
Fuel Efficiency
6.0L/100km (combined)

7.2L/100km (combined)
Seating
7

5
Dislikes
  • Hybrid is $6500 more than the petrol Santa Fe
  • Lower braked towing capacity than petrol or diesel Santa Fe
  • Not a plug-in hybrid

  • Pricey
  • Servicing on the expensive side
  • Small fuel tank
2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Summary

The Hyundai Santa Fe is a seven-seater SUV that slips in-between the enormous Palisade and mid-sized Tucson in Hyundai’s line-up.

And while it seemed to be the SUV that had everything, from unconventional good looks to cool tech, there’s never been a hybrid version despite rivals such as the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and Kia Sorento hybrid being on the market... until now.

Yep, 'better late than never' isn’t just the motto of my punctuality-challenged family, it’s also the case with the Santa Fe Hybrid.

In many ways, the Santa Fe Hybrid makes up for its lateness with a drive experience better than the regular Santa Fe - and you’ll save fuel, too.

I’ll tell you how much fuel you’ll save below, along with how much more you’ll pay to own a Santa Fe Hybrid over a regular Santa Fe. I’ll also cover off its safety tech, standard features and practicality. 

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2023 BMW X1 Summary

BMW’s X1 has changed. In a good way. Especially if you’re thinking about buying one as a family car.

Yep, last year the third-generation X1 arrived and after 13 years and three different attempts on a design, BMW has nailed it. And by ‘it’ I mean built a super practical and spacious small SUV that’s great to drive. 

See, as a dad of two kids, when it comes to cars and my family ‘it’ means something totally different to what ‘it’ meant 10 years ago.

And that’s what this review is about: does the BMW X1, and specifically this xDrive20i M Sport variant we’ve tested here, make a good family car?

If you're thinking of buying it for your family then you need to read this and also consider the likes of Audi’s Q3 and the Mercedes-Benz GLB.

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Deep dive comparison

2023 Hyundai Santa Fe 2023 BMW X1

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