JAECOO 8 vs. Hyundai Santa Fe: which is better?
A guide to help you decide which of these SUVs is best for you
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For a long time, if you wanted a big, luxurious SUV, you looked at Range Rover. But now there are many more affordable options popping up, giving the old boys a run for their money.
Step into the JAECOO 8 and Hyundai Santa Fe – two high-end family SUVs that offer serious value, but which should you buy?
What’s better: the JAECOO 8 or Hyundai Santa Fe?
Our guide will answer:
Which car has better styling?
Is the JAECOO 8 or Hyundai Santa Fe better to drive?
Does the JAECOO 8 or Santa Fe have better tech?
Is the JAECOO 8 or Santa Fe more reliable?
What are the JAECOO 8 and Santa Fe’s dimensions?
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JAECOO 8 vs. Hyundai Santa Fe: Styling
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On the outside, these two cars couldn’t be more different. The JAECOO 8 has a sleek and stylish design, whereas the Hyundai Santa Fe has a boxier shape with harsh, futuristic lines.
The JAECOO’s stand-out features start with its giant, bold front grille, and with elegant lines that carry on to the rear of the car where it finishes with a strong rear light cluster.
The Hyundai is much more brutish in its design. It has chunky wheel arches, lots of flat sides, and a very utilitarian feel to it. It wouldn’t look out of place parked next to a line of army-spec Mercedes G-Wagens.
JAECOO 8 vs. Hyundai Santa Fe: What are they like to drive?
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Behind the wheel, they’re actually quite similar. Both stand tall on the road, giving you lots of front and rear visibility, while still being incredibly comfortable to drive.
The JAECOO 8 is powered by a 428hp, 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine paired with a plug-in hybrid system (dubbed SHS-P) that brings a large battery good for up to 83 miles of electric range.
The Hyundai Santa Fe, on the other hand, comes as either a self-charging hybrid with 239hp or a plug-in hybrid with 253hp, thanks to its 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine. The PHEV is capable of returning 33 miles of electric-only range.
JAECOO 8 vs. Hyundai Santa Fe: Interior and technology
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The JAECOO 8 is available in two different trims: Luxury and Executive.
There’s a £2,000 difference between them (when new), with the latter adding a more spacious six-seat seating layout (losing you one seat), added suede touches, a heated steering wheel and auto-tilt mirrors in reverse.
But despite that, all versions come with dual 12.3-inch displays that run JAECOO’s latest software, which is smooth and responsive.
There’s also wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which most people will automatically default to anyway.
As for the Santa Fe, this gets three trim options. You get twin 12.3-inch displays with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, a powered boot lid, wireless phone charging and keyless entry.
Heated front seats are also standard, but our pick would be mid-spec Ultimate if you fancy cooled front seats (and heated rear seats) too.
JAECOO 8 vs. Hyundai Santa Fe: Boot space and practicality
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In its standard four (or five) seat layout, the JAECOO 8 gets 738 litres of space, which is plenty for everyone's luggage or a massive food shop. Pop all seven rows in place and this drops to 110 litres.
Then, lower the second and third rows and this grows to an astonishing 2,021 litres, which is massively impressive.
The Santa Fe, on the other hand, has 985 litres of space, growing to 1,949 litres when the two rear rows are down.
So, it wins in five-seat mode, but not two-seat mode. Pick your battles.
JAECOO 8 vs. Hyundai Santa Fe: Safety and reliability
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If you’re wondering which car is safe, stop right there. Both cars are some of the safest vehicles on our roads, thanks to a whole array of onboard safety features.
These include onboard safety features like plenty of airbags, surround-view parking cameras, strengthened body panels and ADAS features like lane-keep assist and driver monitoring.
As for reliability, both cars will be impressive. JAECOO is a newer brand to the UK, but with a seven-year/100,000-mile warranty, you needn’t be concerned.
And Hyundai is Hyundai. They’re as dependable as they come, and they’re all sold new with a five-year/unlimited-mileage warranty for added peace of mind.
JAECOO 8 vs. Hyundai Santa Fe: Dimensions
JAECOO 8
Length: 4,820mm
Width: 1,930mm
Height: 1,710mm
Boot space: 738 litres
Hyundai Santa Fe
Length: 4,830mm
Width: 1,900mm
Height: 1,780mm
Boot space: 985 litres
Verdict: JAECOO 8 vs. Hyundai Santa Fe – which should you buy?
If you’re still not entirely sure which of these SUVs is for you, we’ll break down the simple differences below.
You should buy a JAECOO 8 if...
You want a luxurious six-seat option
You want more EV-only range
You like tech
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You should buy a Hyundai Santa Fe if...
You need a bigger boot
You want more physical buttons inside
You don’t want a plug-in hybrid
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