Mat’s Car of the Day: the Jaecoo 8 is good, but the Hyundai Santa Fe is a better seven-seater
Car changing is a big deal
Mat Watson has tested the Jaecoo 8, a Chinese seven-seater with a posh interior and loads of tech. It’s a good car, but here’s why the Hyundai Santa Fe may be better suited to your needs.
When I tested the Jaecoo 8 earlier in July, I was really impressed with the amount of tech and luxury features you get for your money. It’s a really good family SUV.
However, it’s not so good as a seven-seater. The rear seats are really cramped and difficult to get into, so if you’re after a car for hauling seven people, the Hyundai Santa Fe is a better bet.
And it’s not just the added interior space I prefer about the Santa Fe. Here’s everything I love about this car, as well as a few things the Jaecoo does better.
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Why should you buy a Hyundai Santa Fe?
The Santa Fe is really roomy inside. Legroom in the middle row is slightly more generous than the Jaecoo 8, and the third row is miles bigger. Adults can sit comfortably with plenty of headroom, unlike the Jaecoo where your head is jammed against the roof.
I also think the Santa Fe looks more distinctive. The squared-off front end and boxy body give it a rugged vibe, whereas the Jaecoo 8 is more a mashup of styling cues from Audi and Mercedes. It looks smart, but it’s not head-turning like the Hyundai.
It’s lovely to drive, although it’s not much better than the Jaecoo. What makes the Hyundai potentially more appealing is the wider range of engines, because along with the plug-in hybrid there’s also a fuel-efficient self-charging hybrid.
Hyundai Santa Fe lease deals
One of the Santa Fe’s drawbacks is the price, because at almost £50,000 it’s £4,500 more expensive than the Jaecoo, and isn’t quite as well equipped.
However, things are different if you look into leasing one. Right now, you can lease a new Hyundai Santa Fe for £367 per month with a £4,700 initial payment. This is over three years and 30,000 miles, and comes to a total of £17,536.
By comparison, a Jaecoo 8 will cost you £413 over the same term and mileage, with a £5,300 initial payment. This brings the total to £19,780.
Being the Premium plug-in hybrid, this Santa Fe gets adaptive cruise control, heated seats, a reversing camera, keyless entry and a 12.3-inch touchscreen with smartphone mirroring.
Three annoying things about the Hyundai Santa Fe
As good as it is, the Hyundai Santa Fe isn’t perfect. Here are three annoying things to consider before buying.
1. It’s not very exciting to drive
The Santa Fe is a really comfy cruiser, with soft suspension soaking up the bumps and minimal wind noise at speed. It’s not what you’d call fun though. If you want a big SUV which is agile through the bends, you might want to check out a used BMW X5 instead.
2. Alternatives have a bigger boot
It may be cavernous for passengers, and the boot is impressive with all seven seats in place, but with the third row folded away the Santa Fe lags behind the Jaecoo 8 in terms of carrying capacity. The Jaecoo has 738 litres of space, whereas the Santa Fe has 628 litres.
3. There are no diesel or fully-electric versions
The Santa Fe is only available with hybrid or plug-in hybrid power. If you need a beefy diesel for towing, you’ll need to check out the Kia Sorento. Hyundai does also now offer an all-electric large seven-seater in the form of the Ioniq 9.
But I’m nitpicking here, because the Santa Fe is one of the best SUVs around. Make sure to check out the latest leasing deals to get yourself a bargain.
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