The locally assembled (CKD) 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe facelift is scheduled to debut in Malaysia soon, and it was recently sighted there being transported on a trailer. An anonymous reader of every Malaysian automotive portal submitted the pictures of the vehicle. We can tell that there will be at least two different Santa Fe versions based on the photographs that have been shared.

Although the Hyundai Santa Fe has received a complete makeover for the fifth generation worldwide, the new model that will shortly be introduced in Malaysia is a thorough redesign of the fourth generation Santa Fe. With this extensive redesign, there is a noticeable upgrade in terms of functionality, equipment, and even design.




The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe's front end gets redesigned headlight casings that connect to the main grille, as seen in the spotted photos. Underneath the positioning lights, the T-shaped daytime running lights extend their vertical elements into the headlight cluster.

The front bumper has been reworked with an off-road-friendly aesthetic in addition to the headlamp relocation. The facelift variant does not have the front fog lamps located on the lower bumper.




Given that the Santa Fe now shares its new N3 architecture with the upcoming 5th generation model, the makeover goes beyond just cosmetics. The Santa Fe with the makeover is now 15 mm longer, 10 mm wider, and 5 mm taller overall. The wheelbase is not altered.

A larger 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment display and a completely digital 12.3-inch instrument cluster behind the steering wheel are included within the redesigned Hyundai Santa Fe.




It's unknown if Malaysia's 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe facelift will come with the same engine choices as the previous model. In Malaysia, the Hyundai Santa Fe pre-facelift was once available with a 2.4-liter normally aspirated inline-4 or a 2.2-liter turbodiesel four-cylinder engine. Whereas the latter has an eight-speed gearbox with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive options, the former is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission and a front-wheel drive powertrain.

The official release date of the Hyundai Santa Fe CKD 2023 for Malaysia has not yet been disclosed. But it ought to be approaching soon.