Suv showdown: hyundai santa fe vs toyota highlander – which offers more bang for your buck?
What To Know
- The naturally aspirated engine returns 25 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway, while the turbocharged engine achieves 22 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway.
- The Santa Fe offers a bold exterior, spacious interior, and impressive fuel economy, while the Highlander provides a more premium experience, stronger engine performance, and advanced safety features.
- The Hyundai Santa Fe with the naturally aspirated engine offers better fuel economy than the Highlander, with 25 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway.
The midsize SUV segment is a fiercely competitive battleground, with automakers vying for a slice of the lucrative market share. Two formidable contenders in this segment are the Hyundai Santa Fe and the Toyota Highlander. Both vehicles offer a compelling blend of practicality, comfort, and style, making them popular choices for families and adventure-seekers alike. In this comprehensive comparison, we will delve into the key differences between the Hyundai Santa Fe and the Toyota Highlander to help you make an informed decision.
Exterior Design: Bold vs. Conservative
The Hyundai Santa Fe and Toyota Highlander present contrasting exterior designs. The Santa Fe exudes a bold and assertive stance, featuring a large hexagonal grille, sleek LED headlights, and a muscular body. In contrast, the Highlander adopts a more conservative approach, with a refined grille, halogen headlights (on lower trims), and a smooth, rounded profile.
Interior Space and Comfort: Roominess vs. Premium Appointments
Both the Santa Fe and Highlander offer ample interior space for passengers and cargo. The Santa Fe boasts a spacious cabin with generous legroom and headroom in all three rows. The Highlander, on the other hand, provides a more premium experience, with soft-touch materials, elegant wood trim, and heated and ventilated front seats.
Engine Performance: Power vs. Fuel Efficiency
The Hyundai Santa Fe offers a choice of two engines: a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder with 191 horsepower and a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 277 horsepower. The Toyota Highlander is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine that produces 295 horsepower. While the Highlander offers more power, the Santa Fe’s turbocharged engine provides better acceleration and fuel economy.
Fuel Economy: Efficiency vs. Performance
The Hyundai Santa Fe’s fuel efficiency varies depending on the engine option. The naturally aspirated engine returns 25 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway, while the turbocharged engine achieves 22 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. The Toyota Highlander, with its V6 engine, offers 21 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway.
Safety Features: Advanced vs. Standard
Both the Santa Fe and Highlander come equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features. The Santa Fe offers advanced driver-assist systems such as lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring. The Highlander features a standard Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ system that includes pre-collision warning, lane departure alert, and adaptive cruise control.
Technology and Connectivity: Modern vs. Traditional
The Hyundai Santa Fe features a user-friendly 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The Toyota Highlander offers a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen, but its infotainment system is less intuitive and lacks some features found in the Santa Fe.
Price and Value: Affordable vs. Premium
The Hyundai Santa Fe offers a more affordable starting price than the Toyota Highlander. The base Santa Fe SE trim starts at $30,700, while the Highlander L base trim starts at $36,420. However, the Highlander offers more standard features and a more premium experience, which may justify the higher price tag.
Key Points: The Perfect SUV for Your Needs
The Hyundai Santa Fe and Toyota Highlander are both excellent midsize SUVs with unique strengths and weaknesses. The Santa Fe offers a bold exterior, spacious interior, and impressive fuel economy, while the Highlander provides a more premium experience, stronger engine performance, and advanced safety features. Ultimately, the best choice for you depends on your individual needs, preferences, and budget.
Questions You May Have
1. Which SUV has a more powerful engine?
The Toyota Highlander has a more powerful 3.5-liter V6 engine with 295 horsepower, compared to the Santa Fe‘s 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 277 horsepower.
2. Which SUV has better fuel economy?
The Hyundai Santa Fe with the naturally aspirated engine offers better fuel economy than the Highlander, with 25 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway.
3. Which SUV has more advanced safety features?
The Hyundai Santa Fe offers more advanced driver-assist systems, such as lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring, as standard features.
4. Which SUV has a more spacious interior?
Both the Santa Fe and Highlander offer spacious interiors, but the Santa Fe has a slightly more generous third row.
5. Which SUV has a more intuitive infotainment system?
The Hyundai Santa Fe’s 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system is generally considered to be more user-friendly and intuitive than the Toyota Highlander‘s 12.3-inch touchscreen system.