Hyundai Santa Fe vs. Toyota Highlander: 3-Row Hybrid SUV Battle

The Santa Fe is so ugly

Toyota resale will negate the price difference and then some, don't you think?

When did Santa Fe get a third row? I had a 2008. I thought 3rd row was Tuscon and Pallisade.

I like the Santa Fe over the Highlander, but I like the 2025 Grand Highlander Night Shade edition, over the Santa Fe.

I bought a brand new Santa Fe Hybrid Luxury in 2023 and my experience so far has been a nightmare to say the least. NEVER EVER buy a Hyundai product or else you will be LEFT FOR DEAD just like me. The vehicle has major safety issues (e.g.: vehicle failing to slow down/ stop on cruise control), providing photo & video evidence to prove the issue was not enough for Hyundai Canada to take immediate action and instead I have been left to battle this by sending it for a million diagnostics tests. Finally, I had no option but to take them to court. The judgement is coming soon but it is shocking that a manufacturer (& Transport Canada) would allow this to happen. This could have easily become a criminal case if an accident would have occurred and then I would have been blamed for it when it is truly a technical snag. If you buy their product, your safety and that of the public will be at risk and Hyundai would only be silent spectators! SHAME ON HYUNDAI FOR DOING THIS TO CUSTOMERS WHO BUY THEIR PRODUCTS.

Santa Fe is the winner in this comparison.

Love toyotas, but hate their decade old designs looks at premium prices. Same goes to the outgoing RAV4.

I have narrowed my pursuit down to these 2 SUVs. I hear that the Santa Fe hybrid has had a dying 12volt battery problem that can cause the vehicle to slow down and / or lose power altogether. Has Hyundai solved this issue yet? Love your coverage. Thx

I own a 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe SEL Hybrid. My real world MPG is 36.8. The one thing I hate is the wind noise coming from the two rear doors.

The Santa Fe is ugly! Highlander is more sleek

I hate when they only show the top trim. Not everyone can pay that extra 10 g. Middle trim for middle class. Stupi……. If I have that extra money. I will buy a Lexus.

We looked at Kia Sorento, Toyota Highlander, and Hyundai Santa Fe, all in hybrid versions. We chose the Santa Fe with Limited trim because of the additional space that it provides, and because it had an available second row bench seat, which we wanted for our golden retriever. We also felt that the Santa Fe was more comfortable for both driver and front row passenger, it seemed to have a bit more pep as well, plus it was less expensive than the Toyota in the trim level that we chose. The biggest dealbreaker that eliminated Toyota, though, was that they do not have an available 8-way power front passenger seat, which we needed because of my wife’s back issues. We have put about 500 miles on the Santa Fe in the first week, and so far we love it. By the way, we traded a 2024 Subaru Outback Touring XT for our 2024 Santa Fe hybrid, because we felt that the Subaru sat too low to the ground and also the gas mileage was terrible, as we were averaging barely 21 miles per gallon with a combination of both city and highway driving. So far, we are averaging 33.7 miles per gallon with the Santa Fe, also with a combination of city and highway driving. The Outback had slightly better pick up and was very comfortable, but the visibility was not nearly as good as in the Santa Fe, and my wife felt it was much harder to get into and out of than the Santa Fe. Subaru is going to have to offer hybrid vehicles very quickly if they are going to compete in today’s market.

Personally I would choose the better driving, better mpg, and more cargo for this vehicle and that would not be the Santa Fe. The highlander does not have "outdated tech" it just looks like a traditional car vs a space ship.

I would like to know what the turning range is. I have a 2006 Toyota Avalon with over 280,000 miles that I have loved driving every time I get in it. But it's starting to wear out. I'm looking to make a change to a third row vehicle and have wondered what the comparisons were between the Santa Fe and the Highlander. Thank you for the comparisons. Do you have the same comparison between them without the hybrid?

In a 3-row SUV, I want to fit seven people, not six. Us 3-rowers need extra seats, not just the heftier prize tag.

You shouldnt compare Santa fe wiyh Highlinder. Compare Paliside with Higlinder

Great review. I think the Santa Fe is the winner IMO, but longevity is worth noting, Toyota would be the safe bet there. The Limited trim Santa Fe is the better but instead of the Calligraphy

Doesn't the Santa fe have the same phone storage on the passenger side?

No mention of ground clearance, approach angle, snow handling, dirt road handling. Yes it is mostly a soccer delivery vehicle but it is all wheel drive and this is a feature you pay extra for.

Comparison between 2 worst suvs !!😅

Aggh the navigation, screen, buttons on the Highlander is awful. Looks like a 90's car.

Is it highlander or grand highlander?

Santa Fe….DOG BONES 🦴 🦴 front/tail lights 😂😅 …every time i see them on the highway i laugh at these lights…

Why not compare against the Grand Highlander?

What about the Kia Sorento Hybrid and or the Mazda CX50 Hybrid?

I wish that Toyota put the cup holders in the side doors, too. This would be ideal for second row.
The Hyundai, I agree that the navigation area needs to have physical buttons...for safety.
But both SUV are fantastic.

Santa Fe for surre

Still trying to decide what to upgrade to 🤷🏼‍♂️✌️🙏🇨🇦

Santa Fe all the way

Got a 2024 santa fe gasoline SEL. Currently at 10k miles and no issues so far, fingers crossed. Its a very comfortable and spacious and very well thought out interior. Exterior is subjective, I happen to love it lol

I have been driving a 4-cylinder Mazda 5 lol power isn't an issue even with decreased power, it's more than I got. But I got spoiled from that 3rd row I have folded down 99.8% of the year in fact, I think I haven't folded the 3rd row up in like 3 years on it... The main reason I am looking at both of these is it's better, its better gas mileage. I mean, the only good thing about my Mazada 5 is it gets good gas mileage for its year, and I got it used from family for a steal.

Toyota and Honda interior is so outdated.

Great review and comparison ❤

Santa Fe Hybrid
1. 10 year warranty.
2. 3rd row seating

3. car monitor screen

matte paint looks very odd though

That Toyota model might have looked futuristic 20 years ago ... Now it looks boring and uncreative

Feels like Santa Fe is a no brainer 4me

I have had my Santa Fe hybrid Calligraphy for about a month and so far, so good. I am 66 years old and understand about 10% of the techno so far but expect to get it all in about a year.

I just bought a Santa Fe Calligraphy and love it.

The Yota will keep its residual value better, though. Just a thought for those of us who actually have to pay for the cars...
And a disadvantage of the highlander is that when using android auto or apple car play the route is not displayed in the HUD. Don't know about the Santa Fe.

Sorry, I can’t buy a car from a brand that use to make 75000 throw away cars. I’ll stick with the Toyota. Plus the styling of the Santa Fe look like a throw back to the boxy cars of the early to mid 2000

I drive a 2020 Hyundai Palisade. I love it with a few important exceptions. For my next car I am considering the two you have here. My complaints are on the living with it side, so I hope you watch for these issues in your 1 year trial. My dealership has been terrible, so I don't if my service complaints apply to all, but the service I have gotten was TERRIBLE. The car has been great, so I haven't needed them much. The paint job has not held up as well as any previous car I have ever owned. I have a lot of small dings and scratches. I agree with your comments about about the built in NAV system. If you can't do better than Google Maps you should just supply a good link to Apple Play. In my Hyundai and my previous Lexus, Nav updates were a disaster. It is the only software in the world that erases all your saved data when updating. How long would you use Microsoft or Google if they erased all your stored data every time they updated. I am 72 years old, so my selection was and will be highly based on safety and driver assist features. I wish you had discussed these more.

You're good at this ...

Toyota is for 20 century Hyundai is for 21 century

These so called reviews leave out the elephant in the room. They review everything from cup holders to screens to seats, but completely commit long term reliability, mechanics and engineering, completely out of the equation. They only give viewers a view of the car when it is new. What happens when both these vehicles clock 200k+ on the odometer all other things being equal?. I agree it is difficult to predict, but an informed opinion can be arrived at by looking under the hood.

Toyota Highlander 👍🏽👍🏽

The capacitive touch is awesome btw. I know it's described here as a negative. I've never had an issue. I think this is done for eas le of cleaning, no more sticky buttons with crud in the cracks. If you rotate it to the temp you want, hit auto (1, 2, or 3), then you're set. No touching the capacitive anyways 90% of the time.

If the santa fe was rated to tow 3500lbs this would be a no brainer...but since it not it does skew my choice a bit

Santa fe has better warranty but the tpyota has a well proven track record.
Toyota alao retain better value, that is if it doesn't get stolen.

Are these modern hyundais any reliable

You said you have the Hyundai for a year. Did you buy it?

Do you like the look of the Santa Fe Hybrid, or is it taking one too many chances? Let us know in the comments!