Jeep Liberty vs Hyundai Santa Fe

More than twenty years ago Hyundai gave us its first SUV. Called the Santa Fe, the popular crossover has gone through four generations, all leading up to this design departure that makes this latest model the boldest-looking version yet.

Even if you’re not sold on the exterior design, the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe has plenty to recommend it. Its longer wheelbase means the mid-size crossover has more interior space and Hyundai has added myriad features that just make sense in a family vehicle of this size. There are others that might offer up a bit more cargo space, but those who are looking for stand-out styling on the road should take a serious look at this blocky crossover.

Verdict: The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe is a mid-size crossover that fashionable families will love. However, those with more traditional tastes might find it all a bit too much.

The Jeep Liberty is an off-road-ready compact SUV with the heart and soul of the brand’s much heartier vehicles. It’s able to climb, crawl, and wade through much stiffer terrain than its tiny size would suggest, and makes use of four-wheel drive and a solid rear axle to get through the tough stuff.

The Liberty is targeted at new-car buyers that want a rugged and capable SUV to take where more pedestrian vehicles just can’t go. It competes with the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, and Subaru Forester. Jeep offers the Liberty in just two trim levels: Jeep Liberty Sport and Jeep Liberty Limited. Though it slots below models like the Grand Cherokee, the Liberty carries much of the same styling and off-roading attitude as those pricier models.

A single engine is available for the 2007 model year: A 3.7-liter V6 that produces 210 horsepower and 235 pound-feet of torque. Power hits the rear wheels through a six-speed manual transmission by default, but four-wheel drive and a four-speed automatic gearbox are available.