2019 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2020 Honda Passport

The 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe marked a significant departure from Hyundai's traditionally conservative styling. It showcased a bold, futuristic exterior that set it apart from previous models. However, its design wasn't entirely unique, as it bore a resemblance to the Jeep Cherokee's upper LED strip and mid-level headlight clusters. Despite this, Hyundai executed the design more effectively. Inside, the Santa Fe prioritized functionality with deep compartments in the doors and center console, while still offering a modern and organic ambiance with earthy tones and unique materials.

In contrast, the 2020 Honda Passport adhered closely to Honda's established design language. It appeared as a more rugged and athletic version of the Honda Pilot, with a scratch-resistant matte black grille, 20-inch black alloy wheels, and black-rimmed LED headlights. The interior was sophisticated yet practical, featuring a mix of durable and soft-touch materials. The Passport Elite trim came loaded with features like perforated, heated, and ventilated front seats, a leather-trimmed heated steering wheel, and a moonroof. The design emphasized spaciousness and comfort, making it a practical choice for families.

The 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe offered two engine options. The base 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine produced 185 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, while the turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine available in the Limited and Ultimate trims delivered 235 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission, with power sent to the front wheels or available all-wheel drive (AWD). The base engine was noted for being sluggish, but the 2.0T provided strong acceleration. The Santa Fe had a ground clearance of 7.2 inches, making it less suitable for off-road adventures but stable in corners. It featured a drive mode selector with Sport, Comfort, and Smart settings, and the most fuel-efficient model achieved 22 mpg city, 29 highway, and 25 combined.

The 2020 Honda Passport came with a 3.5-liter V6 engine generating 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. While the engine provided sufficient power, its fuel economy was less impressive, with front-wheel-drive models achieving 20 mpg city, 25 highway, and 22 combined, and all-wheel-drive models slightly lower. The Passport excelled in various driving conditions, including high elevations and off-road trails. It featured torque-vectoring all-wheel drive, which enhanced stability and control. The Passport could tow up to 5,000 pounds with the available towing package, outperforming many of its rivals.

The 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe offered 71 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded, which was less than some compact crossovers. With the rear seats up, it provided 35.9 cubic feet of cargo space. The Santa Fe featured a hands-free power liftgate and multiple storage compartments throughout the cabin, enhancing its practicality.

The 2020 Honda Passport was praised for its practicality and spaciousness. It offered 41.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, the most in its class, and ample under-floor storage. The Passport's interior was designed for comfort, with spacious seats and height-adjustable seatbelts. It featured tri-zone automatic climate control and second-row sunshades, making it a comfortable choice for families. The Passport also excelled in small-item storage, with a large center console and additional shelf space in the front doors.

The 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe featured a user-friendly infotainment system with a floating screen design. The base SE trim came with a 7-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth connectivity, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims added satellite radio, HD Radio, and Hyundai’s BlueLink infotainment system. The Ultimate trim included a head-up display, wireless charging pad, and an 8-inch touchscreen. The Santa Fe also had rear USB ports and a wall-style power outlet.

The 2020 Honda Passport's base Sport model came with a 5.0-inch display, while higher trims featured an 8.0-inch Display Audio infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The larger screen was responsive and easy to navigate. Standard features included Bluetooth, a USB port, and a seven-speaker audio system. Higher trims offered a 10-speaker audio system, satellite radio, additional USB ports, a wireless phone charger, and a Wi-Fi hot spot. The Passport's dashboard design was functional but slightly outdated.

The 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe came standard with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including front- and side-impact airbags, a reversing camera, and a tire pressure monitoring system. Hyundai's Smart Sense suite included forward-collision avoidance, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. The Santa Fe also featured rear cross-path detection and the innovative Safe Exit Assist System, which tied the rear child-proof locks to the blind-spot monitoring system.

The 2020 Honda Passport prioritized safety with the Honda Sensing suite, which included collision mitigation braking, forward-collision warning, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. It also had a standard rearview camera with a birds-eye view. Higher trims offered dynamic gridlines for the rearview camera, blind-spot monitoring, parking sensors, and rear cross-traffic detection. The Passport received good scores from the IIHS and NHTSA and was named an IIHS Top Safety Pick.