2019 Volvo XC40 vs 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe

If any brand is experiencing a revival in terms of both form and function, it's Volvo. The Swedish automaker is experiencing a renaissance, delivering new cars that are not only breathtaking to look at inside and out, but that also provide fantastic technology, safety, and performance.

Volvo was once the Safety Brand, but with the advent of advanced safety technology, many other brands have caught up. Volvo has found its niche in high fashion, backed by continually improving safety technology that rivals the best in the world.

This recent trend started with the XC90 SUV and was followed by the V90 wagon. These are world-class vehicles, but they also fetch high prices.

Enter the 2019 Volvo XC40. It scales down much of what makes those high-end models so great, offering it in a (comparatively) more affordable subcompact SUV package. The XC40 offers ingenious cargo solutions, incredibly advanced technology, and even a new way to go about car ownership. Is that enough to make it stand out compared to other subcompact SUVs? Read on to find out.

Technically, the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe is listed as a midsize SUV, but this is a stretch. Now entering its fourth generation, the Santa Fe fits somewhere between a compact SUV like the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, or Nissan Rogue and a midsize like the Toyota Highlander, Honda Pilot, or Nissan Pathfinder.

This vehicle actually replaces the 2-row Santa Fe Sport. The previous Santa Fe was a 3-row version, and it is still available, largely unchanged, but now named the Santa Fe XL. It will most likely be phased out of production, as Hyundai has a true 3-row midsize called the Palisade arriving this summer for the 2020 model year.

But back to the car at hand: The 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe is a true quality crossover. While it's technically large enough to compete against midsize SUVs, it shines as a great value when cross-shopped against other compact crossovers.