2021 Audi Q5 vs 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe

When shoppers considered the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe, they had to choose between SE, SEL, and Limited trim levels. Those with “2.0T” in their name featured a powerful turbocharged engine. AWD was an option, allowing the automatic transmission to distribute power from the front to the rear wheels as needed.

Once buyers decided on AWD and engine type, and—for the SEL trim—the Convenience Package, they had to pick a paint color, interior color, and any upgrades from a shortlist of dealer-installed accessories. The test vehicle, a Limited 2.0T trim with dealer-installed floor mats, brought the total price to $39,170.

The Santa Fe's exterior aesthetics were polarizing. Hyundai's experimental design approach led to varied responses. Elements like the grille shape, stacked front lighting, asymmetrical fender designs, and oversized rear skid plate trim were points of contention.

The interior of the Santa Fe was dramatic, with a swooping dual-cowl dashboard design, diamond-textured speaker grilles, and high-contrast color schemes in gray or beige variants. Materials quality, particularly the glossy plastic on the lower half and the somewhat rigid leather seats, couldn't match the high-style design. However, the build quality was exceptionally good with refined controls.

In summary, the Hyundai Santa Fe boasted a distinctive design inside and out, appealing to those who appreciate daring and different aesthetics but likely unappealing to those who prefer understated elegance.

The 2021 Audi Q5 was a sharp-looking crossover SUV that distinctly carried the Audi design language while maintaining its unique character. Its front showcased expressive LED headlights and a prominent Singleframe grille, emphasizing width with horizontal elements. The Q5 had crisp character lines and a protective greenhouse, while the rear flaunted bold, large taillights. Overall, the Q5 exuded class and modernity with exceptional fit and finish across the vehicle. The plug-in hybrid variant, or Q5 PHEV, featured S-Line trim pieces, enhancing aesthetics with standard 19-inch wheels, and optional 20-inch wheels.

The Q5's interior mirrored its external sophistication. Despite being packed with technology, it maintained an uncluttered appearance. Buttons and controls were intelligently grouped, enhancing usability. High-quality materials, including real wood and metal, were used extensively, rejecting faux alternatives in favor of authenticity. The 10.1-inch touchscreen was perfectly positioned at the top of the center stack for optimal driver visibility. The second row also provided standard leather seating surfaces, continuing the feeling of luxury and thoughtfulness.

The Audi Q5 was tasteful and modern inside and out, appealing directly to those seeking a balanced mix of style, technology, and top-tier material quality.

The 2020 Santa Fe, with a curb weight ranging between 3,591 and 3,946 pounds, was better with the upgraded engine choice. The standard 185-hp 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine shared with the Kia Sorento was less desirable. Instead, a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 235 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque from 1,450 to 3,500 rpm was recommended. This engine offered significant power hikes—50 hp and 82 lb-ft more than the base.

An eight-speed automatic transmission was standard, complementing the engine power to the front wheels or all four wheels with the optional AWD. FWD models suffered from torque steer under hard acceleration, a problem alleviated by opting for AWD. With proper equipment, the Santa Fe had a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds.

Regarding fuel economy, the EPA rated the Santa Fe 2.0T FWD at 23 mpg combined, closely matched by our test model’s performance of 22.1 mpg.

During regular and off-road drives, including in Utah’s wilderness, the Santa Fe demonstrated competent yet uninspiring driving dynamics. The smooth ride, decent handling, light-effort steering, and durable brakes made it a reliable daily driver. The Limited trim's laminated glass ensured a quiet highway ride. However, with a focus more on practicality than excitement, the Santa Fe did not inspire spirited driving, thus more of a family-friendly vehicle.

The Q5 PHEV (plug-in hybrid) introduced an exciting upgrade over the standard gasoline Q5 (Q5 45), offering an additional 114 hp and 96 lb-ft of torque through its 14.1-kWh battery. Combined output reached 362 hp and 373 lb-ft of torque for the 4,665-lb vehicle. The electric motor worked in harmony with a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four gasoline engine, enhancing acceleration (achieving 0 to 60 mph in 5.0 seconds) and posting impressive efficiency figures of 65 MPGe combined. Operating in gasoline-only mode, the Q5 PHEV achieved 27 mpg combined.

Its battery pack could be fully recharged overnight with a household outlet or in 2.4 hours using a 240-volt charger. The Q5 PHEV’s seven-speed S Tronic automatic transmission came with full-time Quattro AWD, allowing various driving modes—for battery-only driving (~20 miles range), hybrid mode blending battery, and gas power, or battery conservation for later use.

The Q5’s speed-sensitive electromechanical power steering, coupled with its independent four-wheel suspension with a five-link setup, provided responsive handling. Body roll was well controlled, and the braking system was both powerful and dependable.

The 2020 Santa Fe excelled in interior design and comfort for a two-row, five-passenger SUV. The test vehicle had heated and ventilated eight-way power-adjustable front seats with multiple adjustments, including four-way lumbar support and extending thigh support. A heated steering wheel added extra comfort for cold weather. The trip from Los Angeles to Las Vegas proved its long-distance comfort.

The SUV's dual-zone automatic climate control included a Clean Air ionizer, effectively maintaining interior temperature, especially with the panoramic sunroof. Rear-seat passengers benefited from ample legroom and reclining seats, ensuring comfort on long journeys. The Limited trim provided rear side-window sunshades and heated bottom cushions.

Cargo space was where the Santa Fe faced limitations. With 35.9 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 71.3 cubic feet with the seats folded, it fell short compared to other midsize SUVs but was spacious relative to compact SUVs. Excellent storage compartments beneath the cargo floor provided additional storage solutions, and the hands-free smart liftgate was a thoughtful feature, opening automatically when sensing the key fob.

Compact crossover SUVs, like the Q5, surged in popularity due to their balanced size. Smart packaging allowed the Q5 PHEV to house its battery without sacrificing luggage space, offering 25.1 cubic feet behind the second row and 53.1 cubic feet with the second row folded.

Passenger space was commendable, with the second row providing 37.8 inches of legroom, 37.7 inches of headroom, and 56.5 inches of shoulder room—easily accommodating two adults comfortably, with room for a third on short rides. The front seats were characteristic of Audi’s renowned comfort, featuring wide range adjustments, heating, and ventilation (Prestige trim).

The front row included thoughtful storage options and an array of cubbies for smaller items. Audi's design maintained functionality without clutter, reflecting a clean, visually pleasing interior that worked well for daily use.

The infotainment setup in the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe was customer-friendly and incorporated essential technology. The touchscreen was situated high on the dashboard, making it easily accessible. It included stereo control knobs, main menu shortcut buttons, and a programmable button for personalized use. Across all trims, Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto were standard.

The SEL trim upped the ante with SiriusXM satellite radio and Blue Link connected services for three years, inclusive of remote start, emergency assistance, and location tracking. Limited trim added an 8-inch display, navigation system, surround-view camera, wireless charging, and a 12-speaker Infinity sound system. A sophisticated head-up display provided critical data within the driver's line of sight, further enhancing driving safety and convenience.

The Q5 PHEV was equipped with Audi's latest MMI 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system, paired with a touchpad that was intuitive to use. The Audi Virtual Cockpit Plus, a 12.3-inch HD instrument cluster, offered customizable views (classic, sport, dynamic), elevating the user experience. Combined with adjustable color LED ambient lighting, this elevated the Q5’s interior to a tech-savvy, futuristic level.

Models with the Prestige Package included integrated navigation, synchronizing route data with hybrid mode to optimize fuel and battery usage. The new Integrated Toll Module provided seamless toll road compatibility without bulky attachments. Moreover, the Bang & Olufsen 3D audio system (standard on Prestige trim) and wireless Apple CarPlay further enriched the in-car entertainment experience.

The 2020 Santa Fe was a robust choice for safety-conscious families, securing a five-star rating from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick from IIHS. Standard features across all trims included adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and lane keeping assistance. A driver monitoring system and rear-seat reminder were additional thoughtful inclusions.

Blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warnings began at the SEL trim, which also introduced a safe exit assist system. The SEL Convenience Package added an ultrasonic occupant alert system, integrated with the Blue Link app, designed to prevent accidental forgotten occupants. The Limited trim offered a Blind-Spot View Monitor, showing live feeds in blind spots for enhanced safety.

While the 2021 Q5 PHEV had yet to receive ratings from IIHS, the 2020 Q5 gasoline model secured top “good” ratings in most categories, earning five stars from NHTSA. The PHEV version was expected to mirror these ratings once evaluated.

Standard safety features included six airbags, anti-lock brakes with brake assist, Audi Pre Sense basic, power child locks, electronic stability control, anti-theft alarm, and more. Available advanced features like Audi Side Assist with rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and the top-view camera system furthered its appeal as a safe and reliable vehicle.