2020 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2021 Hyundai Tucson

Last year, Hyundai changed its approach to the Santa Fe. The smaller five-passenger Santa Fe Sport got drop-kicked from the automaker’s lineup, replaced by this completely redesigned version of the SUV. The larger seven-passenger Santa Fe got a new name for one year (Santa Fe XL), and then the all-new 2020 Hyundai Palisade replaced that vehicle.

With the Palisade’s arrival, there is just one Santa Fe for 2020, a five-passenger crossover that resides in a sweet spot between traditional compact and midsize models. It gets several updates, too, including a standard rear-seat reminder system, an available camera-based Blind-Spot View Monitor system, and new design accents to better distinguish the top trim level.

It’s no secret that small SUVs are among the most popular new-car segments. You see them everywhere on the road today. Automakers put a lot of pressure on themselves to continually offer the latest and greatest. But that also means even the not-so-new are still terrific vehicles and provide a great value.

Case in point: the 2021 Hyundai Tucson. The current generation of this compact SUV was introduced for the 2016 model year, and this 2021 edition represents the final model year before a new generation is ushered in. So why go with the older model? Because Hyundai has loaded it up with plenty of tech and safety features and it is offered at a competitive price.