2020 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2020 Toyota Highlander

The 2020 Toyota Highlander's exterior didn't win many beauty contests, but it wasn't unpleasant. Compared to its previous model, the 2020 variant featured a slanted tailgate glass and more pronounced creases along the body panels. This emphasized the front and rear fenders, giving the Highlander a somewhat refined yet still generic appearance. The Toyota design ethos focused on trapezoidal shapes, prominently seen in the tailgate's license plate cutout, rear bumper, slimmer headlights, grille, and lower front bumper. All trims except the base L were equipped with projector-beam LED headlights and fog lights, while the higher trims, Limited and Platinum, included more attractive LED running lamps. The upper trims also benefited from new large 20-inch wheels. Paint colors such as the Blueprint on the Limited trim provided a touch of elegance to the overall design. Inside, the Highlander's cabin was a lesson in quality and attention to detail. Silver-painted accents highlighted the well-crafted interior, augmented by a polished black plastic 8-inch touchscreen. The Limited trim even featured a plush three-tone interior with padded surfaces and rich textures, setting it apart from competitors like the Ford Explorer and Honda Pilot, only rivaled by the Kia Telluride.

Contrastingly, the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe's exterior took bold design risks. Whether it was the grille shape, stacked front lighting, asymmetrical fender stampings, or oversized rear "skid plate" trim, each element offered a distinctive, albeit controversial, aesthetic. However, the interior was a visual feast. The dual-cowl dashboard swept into diamond-textured speaker grilles on the door panels, creating a thoughtfully dramatic environment. However, the interior wasn't perfect; the lower half's glossy plasticky material and stiff leather seats fell a bit short in terms of luxury. The build quality, however, was exceptionally robust, with a quiet ride thanks to laminated windshield and front window glass in the Limited trim.

Under the hood, the 2020 Toyota Highlander came equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, available in both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) configurations. This powerful engine delivered 295 horsepower and 263 lb-ft of torque, achieving smooth and nearly silent idling—owing to its shared platform with the Lexus RX. The eight-speed automatic transmission made efficient use of the engine’s power, although acceleration required a determined push on the pedal. Unfortunately, the steering felt loose at highway speeds, and the suspension was soft, resulting in a bobbing and floating ride experience. The Highlander's driving comfort included a wonderfully isolating experience, akin to a Lexus, that made long road trips peaceful and stress-free. Fuel economy stood commendably at 21 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, and 24 mpg combined for FWD models. AWD models came in slightly lower at 20/27/23 mpg. The Highlander's fuel-saving auto stop-start feature added further practicality by customizing stopping duration based on brake pressure and climate control settings.

In contrast, the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a choice between the standard 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine in the 2.0T trims. The base engine delivered 185 horsepower, while the turbocharged variant provided a more robust 235 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque between 1,450 rpm and 3,500 rpm. The turbocharged engine’s performance was notably faster and more responsive, especially beneficial at higher altitudes. The eight-speed automatic transmission ensured smooth power delivery to the front wheels, with the AWD option eliminating torque steer seen in FWD models. The Santa Fe had a decent towing capacity of 3,500 pounds when properly equipped and offered an EPA-estimated combined fuel economy of 23 mpg, with real-world testing showing a slightly lower 22.1 mpg. The driving experience was pleasant with a good balance of smooth ride quality, decent handling, and effective braking. The Limited trim, with its laminated windshield and front window glass, provided a serene highway driving experience.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander was a master in interior comfort and functionality. It could seat up to eight people with second-row bench seats or seven with the more luxurious captain's chairs available in the Limited and Platinum trims. The second-row seats offered generous adjustments and ample legroom, making them versatile for various passenger needs. The rear doors opened wide, allowing easy access and excellent ingress and egress, especially useful for families. The Highlander had plentiful cargo space—16 cubic feet behind the third row, 48 cubic feet behind the second row, and a maximum of 84 cubic feet with all rear seats folded down. Additionally, thoughtful storage solutions like cupholders, bottle holders, and two useful dashboard shelves enhanced overall functionality.

Comparatively, the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in thoughtful interior design for a two-row SUV capable of seating five passengers. The front seats were power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated with additional lumbar and thigh support for the driver, which proved comfortable for long trips. The Santa Fe's rear seats provided ample legroom and comfort, featuring air conditioning vents and the option for sunshades and heated bottom cushions in the Limited trim. However, when it came to cargo space, the Santa Fe fell slightly short compared to the Highlander. It offered 35.9 cubic feet with all seats up and 71.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. Despite this, large storage compartments under the cargo floor added practicality. The Santa Fe also featured a smart hands-free liftgate, which opened automatically when it sensed the key fob nearby, a convenient feature that the Highlander did not offer.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander's technology offered a mixed bag. While the infotainment system featured an 8-inch touchscreen and a larger optional 12.3-inch screen, it lacked the sophistication and user-friendliness of competitors. The resolution was low, and the user interface felt outdated, hampering the overall experience. Despite these drawbacks, the Highlander offered Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration. The upper trims boasted a 10-inch head-up display and a 7-inch display in the instrument cluster, providing crisp and valuable information. The semi-automated driving system worked efficiently, with adaptive cruise control, road sign detection, and automatic high beams. The optional JBL audio system and standard connectivity features like SiriusXM, Wi-Fi, and multiple USB ports enhanced the overall tech offering but fell short of industry leaders in execution.

The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe, on the other hand, excelled in its infotainment setup. Positioned high on the dashboard, the touchscreen system was easy to use with stereo control knobs and shortcut buttons for quick access. The interface was intuitive and customizable, with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto integration standard across all trims. SEL trim levels and above included SiriusXM satellite radio, Blue Link connected services with three years of free service, and the ability to start the engine remotely via a smartphone app. The Limited trim added advanced features like a larger 8-inch display, navigation, surround-view camera, wireless charging, and a premium Infinity surround sound system. Beyond infotainment, the Limited trim also featured a head-up display showcasing crucial information within the driver's line of sight. The Santa Fe's system was user-friendly and offered a wealth of conveniences that were both practical and engaging.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander came equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, a comprehensive suite of electronic safety assists. This included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Optional features like blind-spot monitoring, parking sensors, and rear emergency braking provided additional safety coverage. Unique to the Highlander were the driver's knee airbag and a special cushion airbag for the front passenger. Although the NHTSA had not rated the 2020 Highlander at the time, the IIHS awarded it a 2020 Top Safety Pick, emphasizing its safety credentials.

The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe also scored high on safety. It received a five-star overall crash-test rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS. Standard safety features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and adaptive cruise control. However, blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert were only available on SEL trims and above. The Santa Fe also featured a driver monitoring system and a rear-seat reminder system to prevent leaving children or pets in the car. The SEL Convenience Package added an ultrasonic occupant alert tied to the Blue Link app, which could notify drivers if a rear-seat passenger was left behind. Limited trims featured a Blind-Spot View Monitor, providing live video feeds of the SUV’s blind spots in the instrument cluster, further enhancing situational awareness.