2021 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2022 Toyota Sienna

The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe defied expectations with its pricing. Typically, new vehicles seemed overpriced, but the Santa Fe made you question why it didn't cost more. This five-passenger midsize SUV offered a choice between two new gasoline engines and a new gas-electric hybrid powertrain. Trim levels for gas models included SE, SEL, Limited, and Calligraphy, while hybrids came in Blue, SEL Premium, and Limited trims. Pricing ranged from $26,850 to $39,950 MSRP, with AWD costing an additional $1,700 for gas models but standard for hybrids. The Santa Fe featured a redesigned front end with new running lights, grille, and bumper, and each trim level had unique wheel, grille, and headlight combinations. Inside, new colors, patterns, and textures elevated the Santa Fe's interior, and a new bridge-style center console added storage and housed electronic transmission controls, drivetrain settings, climate switchgear, and stereo controls. The Calligraphy trim, with its premium leather and panoramic glass sunroof, made the SUV feel like a steal at $43,590.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna aimed to blend SUV style with minivan practicality. Despite the rise of SUVs, Toyota remained committed to the minivan market. The Sienna, now in its fourth generation, featured a macho front end and re-engineered door hinges and slides to conceal the slider channel. The rear doors had integrated styling details, and the overall profile was assertive. Standard 17-inch wheels could be upgraded to 18-inch or 20-inch wheels on higher trims. Inside, the Sienna avoided the minivan/school bus feel with an uncluttered design and clever storage solutions. The second and third rows offered comfortable, roomy seating, with available second-row captain’s chairs and a spacious third-row bench. The third row was a 60/40-split bench that stored away easily, and the second-row seats slid up to 25 inches for easy access to the third row.

The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe offered three new powertrains. The SE and SEL trims came with a 191-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Santa Fe Hybrids featured a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, a starter/generator, an electric drive motor, and a six-speed automatic transmission, producing a total system output of 226 hp. The higher-level Limited and Calligraphy trims had a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine generating 281 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed wet-plate dual-clutch transmission. The Santa Fe offered Normal, Sport, and Smart driving modes, with the turbocharged engine providing impressive performance and fuel efficiency, achieving 24 mpg in combined driving with AWD.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna continued with its hybrid powertrain, combining a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors to produce 243 horsepower. FWD was standard, with AWD available on all trim levels. The AWD system added a separate electric motor driving the rear wheels, providing 54 hp and 89 lb-ft of torque. The Sienna used an electronically controlled continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and offered four selectable drive modes: Normal, EV, Eco, and Sport. The Sienna's handling was better than expected for a minivan, thanks to its front suspension and independent rear trailing arm suspension. The EPA rated the FWD Sienna Hybrid at 36 mpg city/36 mpg highway/36 mpg combined, while AWD models achieved 35 mpg city/35 mpg highway/35 mpg combined.

The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe provided ample passenger room without a third-row seat. All trims included dual-zone automatic climate control, and cloth seats featured stain-resistant fabric. Leather was available for the SEL and standard in the Limited trim. The Calligraphy trim offered a luxurious interior with a suede-like headliner and premium Nappa leather. The Santa Fe was comfortable, with power-adjustable seats, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The rear seat was spacious and included air-conditioning vents, quick-charge USB ports, a power outlet, and rear side-window sunshades. The Santa Fe offered 36.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat, expanding to 72.1 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna was designed to be a family workhorse, capable of carrying a full 4x8 sheet of plywood with the tailgate closed. The sliding second row added flexibility for loading cargo, with measurements of 33.5 cubic feet behind the third row, 75.2 cubic feet behind the second row, and 101 cubic feet behind the first row. The Sienna also had a 3,500-pound towing capacity. The standard 60/40-split third-row bench stored away easily, and each row had storage cubbies and cupholders. Both side sliding doors and the rear tailgate were power-operated with foot-motion triggers, making it convenient to access the vehicle with hands full.

The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy was loaded with technology, including a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a surround-view camera system, and an 8.5-inch color head-up display (HUD). The basic 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the 10.25-inch touchscreen offered wired versions, upgraded voice-recognition technology, and enhanced Blue Link connected services. The Santa Fe also featured a 12-speaker Harman Kardon surround-sound system, Blue Link connected services, and Hyundai's Digital Key and Remote Smart Parking Assist tech.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna came with a 9-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, SiriusXM, and multiple USB ports. The Sienna offered a one-year trial of Safety Connect and Remote Connect telematics services, a 10-year trial of Service Connect, and a three-month trial of AT&T WiFi Connect. Higher trims featured a 12-speaker JBL audio system, a rear-seat entertainment system with an 11.6-inch display, and a 10-inch color head-up display. The Sienna also offered a digital rearview mirror and a Smart Key System on higher trims.

The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe offered an impressive list of safety features, including forward-collision warning with pedestrian, cyclist, and junction turning assistance, Safe Exit Assist, and a rear-occupant alert system. The Santa Fe also featured a Blind-Spot View Monitor and Highway Driving Assist. The Santa Fe earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS with LED projector headlights and received high ratings for crashworthiness and front crash-prevention technology.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA. The Sienna came with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, which included adaptive cruise control, Lane Tracing Assist, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and traffic sign recognition. The Sienna also featured 10 airbags, multiple LATCH child-seat connectors, a rear-seat reminder system, tire-pressure monitoring, and an inflator kit.