2021 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, which debuted in 2005, was still in its second generation. The current generation, introduced in 2014, received a significant refresh in 2018 that carried over into 2021. This refresh included a dual-screen center console, a defining feature of Land Rover interiors. A plug-in hybrid variant and the availability of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were introduced in 2020. The Range Rover Sport offered various trims, from the base SE with leather upholstery and dual-zone climate control to the high-end SVR Carbon Edition with carbon fiber accents and 22-inch alloy wheels.

The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe, on the other hand, offered a surprising value for its price. With a choice of two new gasoline engines and a new gas-electric hybrid powertrain, the Santa Fe lineup included trims like SE, SEL, Limited, and Calligraphy. The exterior featured a redesigned front end with new running lights, grille, and bumper. Inside, the Santa Fe boasted new colors, patterns, and textures, along with a bridge-style center console. The Calligraphy trim, in particular, exuded quality with its premium leather and high-tech features, making it feel like a steal at its price point.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered a variety of powertrain options. The base P360 mild-hybrid powertrain, found in the SE and SE Silver Edition, combined a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six with a 48-volt electrical system, producing 355 horsepower and 365 pound-feet of torque. The HST model featured a more potent P400 version, rated at 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. The HSE Silver Edition also offered plug-in hybrid and diesel powertrains, with the P400e plug-in hybrid delivering 398 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque. The HSE Dynamic and Autobiography trims featured a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 with 518 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque, while the SVR and SVR Carbon Edition boasted a more powerful version of this engine, making 575 hp and 516 lb-ft. All models had an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time four-wheel drive, with a towing capacity of up to 7,716 pounds (except the SVR, which could tow 6,613 pounds).

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, a starter/generator, an electric drive motor, and a six-speed automatic transmission, with 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 also offered Normal, Sport, and Smart driving modes, with the turbocharged engine providing impressive performance and fuel efficiency, averaging 22.4 mpg in testing.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport provided a maximum of 63.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 31.7 cubic feet with the second row in use. An optional third row increased seating capacity to seven but reduced cargo space to 10.8 cubic feet. Both the first and second rows offered ample headroom and legroom, while the third row was best suited for children.

The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe, designed for those who didn't need a third-row seat, offered dual-zone automatic climate control and stain-resistant fabric or leather seats, depending on the trim. The Calligraphy trim featured premium Nappa leather and a suede-like headliner. The Santa Fe provided a comfortable driving experience with power-adjustable seats, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The rear seat offered ample legroom and comfort, with air-conditioning vents, USB ports, and sunshades. The Santa Fe had 36.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 72.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport's interior was dominated by a dual-screen center console. The lower screen controlled climate settings and vehicle functions, while the upper screen handled infotainment. The system included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto but had a learning curve and occasional bugs. The system's saving grace was the pair of multifunction dials on the lower screen, which controlled various settings.

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. The basic 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the 10.25-inch screen provided upgraded voice-recognition technology and enhanced Blue Link connected services. Blue Link included features like remote engine start, climate control adjustment, and seat heating or ventilation activation. The Santa Fe also offered Digital Key and Remote Smart Parking Assist, though it lacked a WiFi hotspot.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport came with standard driver assistance features like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and front-and-rear parking sensors. However, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert were optional. Other available features included a surround-view parking camera, traffic sign recognition, driver drowsiness monitoring, and a head-up display.

The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe offered an impressive list of safety features, especially in the Calligraphy trim. These included forward-collision warning with pedestrian, cyclist, and junction turning assistance, Safe Exit Assist, rear-occupant alert, Blind-Spot View Monitor, and Highway Driving Assist. The Santa Fe earned a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS when equipped with LED projector headlights.