2021 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2021 Volkswagen ID.4

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 was designed as an electric vehicle from the ground up, showcasing a distinctive look that set it apart from Volkswagen's gasoline models. It featured a streamlined profile with wheels pushed out to the corners, eschewing the straight lines and sharp angles of the Tiguan and Atlas crossovers. The ID.4's interior combined Volkswagen's minimalist design with a tech-focused aesthetic, featuring piano black and matte plastic elements. The base ID.4 Pro came with a leather-wrapped steering wheel and cloth seats, while higher trims offered leatherette upholstery.

In contrast, the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe impressed with its value proposition, offering a luxurious feel at a surprisingly reasonable price. The Santa Fe's exterior received a significant update with a redesigned front end, new running lights, and a reworked grille. Inside, the Santa Fe moved upmarket with new colors, patterns, and textures, and a new bridge-style center console. The Calligraphy trim, in particular, stood out with premium leather, a suede-like headliner, and a high-tech digital instrumentation panel, making it feel like a steal at its price point.

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 launched with a single rear-mounted electric motor producing 201 horsepower and 229 pound-feet of torque, powered by an 82-kilowatt-hour battery pack. This setup made it the first rear-wheel-drive Volkswagen passenger car sold in the U.S. since the Beetle. An all-wheel-drive version with a second electric motor arrived later in 2021, boosting power to 295 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque. While the ID.4 wasn't sporty, it offered a smooth ride and balanced handling, with RWD providing a more engaging driving experience compared to its FWD rivals. However, the ID.4's regenerative braking system was less aggressive than other EVs, relying more on friction brakes.

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 hybrid model combined a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor, producing a total of 226 horsepower. The higher-level Limited and Calligraphy trims featured a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. The Santa Fe excelled in driving dynamics, offering a quick, solid, and refined driving experience with impressive body control and athletic handling. Both powertrains achieved a combined fuel economy rating of 24 mpg with AWD.

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 offered more front and rear headroom than its EV competitors, though its legroom was average for the segment. It provided 30.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 64.2 cubic feet with the seats folded, surpassing other EVs like the Nissan Leaf and Hyundai Kona Electric but falling short of the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. The ID.4 lacked a front trunk, but its interior felt spacious, with good forward visibility. However, rearward visibility was compromised by thick rear pillars and a small back window. The ID.4's interior featured a unique twist-grip gear selector and a narrow center console with limited storage space.

The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a spacious and comfortable interior, especially in the Calligraphy trim, which featured premium Nappa leather and a suede-like headliner. All trims included dual-zone automatic climate control, with higher trims offering heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and a heated steering wheel. The rear seat provided ample legroom and comfort, with air-conditioning vents, quick-charge USB ports, and rear side-window sunshades. The Santa Fe offered 36.4 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 72.1 cubic feet with the seats folded, making it competitive with the largest compact crossovers.

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 came standard with a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system (a 12-inch screen was optional) featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A 5.3-inch display served as the instrument cluster, and haptic touchpads replaced traditional switchgear. While the setup looked modern, it was difficult to use due to the lack of tactile feedback. The ID.4 also included a natural-language voice-control system and the ID.Light feature, which communicated information through a light strip at the base of the windshield. Despite some gimmicky features, the touchscreen was well-positioned with easy-to-navigate menus.

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 came with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the 10.25-inch screen 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 and Hyundai's Digital Key and Remote Smart Parking Assist technologies. Blue Link provided a range of connected services, including remote engine start and climate control adjustments.

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 received the highest-level Top Safety Pick+ designation from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA for the RWD model. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, park distance control, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control. The ID.4 also introduced Travel Assist and Emergency Assist, enhancing highway driving and driver incapacitation detection.

The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe offered an impressive array of safety features, especially in the Calligraphy trim. The forward-collision warning system included pedestrian, cyclist, and junction turning assistance. Safe Exit Assist used blind-spot monitoring sensors to warn occupants of approaching vehicles or cyclists. The Santa Fe also featured a rear-occupant alert system, Blind-Spot View Monitor, and Highway Driving Assist, which combined adaptive cruise control with lane-centering technology. The IIHS named the Santa Fe a Top Safety Pick when equipped with LED projector headlights.