2025 Dodge Durango vs 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe presented a distinct departure from its predecessors, embracing a boxy design that contrasted sharply with the sleek, futuristic aesthetics of the Ioniq series. This new look, while different, was not unattractive; it communicated a focus on storage capacity and aerodynamics. The Santa Fe's upscale appearance, enhanced by sophisticated color options and anodized-finish badging, drew attention even in rural settings. Inside, the Santa Fe offered premium styling, with the XRT and Calligraphy trims showcasing a mix of soft and hard materials that created a luxurious feel. The interior was thoughtfully designed, with features like a cocooning fabric headliner adding to the overall sense of comfort and elegance.

In contrast, the 2025 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat, particularly with the Silver Bullet special edition package, exuded a more aggressive visual attitude. The satin black hood, unique wheels, and dark badges contributed to its bold presence. Inside, the Durango maintained a subdued yet premium feel with dark red Nappa leather seats and a suede headliner. While the interior was solidly constructed, some plastic surfaces detracted from the overall luxury experience. The Durango's design focused on performance, with features like a leather and suede steering wheel wrap and forged carbon fiber trim enhancing its sporty appeal.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a base powertrain with a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering 277 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. It came with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and standard front-wheel drive, with all-wheel drive available as an option. The Santa Fe featured Normal, Sport, and Snow driving modes, with the XRT trim adding off-road capabilities. Later in the model year, a hybrid version with a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine was introduced, providing 231 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque. The Santa Fe's fuel economy varied, with the base FWD versions achieving 20 mpg city and 29 mpg highway, while the hybrid offered up to 36 mpg combined. The XRT trim, with its increased ground clearance and all-terrain tires, provided additional towing capacity and off-road prowess.

The 2025 Dodge Durango, particularly the SRT Hellcat model, was a powerhouse with a 710-horsepower supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine and 645 pound-feet of torque. It boasted a 0-60 mph time of 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 180 mph, with a towing capacity of up to 8,700 pounds. Despite its impressive performance, the Durango's fuel economy was a downside, with an EPA rating of 12/17/13 mpg. The Durango's performance was supported by a full-time AWD system, electronic limited-slip rear differential, and a competition-tuned adaptive damping suspension. It handled like a performance vehicle, with firm road manners, creamy steering response, and outstanding grip, making it feel track-ready despite its size.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe featured a longer wheelbase and body compared to its predecessor, with most of the additional space dedicated to the cargo area. This design was inspired by the concept of "chabak," emphasizing car camping and tailgating. The Santa Fe offered a spacious first and second row, with options for bench or captain's chairs, and a snug third row. The cargo area provided 14.6 cubic feet of space, expandable to 79.6 cubic feet with seats folded. Features like stain-resistant upholstery, heated and ventilated seats, and a UV sanitization compartment added to its appeal.

The 2025 Dodge Durango excelled in interior space and functionality, with heated and ventilated front seats wrapped in Nappa leather. The second-row captain's chairs offered comfort and leg support, while the third row provided enough room for adults. The Durango's cargo space measured 17.2 cubic feet, expandable to 85.1 cubic feet with seats folded. Features like a large center console, rear climate controls, and multiple USB ports enhanced its practicality. The power liftgate and thoughtful storage solutions made it a versatile choice for families.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe boasted a curved panoramic display, a first in its segment, enhancing the cabin's luxurious feel. The infotainment system included a touchscreen with intuitive menus, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 12-speaker Bose stereo. Features like Hyundai's BlueLink system, wireless charging, and Hyundai Pay added convenience and security. The Santa Fe also introduced a biometric fingerprint scanner for added control.

The 2025 Dodge Durango featured the Uconnect 5 infotainment system with a 10.1-inch touchscreen, wireless smartphone integration, and a native navigation system. The system supported dual-phone Bluetooth pairing, Alexa compatibility, and a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. The SRT Hellcat included SRT Performance Pages for tracking performance metrics. The Harman Kardon audio system provided excellent sound quality, and the voice recognition system, while effective, required specific commands.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe had not yet been crash-tested, but it came equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features. Standard equipment included adaptive cruise control, forward collision-avoidance assist, blind-spot monitors, and lane-keep assist. Higher trims added features like a 360-degree camera system, remote automatic parking, and a head-up display. The Santa Fe was the first Hyundai to include driver monitoring, enhancing safety by tracking alertness and hand placement.

The 2025 Dodge Durango's safety features were less impressive, with a basic set of standard equipment including forward-collision warning and blind-spot monitoring. Optional upgrades included adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist. The Durango received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with a concerning three-star rollover resistance rating. The IIHS noted issues with the Durango's performance in frontal-impact tests.