Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid vs Toyota bZ

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid was reminiscent of a pair of "dad jeans"—practical and offering great value, yet lacking modern flair. Despite a refresh in 2021, its design appeared outdated compared to newer crossovers like the Hyundai Palisade or Kia Sorento. The Santa Fe's exterior featured a handsome grille and flush-mounted headlights, but its overall silhouette was soft and lacked the chiseled strength of contemporary SUVs. The vehicle's length, at 188.4 inches, placed it awkwardly between compact and three-row crossovers, resulting in a two-row midsize crossover with a spacious trunk but a somewhat frumpy appearance. Inside, the Santa Fe Hybrid prioritized function over style, with a practical but outdated center console filled with physical buttons and knobs.

In contrast, the 2026 Toyota bZ presented a more modern and refined look. Available in XLE and Limited trims, it offered single-motor FWD or dual-motor AWD options with two battery sizes. The bZ's restyled exterior, especially with body-color trim, improved its appeal over previous models. Inside, the dashboard and center console were cleaner and more organized, with fabric seats featuring an upscale pattern. The 14-inch center touchscreen integrated climate control, and while the digital driver display was criticized for its placement and readability, the overall interior quality was high. The bZ's design aimed to balance aesthetics with functionality, offering a comfortable and modern driving experience.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid delivered a balanced performance with its 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with a 44.2-kW electric motor, producing a combined 226 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. It boasted impressive fuel economy estimates of 33 mpg city, 30 highway, and 32 combined. The hybrid powertrain was managed by a six-speed automatic transmission, and the HTRAC AWD system provided flexibility in power distribution, enhancing traction in challenging conditions. While not the quickest, the Santa Fe Hybrid offered a quiet and comfortable ride, with noise insulation and suspension that absorbed road imperfections effectively. Its handling, steering, and braking were adequate for a vehicle focused on comfort and practicality.

The 2026 Toyota bZ offered a range of powertrain options, starting with a single electric motor and a 57.7-kWh battery pack, delivering 165 horsepower and 198 pound-feet of torque. The optional 74.7-kWh battery increased power to 224 hp and extended the range to 314 miles. Dual-motor models with the larger battery produced 338 hp, with varying ranges depending on the trim. The bZ's charging capabilities included compatibility with Tesla Superchargers and a CCS adapter for versatile charging options. In efficiency tests, the bZ performed well, exceeding EPA estimates in certain conditions. While the bZ provided a comfortable and quiet ride, its handling was less suited for spirited driving, with front wheelspin issues and lifeless steering detracting from its performance on winding roads.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid featured a shift-by-wire, push-button transmission, freeing up space below the center stack. However, the stack itself was massive, with limited storage space. The interior was practical, with well-labeled physical controls for climate and drive modes. Rear passengers enjoyed 40.8 inches of legroom, and the cargo space was generous, with 36.4 cubic feet behind the second row, expanding to 72.1 cubic feet with the seats folded. The Santa Fe Hybrid offered heated and ventilated front seats with real leather upholstery in the Limited trim, enhancing comfort and luxury.

The 2026 Toyota bZ, built on a skateboard-style EV platform, provided easy access with 8.1 inches of ground clearance. The front seats offered eight-way power adjustment, with heated and ventilated options in the Limited trim. The bZ lacked a traditional glove compartment but compensated with ample storage solutions, including a large bin under the center armrest and dual wireless smartphone chargers. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed ample legroom, though foot space was tight. The cargo area offered 27.7 cubic feet of space, expanding to 56.9 cubic feet with the seats folded, though the rakish rear window limited maximum cargo capacity.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid came equipped with a 10.25-inch touchscreen offering Over-The-Air map updates and dynamic voice recognition. The infotainment system supported Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, though both required a wired connection. A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster provided clear driving information, and the Hyundai digital key enabled advanced connectivity features. The Limited trim featured a 12-speaker Harmon Kardon audio system, enhancing the audio experience.

The 2026 Toyota bZ featured a 7-inch digital driver display and a new 14-inch touchscreen infotainment display. While the driver display was criticized for its placement and readability, the infotainment system was generally user-friendly. However, it lacked a home screen for simultaneous data display and had low-contrast colors in daytime mode. The system supported wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with various connected service plans available. The Drive Connect feature powered the native navigation system and the Intelligent Assistant voice assistant, which performed well in testing.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid prioritized safety with features like a surround-view monitor and blind-spot view monitor, enhancing visibility and awareness. Standard safety equipment included adaptive cruise control, forward collision avoidance, blind-spot collision avoidance, and more. The Santa Fe Hybrid received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ designation from the IIHS, highlighting its commitment to passenger safety.

The 2026 Toyota bZ came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, including features like forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Proactive Driving Assist added subtle braking and steering inputs for extra safety. The Limited trim offered additional features like Traffic Jam Assist and Advanced Park Assist. However, the bZ's adaptive cruise control response was inconsistent, and the driver monitoring system was overly sensitive. The IIHS rated the bZ's front-crash avoidance tech as Good, but its headlights received a Poor rating, and frontal-impact crash tests earned Acceptable ratings.