Hyundai Santa Fe vs Toyota Grand Highlander

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was a standout in Toyota's lineup of crossovers and SUVs, offering a range of options from all-gas to hybrid-powered models. Built on the TNGA-K platform, it shared its underpinnings with the regular Highlander, RAV4, Sienna, and Camry, distinguishing itself from the body-on-frame Sequoia. With a length of 201.4 inches and a 116.1-inch wheelbase, it was larger than competitors like the Kia Telluride, providing a spacious interior. Its design, inspired by rugged vehicles, featured a blockier style with a trapezoidal grille and narrow headlights, reminiscent of the 4Runner. The Grand Highlander was available in three trims: XLE, Limited, and Platinum, with interior options ranging from Softex synthetic leather to real leather in higher trims. It offered a comfortable and well-built interior, making it an excellent choice for road trips.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe, available in five trims, maintained its chunky, boxy design from its 2024 debut. It featured a long wheelbase, flat hood, and pixelated H-shaped LED headlamps, aligning with Hyundai's design aesthetic. The rear design, however, suffered from mismatched proportions. Each trim had specific wheels, with the off-road-focused XRT trim adding chrome and black trim. Inside, the Santa Fe accommodated seven passengers, except for the Calligraphy trim, which offered captain's chairs. The interior ranged from basic cloth to luxurious Nappa leather. While the fit and finish were generally good, some squeaks and rattles were noted. The Santa Fe's interior featured physical dials for HVAC temperature, but the fan speed buttons were less intuitive. Overall, the Santa Fe offered a spacious and versatile interior, with features varying across trims.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander offered three engine options. The base 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine produced 265 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. A 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid option delivered 245 combined net horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. The top-tier Hybrid Max powertrain, a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid, generated 362 combined net horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. Both gas and hybrid engines were available with FWD and AWD, while the Hybrid Max was AWD-only. The Hybrid Max offered impressive acceleration with a 0-60 time of 6.3 seconds. The Grand Highlander was expected to account for 85% of sales with the standard turbo gas engine. While it handled well, it was less maneuverable than the smaller Highlander, with some body roll and numb steering. The brakes were solid, and acceleration was adequate. Three drive modes—Sport, Eco, and Normal—were available, with additional modes for AWD models.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe featured a standard 2.5-liter turbocharged engine with 277 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. FWD and AWD were available across the lineup, except for the AWD-only XRT trim. An eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission handled shifting. The Santa Fe Hybrid, a separate model, combined a 1.6-liter engine with an electric motor for 231 horsepower and 271 lb-ft of torque. The Santa Fe felt stable in corners with firm brakes and responsive steering, though turbo lag and delayed downshifts were noted. The gear selector, a stalk on the steering column, required some adjustment. The XRT trim featured 30-inch all-terrain tires and 8.3 inches of ground clearance, improving off-road geometry. While not a rugged rock crawler, the Santa Fe handled graded dirt roads well.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was larger than its primary rivals, measuring 201.4 inches long with a 116.1-inch wheelbase. This extra length translated to increased storage space, with a total cargo capacity of 97.5 cubic feet. Behind the second-row seats, it offered 57.9 cubic feet, and with all three rows up, 20.6 cubic feet were available. The Grand Highlander provided a comfortable and spacious interior, with ample head, leg, and shoulder room in every row. Even the third row accommodated six-foot adults comfortably.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a range of features across its trims. The base SE trim included a hands-free liftgate and dual-zone climate control. The XRT trim added heated front seats, a sunroof, and a 115-volt outlet. The top Calligraphy trim featured heated second-row seats, a heated steering wheel, and a premium audio system. All Santa Fe models had a two-level glove box, with upper trims offering a UV-C sanitizer. The Santa Fe boasted the most third-row legroom in its class, with adjustable second-row seats. Cargo space was generous, with 40.5 cubic feet behind the second row and 79.6 cubic feet with both rows folded. The rear opening was widened to 50.2 inches, making it easier to load large items. Most trims could tow 3,500 pounds, with the XRT capable of 4,500 pounds.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander came with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. While visually impressive, maximizing its usefulness required a connected-services subscription. This included an intelligent assistant, cloud-based navigation, and live agent assistance. Standard features included dual-device Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Limited and Platinum trims featured an 11-speaker JBL stereo. Streaming audio integration was available, with Sirius XM and Wi-Fi Connect options. Toyota's tech offerings had improved, but careful consideration of subscription options was recommended.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen for infotainment, with a digital gauge cluster on top trims. The system was user-friendly, with standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Upper trims offered Amazon Music, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and Hyundai Pay. Charging options included multiple USB-C ports and wireless charging. A digital key allowed unlocking and starting via phone or Apple Watch. A fingerprint scanner was available for added security. The Santa Fe offered a digital rearview mirror and a head-up display on higher trims. Bluelink app connectivity was standard, providing remote access and monitoring features. Over-the-air updates ensured the latest software.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander had not been crash-tested by NHTSA or IIHS. However, it included Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 as standard, featuring automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert, lane-tracing assist, road-sign recognition, and blind-spot monitoring. Adaptive cruise control with four following-distance settings was also standard.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a range of standard safety features, including adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and lane-keeping assist. Higher trims added features like rear parking collision avoidance and Highway Drive Assist. The system's performance varied in traffic, but it generally worked well. The top trim included blind spot avoidance and a Blind-View Monitor. The NHTSA gave the Santa Fe a four-star overall safety rating, while the IIHS rated it as Good in most categories.