2021 Hyundai Santa Fe vs Toyota Highlander

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Compare the Santa Fe and Highlander Engines

If you want to enjoy exceptional performance every time you hit the gas, the Hyundai Santa Fe and Toyota Highlander both deliver exceptional performance. With the Toyota Highlander, you’ll be working with a standard 3.5L V6 engine that delivers 263 lb-ft of torque. All that power ensures you’ll get moving quickly when you press on the throttle.

To really give your torque an upgrade, the Hyundai Santa Fe treats drivers to an available 2.5L turbocharged inline 4-cylinder engine. This powertrain provides up to 311 lb-ft of torque, so you’ll enjoy much more responsive performance from your vehicle.

The standard engine of the Santa Fe helped it earn an EPA-estimated 25 city and 28 highway MPG fuel economy rating.¹ The Highlander, on the other hand, can do 21 city and 29 highway MPG with its standard configuration. While they can offer pretty comparable highway efficiency, the Santa Fe would likely be a better fit for city drivers.

Even though both SUVs come standard with an 8-speed automatic transmission, only the Santa Fe is also available with an 8-speed wet DCT (Dual Clutch Transmission) with SHIFTRONIC®. The DCT is directly connected to the engine, resulting in more exhilarating response than you’d find with an automatic.

Available Hybrid Trim Levels

Both the Santa Fe and Highlander are available in hybrid trim levels that offer the ideal marriage of power and efficiency. Those looking for a greener drive and those simply looking for an excellent drive experience will find a lot to love with these trims.

Each model can achieve over 200 horsepower, so you know you’ll have some serious power under the hood. However, the Hyundai Santa Fe hybrid trim comes standard with HTRAC all-wheel drive (AWD), giving you the strength you’ll need to maintain control across snowy or slippery roads. While AWD is available on the Highlander, it doesn’t come standard.

The Hyundai Santa Fe can also offer a sportier feel with its hybrid model since it comes standard with HTRAC All-Wheel Drive with Drive Mode Select. The Highlander hybrid model offers all-wheel drive, but it does not give drivers the opportunity to adjust the car’s driving dynamics based on specific road conditions.

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2021 Hyundai Santa Fe vs Toyota Highlander: Technological Features 

In addition to their engines, the technology features found inside the Santa Fe and Highlander have many similarities. They feature standard 8-inch touchscreens to conveniently select your favorite entertainment settings, creating an engaging and fun ride.

For audiophiles looking to make the most out of their listening experience, these SUVs deliver with their own premium audio systems as well. In the Toyota Highlander, you’ll be working with an available 11-speaker JBL® Premium Audio system. The Hyundai Santa Fe takes things even further, though, with an available Harman Kardon® Premium Audio system with 12 speakers.

If you want to utilize your favorite apps to listen to music, podcasts, or audio books while on the road, each vehicle offers Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™. This makes it easy to connect to your smartphone.

There is one important difference between the infotainment systems of the Santa Fe and Highlander, though. The Santa Fe comes standard with Wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™, so you don’t even have to plug your phone in like you would with the Highlander.

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Easy Access to Cargo Space

Both SUVs offer plenty of cargo space for you to fit larger items, like luggage. You’ll be able to store your items more conveniently in the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe, though. To access maximum cargo space in the Santa Fe, utilize a power push button that lowers the 60/40 split fold-flat rear seats. While the rear seats in the Highlander also feature a 60/40 split to gain extra cargo space, you’ll have to manually fold them flat, taking extra time and effort.  

To make accessing your cargo space even simpler, the Santa Fe offers an available hands-free smart power liftgate with auto open. So, the next time your hands are full, you can easily open the liftgate and securely store your items away. You may find yourself struggling to get a hand free with the Highlander, though, since it only offers this feature on two trims compared to the four trims that offer it standard with the Santa Fe.  

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2021 Santa Fe vs 2021 Highlander: Interior Dimensions

The biggest difference you’ll find between these two SUVs is their interior dimensions. The Santa Fe comes with seating for up to five passengers where the Highlander has a third row.

So, it’s ultimately up to how much seating space you need. However, when it comes to room to stretch out, the Santa Fe might be a better choice for taller passengers, even though they both have 41.2 inches of head room for front passengers. Take the leg room measurements for the front and second rows, for instance:

	Hyundai Santa Fe	Toyota Highlander
Front Row Leg Room	44.1 in	42 in
Second Row Leg Room	41.7 in	41 in

With that much extra room to stretch their legs, everyone will certainly enjoy going for a road trip with you in the Santa Fe.

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¹ 2021 SANTA FE SE/SEL: FWD 25 City/28 Hwy/26 Combined MPG, AWD 22 City/25 Hwy/24 Combined MPG. Limited/Calligraphy/Calligraphy 2.5T AWD with 19-inch wheels: FWD 22 City/28 Hwy/25 Combined MPG, AWD 21 City/28 Hwy/24 Combined MPG. All figures are EPA estimates and for comparison purposes only. Actual mileage may vary with options, driving conditions, driving habits and vehicle's condition.