The Santa Fe and Tucson have long been Hyundai’s flagship SUVs, geared toward families of all types. The Santa Fe was the automaker’s first SUV, offering practicality and affordability and epitomizing the brand’s reputation. A few years later, the Tucson came on the scene as a smaller version. Which Hyundai SUV fits you better? Let’s take a look.
Which SUV Fits Your Budget?
The first metric to compare the Hyundai Santa Fe vs Tucson is affordability. The Hyundai Tucson is the smaller SUV, and its price starts much lower than the Santa Fe at around $28,000. The Limited trim remains less than $40,000. On the other hand, the base Santa Fe trim starts at about $34,000, and top trims go well into the $40,000s. In other words, the Santa Fe costs quite a lot more than the Tucson, and if your budget is a big concern, the Hyundai Tucson makes more sense.
Which SUV Has More Cabin Comfort?
The Hyundai Tucson comfortably seats five people, with plenty of room in the rear row for adults. However, the Santa Fe is a larger SUV with three rows for as many as seven passengers. The third row may not be great for adults, but the second row is. Both models offer options for heated and ventilated front seats and heated rear seats, but the Santa Fe goes a little further with extras like a reclining driver’s seat. On the other hand, the Tucson features more cargo space with 41.2 cubic feet behind the second row. The Santa Fe has 40.5 with its third row folded down and only 14.6 with it up.
Comparing Interior Features and Quality
There’s no doubt that for its size and price, the Hyundai Tucson delivers a pretty nice interior with solid materials and a handsome design. However, when you step into the Santa Fe, it’s easy to notice the difference. Hyundai’s larger SUV features richer materials and soft surfaces. Some options include Nappa leather upholstery and accent trim. Those who have more upscale tastes will definitely appreciate the extras in the Santa Fe. Both models offer similar features and technology, so there’s no clear winner there.
Powertrain Considerations
As you might expect when comparing the Hyundai Santa Fe vs Tucson, the smaller Tucson also comes with a less powerful engine. Both models have a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine as standard, but the Santa Fe’s engine adds a turbocharger, giving it quicker acceleration. On the other hand, the Santa Fe’s extra power and larger size translates to less fuel efficiency. The Tucson lands solidly in the 30s for highway mpg on both FWD and AWD models, while the Santa Fe only gets 29 mpg on the highway with FWD. If towing is a need, you’ll get up to 4,500 pounds of capacity from the Santa Fe but only 2,000 pounds with the Tucson.
Hyundai Santa Fe vs Tucson: How To Choose
There are a few significant areas where these SUVs differ that should make the choice fairly easy for most buyers. The main one is price. The Hyundai Santa Fe costs significantly more than the Tucson, but you’ll get more power, more room, and more towing ability. If you don’t need three rows and you don’t need to tow, the Hyundai Tucson presents a more budget-friendly option with a lower price tag, better reliability, and better fuel economy.
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