Compare the2023 Jeep RenegadeVS 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid

The Jeep Renegade has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Renegade has standard Active Headrests, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Headrests system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Both the Renegade and the Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights and rear parking sensors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Jeep Renegade is safer than the Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

There are almost 3 times as many Jeep dealers as there are Hyundai dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Renegade’s warranty.

The engine in the Renegade has a single overhead cam for simplicity. The engine in the Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid has dual overhead cams, which add to the number of moving parts and the complexity of the cylinder heads.

Both the Renegade and Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. The Renegade has a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

The Renegade has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Jeep Renegade, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid.

The Renegade’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid’s 55 series tires.

The Renegade Trailhawk offers an optional full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

The Renegade’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For better maneuverability, the Renegade Trailhawk’s turning circle is 2.1 feet tighter than the Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid’s (35.3 feet vs. 37.4 feet). The Renegade’s turning circle is 1.1 feet tighter than the Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid’s (36.3 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Renegade Trailhawk has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid (8.7 vs. 8.2 inches), allowing the Renegade to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Jeep Renegade may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1000 to 1050 pounds less than the Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid.

The Renegade is 1 foot, 9.8 inches shorter than the Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid, making the Renegade easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the Renegade (except Trailhawk) uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

A standard locking glovebox keeps your small valuables safer in the Renegade. The Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Renegade offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Renegade offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Insurance will cost less for the Renegade owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Renegade will cost $945 to $2275 less than the Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid over a five-year period.

The Renegade will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Renegade will retain 52.53% to 58.07% of its original price after five years, while the Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid only retains 49.58% to 49.67%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Jeep Renegade will be $9288 to $11228 less than for the Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid.