Compare the2024 Lexus NXVS 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Lexus NX have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision. The Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The Lexus NX has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Santa Fe Hybrid doesn’t offer knee airbags.

Both the NX and the Santa Fe Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The Lexus NX achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The Santa Fe Hybrid has not yet been fully evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in initial quality. With 17 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is rated lower.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus first in overall reliability. Hyundai is ranked 11th.

The NX 350h’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 14 more horsepower (240 vs. 226) than the Santa Fe Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The NX 350’s standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 49 more horsepower (275 vs. 226) and 59 lbs.-ft. more torque (317 vs. 258) than the Santa Fe Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The NX 450h’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 78 more horsepower (304 vs. 226) than the Santa Fe Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the NX 350h 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid:

As tested in Motor Trend the NX 450h 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid (base engine):

On the EPA test cycle the NX running on electricity gets better mileage than the Santa Fe Hybrid:

On the EPA test cycle the NX running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Santa Fe Hybrid:

The NX 450h can travel with zero emissions for 37 miles. The Santa Fe Hybrid can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Both the NX and Santa Fe Hybrid have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. The NX (except NX 350h/450h+) has a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

An eight-speed automatic is available on the Lexus NX, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the Santa Fe Hybrid.

The NX offers an available continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Santa Fe Hybrid doesn’t offer a CVT.

The NX’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Santa Fe Hybrid are solid, not vented.

The NX stops shorter than the Santa Fe Hybrid:

The NX’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Santa Fe Hybrid Blue’s standard 65 series tires. The NX’s optional tires have a lower 50 series profile than the Santa Fe Hybrid Limited’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the NX has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Santa Fe Hybrid Blue. The NX’s optional 20-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels on the Santa Fe Hybrid Limited.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the NX can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Santa Fe Hybrid doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The NX offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Santa Fe Hybrid’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The NX 350 AWD handles at .81 G’s, while the Santa Fe Hybrid Limited pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The NX 350 AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Santa Fe Hybrid Limited (27.2 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

The Lexus NX may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 400 pounds less than the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid.

The NX is 4.9 inches shorter than the Santa Fe Hybrid, making the NX easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the NX. The Santa Fe Hybrid doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Hyundai. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in service department satisfaction. With a 66% lower rating, Hyundai is ranked 29th.

The NX’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Santa Fe Hybrid does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The NX offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Santa Fe Hybrid doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The NX’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Santa Fe Hybrid’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

On a hot day the NX’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Lexus service department.) The driver of the Santa Fe Hybrid can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The NX’s standard Smart Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, unlock the cargo door, and start the vehicle, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Proximity Key standard on the Santa Fe Hybrid doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The NX offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Santa Fe Hybrid doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the NX offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Santa Fe Hybrid doesn’t offer cornering lights. The NX also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The NX’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Santa Fe Hybrid has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The NX 350h/450h+’s optional Advanced Park can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Santa Fe Hybrid Limited’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

The NX is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Santa Fe Hybrid doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

The NX will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the NX will retain 57.75% to 60.19% of its original price after five years, while the Santa Fe Hybrid only retains 53.26% to 53.72%.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Lexus NX and the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid, based on reliability, safety and performance.