Compare the2023 Honda RidgelineVS 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the Ridgeline deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The Ridgeline’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Santa Cruz’s side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Ridgeline. But it costs extra on the Santa Cruz.

Both the Ridgeline and the Santa Cruz 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, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

Warranty

There are over 29 percent more Honda dealers than there are Hyundai dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Ridgeline’s warranty.

Reliability

The engine in the Ridgeline has a single overhead cam for simplicity. The engines in the Santa Cruz have dual overhead cams, which add to the number of moving parts and the complexity of the cylinder heads.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Ridgeline has a standard 650-amp battery. The Santa Cruz’s 600-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Honda 6 places higher in reliability than Hyundai.

Engine

The Ridgeline’s 3.5 SOHC V6 produces 89 more horsepower (280 vs. 191) and 81 lbs.-ft. more torque (262 vs. 181) than the Santa Cruz’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Ridgeline’s fuel efficiency. The Santa Cruz doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Ridgeline’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Santa Cruz doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Ridgeline has 1.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the Santa Cruz (19.5 vs. 17.7 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Ridgeline 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 Cruz doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Transmission

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Honda Ridgeline, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Santa Cruz.

Brakes and Stopping

The Ridgeline stops shorter than the Santa Cruz:

	Ridgeline	Santa Cruz
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	142 feet	149 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

The Ridgeline has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Santa Cruz doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Suspension and Handling

The Ridgeline has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Santa Cruz doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Ridgeline’s wheelbase is 6.9 inches longer than on the Santa Cruz (125.2 inches vs. 118.3 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Ridgeline is 2.2 inches wider in the front and 1.9 inches wider in the rear than on the Santa Cruz.

Chassis

The Ridgeline uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Santa Cruz doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The Ridgeline has 7.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Santa Cruz (109.7 vs. 101.8).

The Ridgeline has 4.6 inches more front hip room, 4.4 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear legroom, 3.1 inches more rear hip room and 5.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Santa Cruz.

Cargo Capacity

The Ridgeline has a much larger cargo box than the Santa Cruz shortbed (33.9 vs. 27 cubic feet).

The Ridgeline’s cargo box is larger than the Santa Cruz’s in almost every dimension:

	Ridgeline	Santa Cruz
Length (short/long)	63”	52.1”
Max Width	59.6”	53.9”
Min Width	50”	42.7”
Height	16.9”	19.2”

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

Towing

The Ridgeline’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Santa Cruz’s (5000 vs. 3500 pounds).

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the Ridgeline RTL/RTL-E/Black Edition, the memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Santa Cruz doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Ridgeline RTL/RTL-E/Black Edition’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Santa Cruz doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Ridgeline’s front power windows 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 Cruz’s standard power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its driver’s window opens automatically. The Santa Cruz SEL/Night/XRT/Limited’s rear windows don’t close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the Ridgeline the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Santa Cruz can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Ridgeline’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Santa Cruz’s power mirror switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

When the Ridgeline RTL-E/Black Edition is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Santa Cruz’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Ridgeline RTL/RTL-E/Black Edition’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 Cruz offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Ridgeline has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Santa Cruz doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

The Ridgeline has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Santa Cruz SEL/Night/XRT/Limited.

Both the Ridgeline and the Santa Cruz offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Ridgeline has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Santa Cruz doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Ridgeline owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Ridgeline will cost $110 less than the Santa Cruz over a five-year period.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Honda Ridgeline and the Hyundai Santa Cruz, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Honda Ridgeline outsold the Hyundai Santa Cruz by 17% during 2022.