Compare the2024 Hyundai Santa FeVS 2024 Jeep Wrangler

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability

Safety

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Both the Santa Fe and Wrangler 4-door have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Santa Fe has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The Wrangler’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The Hyundai Santa Fe 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 Wrangler doesn’t offer knee airbags.

With its standard Forward Collision Avoidance Assist, the Hyundai Santa Fe is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Jeep Wrangler, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

	Santa Fe	Wrangler
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	POOR
	Crossing Child - DAY
12 MPH	AVOIDED	No Slowing
25 MPH	AVOIDED	No Slowing
	Crossing Adult - NIGHT
12 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	No Slowing
12 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	No Slowing
25 MPH Brights	-21 MPH	No Slowing
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	No Slowing
	Parallel Adult - NIGHT
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	No Slowing
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	No Slowing
37 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	No Slowing
Warning Issued-Brights	2.1 sec	No Warning
37 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	No Slowing
Warning Issued-Low beams	1.4 sec	No Warning

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Santa Fe Limited/Calligraphy has standard Parking Collision Avoidance Assist that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Wrangler doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Santa Fe’s lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. The Wrangler doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

The Santa Fe Limited/Calligraphy has a standard Surround View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Wrangler only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

The Santa Fe has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the Wrangler’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Santa Fe has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Jeep charges extra for Rear Cross Path Detection on the Wrangler and the Wrangler’s Rear Cross Path Detection does not include automatic braking.

The Santa Fe’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Wrangler doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

For better protection of the passenger compartment, the Santa Fe uses safety cell construction with a three-dimensional high-strength frame that surrounds the passenger compartment. It provides extra impact protection and a sturdy mounting location for door hardware and side impact beams. The Wrangler uses a body-on-frame design, which has no frame members above the floor of the vehicle.

Both the Santa Fe and the Wrangler have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, rearview cameras and available all wheel drive.

The Hyundai Santa Fe 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 Wrangler is not a “Top Safety Pick” for 2024.

Warranty

The Santa Fe comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Wrangler’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Santa Fe 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Jeep covers the Wrangler. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Wrangler ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Santa Fe’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Wrangler’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Santa Fe for 1 year longer than Jeep pays for maintenance for the Wrangler (3 years vs. 2 years).

Reliability

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the Santa Fe has an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of the 6.4 V8 in the Wrangler.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are better in initial quality than Jeep vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 38 more problems per 100 vehicles, Jeep is ranked 19th, below the industry average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 15 places higher in reliability than Jeep.

Engine

The Santa Fe’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 7 more horsepower (277 vs. 270) and 16 lbs.-ft. more torque (311 vs. 295) than the Wrangler’s optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Santa Fe’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 51 lbs.-ft. more torque (311 vs. 260) than the Wrangler’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Santa Fe gets better mileage than the Wrangler 4-door running its gasoline engine:

			MPG
Santa Fe
FWD	Auto	2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/29 hwy
AWD	Auto	2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/28 hwy
		XRT 2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	19 city/26 hwy
Wrangler 4-door
AWD	Manual	3.6 DOHC V6	16 city/22 hwy
AWD	Auto	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/20 hwy
		Rubicon 3.6 DOHC V6	16 city/19 hwy
		6.4 OHV V8	13 city/16 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	20 city/20 hwy

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Hyundai Santa Fe uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Wrangler Rubicon 392 requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Hyundai Santa Fe higher (7 out of 10) than the Jeep Wrangler (1 to 7). This means the Santa Fe produces up to 47 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Wrangler every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

The Hyundai Santa Fe comes standard with an automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. Automatic costs extra on the Wrangler.

The Santa Fe offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The Wrangler doesn’t offer an SMG.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Santa Fe Limited/Calligraphy’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Wrangler:

	Santa Fe Limited/Calligraphy	Wrangler
Front Rotors	13.6 inches	12.9 inches

The Santa Fe stops much shorter than the Wrangler:

	Santa Fe	Wrangler
70 to 0 MPH	167 feet	202 feet	Car and Driver

Tires and Wheels

The Santa Fe SE/SEL’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 Wrangler Sport’s standard 75 series tires. The Santa Fe Limited’s tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Wrangler High Altitude/4Xe’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Santa Fe has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Wrangler Sport. The Santa Fe Calligraphy’s 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels on the Wrangler High Altitude/4Xe.

Suspension and Handling

The Hyundai Santa Fe’s independent front suspension is much lighter than the Jeep Wrangler’s solid front axle, which allows the Santa Fe’s wheels to react more quickly and accurately to the road’s surface, improving both ride and handling.

For superior ride and handling, the Hyundai Santa Fe has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Jeep Wrangler has a solid rear axle, with a non-independent rear suspension.

For much better steering response and tighter handling the Santa Fe has rack and pinion steering, like Formula racecars, instead of the recirculating-ball type steering of the Wrangler.

The Santa Fe’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 Wrangler doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The Santa Fe Calligraphy AWD handles at .84 G’s, while the Wrangler Rubicon 392 pulls only .71 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

Chassis

Unibody construction lowers the Santa Fe’s center of gravity significantly without reducing ground clearance. This contributes to better on the road handling and better off-road performance and stability. In addition, unibody construction makes the chassis stiffer, improving handling and reducing squeaks and rattles. The Wrangler doesn’t use unibody construction, but a body-on-frame design.

For excellent aerodynamics, the Santa Fe has standard flush composite headlights. The Wrangler has recessed headlights that spoil its aerodynamic shape and create extra drag.

The front grille of the Santa Fe uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Wrangler doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Santa Fe Calligraphy AWD is quieter than the Wrangler Rubicon 392:

	Santa Fe	Wrangler
70 MPH Cruising	68 dB	75 dB

Passenger Space

The Santa Fe has standard seating for 7 passengers; the Wrangler can only carry up to 5.

The Santa Fe has 48.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Wrangler (152 vs. 103.7).

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Santa Fe’s middle and third row seats recline. The Wrangler’s rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The Santa Fe’s cargo area provides more volume than the Wrangler 2-door.

	Santa Fe	Wrangler
Third Seat Folded	40.5 cubic feet	n/a
Third Seat Removed	n/a	12.9 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	79.6 cubic feet	31.7 cubic feet

The Santa Fe’s cargo area provides more volume than the Wrangler 4-door.

	Santa Fe	Wrangler
Third Seat Folded	40.5 cubic feet	n/a
Third Seat Removed	n/a	31.7 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	79.6 cubic feet	72.4 cubic feet

Pressing a button automatically lowers the Santa Fe’s second row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Wrangler doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The Santa Fe’s standard folding rear seats are split to accommodate bulky cargo. The Wrangler 2-door’s standard single piece folding rear seat is not as flexible; long cargo and a passenger can’t share the rear seat.

The Santa Fe’s liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The Wrangler’s swing out door blocks loading from the driver’s side.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Santa Fe’s power cargo door can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Santa Fe’s power cargo door can also be opened or closed by pressing a button. The Wrangler doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening cargo door.

Towing

The Santa Fe’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Wrangler’s (3500 vs. 2000 pounds).

Servicing Ease

The Santa Fe uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Wrangler uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the Santa Fe Limited/Calligraphy, 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 Wrangler doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Santa Fe Limited/Calligraphy’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 Wrangler doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Santa Fe Calligraphy has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, navigation instruction and driver assistance information readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Wrangler doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Santa Fe’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Wrangler has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

The Santa Fe’s standard power windows allow the driver or passenger to lower and raise the windows without leaning over or being distracted. Power windows cost extra on the Wrangler.

The Santa Fe’s standard driver’s power window opens or closes with one touch of the switch, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths. The Wrangler’s optional power window’s switch has to be held the entire time to close it fully. The Santa Fe Calligraphy’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches.

The Santa Fe’s standard power window controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access. The Wrangler’s optional power window controls are down in the center of the dashboard, away from the windows and mixed with controls for unrelated features.

On a hot day the Santa Fe’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Wrangler can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Santa Fe’s standard power locks allow the driver or passenger to lock or unlock all the doors at a touch without leaning over, or reaching to the back seat. Power locks cost extra on the Wrangler.

The Santa Fe’s standard Proximity Key allows you to unlock the doors from either front door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Push Button Start standard on the Wrangler only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the vehicle.

The Santa Fe Limited/Calligraphy’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Wrangler’s intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

The Santa Fe’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Wrangler’s standard halogen headlights. LED lights also light instantly and last over twenty times longer than halogen.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Santa Fe’s headlights were rated “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the Wrangler’s headlights are rated “Marginal” to “Poor.”

The Santa Fe has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. The Wrangler only offers an automatic headlight on/off feature as an extra cost option.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Santa Fe to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Wrangler doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Santa Fe has standard power remote mirrors. The Wrangler only comes with remote mirrors at extra cost. Without them the driver will have to roll down the windows and reach across the car to adjust the mirrors.

The Santa Fe’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Jeep charges extra for heated mirrors on the Wrangler.

When the Santa Fe Limited/Calligraphy 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 Wrangler’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

Both the Santa Fe and the Wrangler offer available heated front seats. The Santa Fe Limited/Calligraphy also has standard heated second row seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Wrangler.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Santa Fe Limited/Calligraphy keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Wrangler doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

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

The Santa Fe XRT/Limited/Calligraphy’s standard GPS navigation system has a real-time traffic update feature that plots alternative routes to automatically bypass traffic problems. (Service not available in all areas.) The Wrangler’s available navigation system doesn’t offer real-time traffic updates.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Hyundai Santa Fe SEL/XRT/Limited/Calligraphy has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the front center console. The Wrangler doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Santa Fe Limited/Calligraphy’s Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Wrangler doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Model Availability

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