Compare the2025 Genesis GV80VS 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid

The GV80’s optional pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Santa Fe Hybrid doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The GV80 has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Santa Fe Hybrid doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

The GV80 offers an optional Multi-Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Santa Fe Hybrid doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the GV80. But it costs extra on the Santa Fe Hybrid.

Both the GV80 and the Santa Fe Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver knee 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, 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 Genesis GV80 (built after August 2023) has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and an “Acceptable” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Santa Fe Hybrid has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the GV80 third among upper midsize premium suvs in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The Santa Fe Hybrid isn’t in the top three in its category.

The GV80 2.5T’s standard 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 69 more horsepower (300 vs. 231) and 40 lbs.-ft. more torque (311 vs. 271) than the Santa Fe Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The GV80 3.5T’s standard 3.5 turbo V6 produces 144 more horsepower (375 vs. 231) and 120 lbs.-ft. more torque (391 vs. 271) than the Santa Fe Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Genesis GV80 is faster than the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid:

Both the GV80 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 GV80 has a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

The GV80 has 3.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Santa Fe Hybrid (21.1 vs. 17.7 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Genesis GV80, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the Santa Fe Hybrid.

For better stopping power the GV80’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Santa Fe Hybrid:

The GV80’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 GV80 stops much shorter than the Santa Fe Hybrid:

For better traction, the GV80 has larger tires than the Santa Fe Hybrid (265/40R22 vs. 235/60R18). The GV80’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Santa Fe Hybrid (265/40R22 vs. 255/45R20).

The GV80’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Santa Fe SEL Hybrid’s standard 60 series tires. The GV80’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Santa Fe Hybrid Limited/Calligraphy’s 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the GV80 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Santa Fe SEL Hybrid. The GV80’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels on the Santa Fe Hybrid Limited/Calligraphy.

The GV80 5-Passenger has a standard space-saver spare (not available on 7-Passenger/Prestige) so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Santa Fe Hybrid; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

The GV80 offers an optional 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 GV80 offers an optional automatic rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Santa Fe Hybrid doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the GV80’s wheelbase is 5.5 inches longer than on the Santa Fe Hybrid (116.3 inches vs. 110.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the GV80 is 1.3 inches wider in the front and 1.6 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Santa Fe Hybrid.

The GV80’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (51% to 49%) than the Santa Fe Hybrid’s (54% to 46%). This gives the GV80 more stable handling and braking.

The GV80 Prestige handles at .82 G’s, while the Santa Fe Calligraphy Hybrid AWD pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The GV80 Prestige executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.8 seconds quicker than the Santa Fe Calligraphy Hybrid AWD (26.9 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 28.7 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the GV80 has a 1.1 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Santa Fe Hybrid (8.1 vs. 7 inches), allowing the GV80 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The GV80 Prestige uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Santa Fe Hybrid doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The GV80 has .7 inches more front shoulder room, .1 inches more rear shoulder room and .3 inches more third row legroom than the Santa Fe Hybrid.

Both the GV80 and the Santa Fe Hybrid have standard second row automatic folding seats. The GV80’s third row seats also fold up or down at the press of a button. The Santa Fe Hybrid doesn’t offer automatic folding third row seats.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the GV80. The Santa Fe Hybrid doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The GV80’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Santa Fe Hybrid’s (6000 vs. 2000 pounds).

The engine in the GV80 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Santa Fe Hybrid. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

The GV80’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 standard rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the GV80 the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the Santa Fe Hybrid can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The GV80’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Santa Fe Hybrid’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The GV80’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 offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The GV80 has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel is only available on the Santa Fe Hybrid Limited/Calligraphy.

The GV80 Prestige/3.5T has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Santa Fe Hybrid.

Both the Genesis GV80 and the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid have a standard Qi wireless phone charging system in the front seat. To easily keep personal devices charged in the second row seat, without cables tangling and wearing out, the GV80 also offers an optional wireless charging system.

The GV80 was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2021. The Santa Fe Hybrid has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.