Compare the2025 Ford ExplorerVS 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid

The Ford Explorer 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 a front passenger side knee airbag.

The Explorer has standard Post Collision Braking, which automatically apply 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.

Both the Explorer and the Santa Fe Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front 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, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The Ford Explorer 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.

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

The Explorer has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The Santa Fe Hybrid doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Explorer second among midsize suvs in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The Santa Fe Hybrid isn’t in the top three.

The Explorer’s standard 2.3 turbo 4-cylinder produces 69 more horsepower (300 vs. 231) and 39 lbs.-ft. more torque (310 vs. 271) than the Santa Fe Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The Explorer’s optional 3.0 turbo V6 produces 169 more horsepower (400 vs. 231) and 144 lbs.-ft. more torque (415 vs. 271) than the Santa Fe Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Ford Explorer is faster than the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid:

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

The Explorer V6 Turbo’s standard fuel tank has 2.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Santa Fe Hybrid (20.2 vs. 17.7 gallons).

The Explorer 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 Hybrid doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Ford Explorer, 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 Explorer’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Santa Fe Hybrid:

The Explorer ST’s optional 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 Explorer stops much shorter than the Santa Fe Hybrid:

For better traction, the Explorer has larger standard tires than the Santa Fe Hybrid (255/65R18 vs. 235/60R18). The Explorer’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Santa Fe Hybrid (275/45R21 vs. 255/45R20).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Explorer offers optional 21-inch wheels. The Santa Fe Hybrid’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

Having a flat tire is dangerous, inconvenient and expensive. The self-sealing tires available on the Explorer can automatically seal most punctures up to 3/16 of an inch, effectively preventing most flat tires. The Santa Fe Hybrid doesn’t offer self-sealing tires.

The Explorer has a standard space-saver spare tire 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.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Explorer’s wheelbase is 8.3 inches longer than on the Santa Fe Hybrid (119.1 inches vs. 110.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Explorer is 2.3 inches wider in the front and 2 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Santa Fe Hybrid.

The Explorer’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (50% to 50%) than the Santa Fe Hybrid’s (54% to 46%). This gives the Explorer more stable handling and braking.

The Explorer ST 4WD handles at .85 G’s, while the Santa Fe Calligraphy Hybrid AWD pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Explorer ST 4WD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.3 seconds quicker than the Santa Fe Calligraphy Hybrid AWD (26.4 seconds @ .72 average G’s vs. 28.7 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Explorer has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Santa Fe Hybrid (7.6 vs. 7 inches), allowing the Explorer to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Explorer Platinum’s minimum ground clearance is 1.2 inches higher than on the Santa Fe Hybrid (8.2 vs. 7 inches).

The Explorer has 2.7 inches more front hip room, 2.3 inches more front shoulder room, 4.2 inches more rear hip room, 3.8 inches more rear shoulder room, 1.2 inches more third row headroom, 2.2 inches more third row legroom and 1.1 inches more third row shoulder room than the Santa Fe Hybrid.

The Explorer’s cargo area provides more volume than the Santa Fe Hybrid.

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

The Explorer’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Santa Fe Hybrid’s (5000 vs. 2000 pounds).

The engine in the Explorer 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.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Explorer’s available exterior PIN entry system. The Santa Fe Hybrid doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Blue Link can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

The Explorer’s standard Intelligent Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, 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.

The Explorer’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Santa Fe Hybrid’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Explorer Platinum has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Santa Fe Hybrid doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Explorer’s optional 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 Explorer (except Active) offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Santa Fe Hybrid.

The Ford Explorer outsold the Hyundai Santa Fe by 42% during 2023.