Compare the2025 Mazda CX-90VS 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid

The Mazda CX-90 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 CX-90 Premium has a standard Secondary Collision Reduction System, 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 CX-90. But it costs extra on the Santa Fe Hybrid.

Both the CX-90 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 and available around view monitors.

The Mazda CX-90 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 a “Good” 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’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mazda above average in long-term dependability. With 5 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Hyundai is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda 4 places higher in reliability than Hyundai.

The CX-90’s standard 3.3 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 49 more horsepower (280 vs. 231) and 61 lbs.-ft. more torque (332 vs. 271) than the Santa Fe Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The CX-90 PHEV’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 92 more horsepower (323 vs. 231) and 98 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 271) than the Santa Fe Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The CX-90 Turbo S’ standard 3.3 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 109 more horsepower (340 vs. 231) and 98 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 271) than the Santa Fe Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the CX-90 PHEV 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid:

The CX-90 PHEV can travel with zero emissions for 26 miles. The Santa Fe Hybrid can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Both the CX-90 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 CX-90 has a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

The CX-90 Turbo S’ standard fuel tank has 1.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the Santa Fe Hybrid (19.6 vs. 17.7 gallons).

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Mazda CX-90, 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 CX-90 Turbo S/PHEV’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Santa Fe Hybrid:

The CX-90’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 CX-90 stops much shorter than the Santa Fe Hybrid:

For better traction, the CX-90 has larger standard tires than the Santa Fe Hybrid (265/55R19 vs. 235/60R18). The CX-90 Premium/Turbo S’ tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Santa Fe Hybrid (275/45R21 vs. 255/45R20).

The CX-90’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.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CX-90 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Santa Fe SEL Hybrid. The CX-90 Premium/Turbo S’ 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels on the Santa Fe Hybrid Limited/Calligraphy.

The CX-90 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 CX-90’s wheelbase is 12 inches longer than on the Santa Fe Hybrid (122.8 inches vs. 110.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the CX-90 is 2.5 inches wider in the front and 2.3 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Santa Fe Hybrid.

The CX-90’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (51.7% to 48.3%) than the Santa Fe Hybrid’s (54% to 46%). This gives the CX-90 more stable handling and braking.

The CX-90 Premium Plus 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 CX-90 Premium Plus executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.5 seconds quicker than the Santa Fe Calligraphy Hybrid AWD (27.2 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28.7 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the CX-90 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Santa Fe Hybrid (8 vs. 7 inches), allowing the CX-90 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The CX-90 PHEV Premium/Turbo S’ minimum ground clearance is 1.1 inches higher than on the Santa Fe Hybrid (8.1 vs. 7 inches).

The CX-90 offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the Santa Fe Hybrid can only carry 7.

The CX-90’s cargo area provides more volume than the Santa Fe Hybrid.

The CX-90’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Santa Fe Hybrid’s (3500 vs. 2000 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid is only 2000 pounds. The CX-90 offers up to a 5000 lbs. towing capacity.

The engine in the CX-90 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 CX-90’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.

The CX-90’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.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the CX-90 Turbo S 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 CX-90’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 CX-90 Premium Plus/Turbo S has standard front air conditioned seats and the CX-90 Turbo S Premium Plus also has them in the second row. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The Santa Fe Hybrid doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.