Compare the2025 Toyota Rav4VS 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe

The Rav4 has a standard Secondary 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 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 Rav4 and the Santa Fe have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, 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, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, and daytime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Rav4 the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 114 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Santa Fe has not been fully tested, yet.

There are over 47 percent more Toyota dealers than there are Hyundai dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Rav4’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota second in reliability, above the industry average. With 51 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is ranked 13th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in overall reliability. Hyundai is ranked 11th.

On the EPA test cycle the Rav4 gets better mileage than the Santa Fe:

The Rav4 stops shorter than the Santa Fe:

For better maneuverability, the Rav4 LE/XLE’s turning circle is 1.8 feet tighter than the Santa Fe’s (36.1 feet vs. 37.9 feet). The Rav4 XLE Premium/Limited’s turning circle is .5 feet tighter than the Santa Fe’s (37.4 feet vs. 37.9 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Rav4 LE/XLE has a 1.4 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Santa Fe (8.4 vs. 7 inches), allowing the Rav4 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Rav4 XLE Premium/Limited’s minimum ground clearance is .3 inch higher than on the Santa Fe XRT (8.6 vs. 8.3 inches).

The Toyota Rav4 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 850 to 950 pounds less than the Hyundai Santa Fe.

The Rav4 is 9.3 inches shorter than the Santa Fe, making the Rav4 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

As tested by Car and Driver while cruising at 70 MPH, the interior of the Rav4 Limited 4WD is quieter than the Santa Fe Calligraphy AWD (66 vs. 68 dB).

The Rav4 has a much larger cargo volume than the Santa Fe with its rear seat up (37.6 vs. 14.6 cubic feet).

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Rav4. The Santa Fe doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Rav4’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’s standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the Rav4 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. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Santa Fe can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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 Rav4’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Santa Fe’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

Consumer Reports® recommends the Toyota Rav4, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Toyota Rav4 outsold the Hyundai Santa Fe by over three to one during 2023.