Compare the2025 Toyota Rav4 HybridVS 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid

The Rav4 Hybrid 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 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 Rav4 Hybrid. But it costs extra on the Santa Fe Hybrid.

Both the Rav4 Hybrid 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, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available 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 Hybrid the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 114 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Santa Fe Hybrid 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 Hybrid’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.

As tested in Motor Trend the Toyota Rav4 Hybrid is faster than the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid:

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

The Rav4 Hybrid can travel with zero emissions on a full charge for 1.6 miles. The Santa Fe Hybrid can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

The Rav4 Hybrid has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Santa Fe Hybrid doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Rav4 Hybrid stops shorter than the Santa Fe Hybrid:

The Rav4 Hybrid 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.

The Rav4 Hybrid XSE executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.1 seconds quicker than the Santa Fe Calligraphy Hybrid AWD (27.6 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 28.7 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Rav4 Hybrid’s turning circle is 1.8 feet tighter than the Santa Fe Hybrid’s (36.1 feet vs. 37.9 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Rav4 Hybrid has a 1.1 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Santa Fe Hybrid (8.1 vs. 7 inches), allowing the Rav4 Hybrid to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Toyota Rav4 Hybrid may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 750 to 800 pounds less than the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid.

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

The Rav4 Hybrid has a much larger cargo volume than the Santa Fe Hybrid with its rear seat up (37.5 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 Hybrid. The Santa Fe Hybrid doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

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

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Rav4 Hybrid Limited offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Santa Fe Hybrid doesn’t offer cornering lights.

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

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