Compare the2025 Toyota Grand HighlanderVS 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid

The Grand Highlander 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.

Both the Grand Highlander 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, 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Toyota Grand Highlander is safer than the Santa Fe Hybrid:

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

The Grand Highlander Hybrid’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 14 more horsepower (245 vs. 231) than the Santa Fe Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The Grand Highlander’s standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 34 more horsepower (265 vs. 231) and 39 lbs.-ft. more torque (310 vs. 271) than the Santa Fe Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The Grand Highlander Hybrid Max’s standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 131 more horsepower (362 vs. 231) and 129 lbs.-ft. more torque (400 vs. 271) than the Santa Fe Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

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

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

The Grand Highlander offers an available 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.

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

The Grand Highlander stops shorter than the Santa Fe Hybrid:

For better traction, the Grand Highlander has larger tires than the Santa Fe Hybrid (255/65R18 vs. 235/60R18).

The Grand Highlander 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 Grand Highlander’s wheelbase is 5.3 inches longer than on the Santa Fe Hybrid (116.1 inches vs. 110.8 inches).

The Grand Highlander’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (52% to 48%) than the Santa Fe Hybrid’s (54% to 46%). This gives the Grand Highlander more stable handling and braking.

The Grand Highlander Limited AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.3 seconds quicker than the Santa Fe Calligraphy Hybrid AWD (27.4 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28.7 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Grand Highlander has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Santa Fe Hybrid (8 vs. 7 inches), allowing the Grand Highlander to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Grand Highlander offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the Santa Fe Hybrid can only carry 7.

The Grand Highlander has 2.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Santa Fe Hybrid (153.3 vs. 151).

The Grand Highlander has .4 inches more front headroom, .7 inches more front shoulder room, 2.1 inches more rear hip room, .7 inches more rear shoulder room, 3.5 inches more third row legroom, 3 inches more third row hip room and 4 inches more third row shoulder room than the Santa Fe Hybrid.

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

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

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

The Grand Highlander’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 Grand Highlander 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 Grand Highlander’s standard Smart Key System allows 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.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Grand Highlander 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 Grand Highlander Limited/Platinum/Nightshade has standard front air conditioned seats and the Grand Highlander Platinum 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.

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

The Grand Highlander was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2024. The Santa Fe Hybrid has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.