Compare the2026 Cadillac XT5VS 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The XT5 (except Luxury’s) optional pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Santa Fe doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The Cadillac XT5 comes with a standard HD Surround Vision with a rear camera washer to provide all-weather visibility, regardless of road dirt or grime, while the Hyundai Santa Fe doesn’t offer a camera washer, requiring manual cleaning.

Both the XT5 and the Santa Fe have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front 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, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Cadillac XT5 is safer than the Hyundai Santa Fe:

	XT5	Santa Fe
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	147	460
Neck Injury Risk	24%	28%
Neck Stress	188 lbs.	273 lbs.
Neck Compression	11 lbs.	33 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	287	369
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.6 inches
Neck Compression	53 lbs.	140 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	22/17 lbs.	726/652 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Cadillac XT5 is safer than the Hyundai Santa Fe:

	XT5	Santa Fe
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	184 lbs.	203 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	16 inches

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the XT5 is .5% to 3.4% less likely to roll over than the Santa Fe.

Reliability

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the XT5 has a standard 170-amp alternator (155-amp - XT5 V6 without Towing Package). The Santa Fe’s 150-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the XT5 first among midsize premium suvs in their 2025 Initial Quality Study. The Santa Fe isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Cadillac vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac above average in long-term dependability. With 33 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Hyundai is rated below average.

Engine

The XT5’s optional 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 33 more horsepower (310 vs. 277) than the Santa Fe’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Cadillac XT5 V6 is faster than the Hyundai Santa Fe:

	XT5	Santa Fe
Zero to 60 MPH	6.4 sec	7.4 sec
Quarter Mile	15 sec	15.8 sec

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the XT5 gets better mileage than the Santa Fe:

			MPG
XT5
	FWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/29 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/27 hwy
Santa Fe
	FWD	2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/29 hwy
	AWD	XRT 2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	19 city/25 hwy

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the XT5’s fuel efficiency. The Santa Fe doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The XT5 FWD’s standard fuel tank has 1.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Santa Fe (19.4 vs. 17.7 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The XT5 AWD’s standard fuel tank has 4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Santa Fe (21.7 vs. 17.7 gallons).

The XT5 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 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Transmission

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Cadillac XT5, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Santa Fe.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the XT5’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Santa Fe:

	XT5	Santa Fe
Front Rotors	13.6 inches	12.8 inches

The XT5’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 are solid, not vented.

The XT5 stops much shorter than the Santa Fe:

	XT5	Santa Fe
60 to 0 MPH	111 feet	125 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

The Cadillac XT5’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Hyundai Santa Fe only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

Suspension and Handling

The XT5 offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Santa Fe’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the XT5’s wheelbase is 1.7 inches longer than on the Santa Fe (112.5 inches vs. 110.8 inches).

The XT5 AWD handles at .82 G’s, while the Santa Fe Calligraphy HTRAC AWD pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For greater off-road capability the XT5 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Santa Fe (7.8 vs. 7 inches), allowing the XT5 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The Cadillac XT5 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 150 to 450 pounds less than the Hyundai Santa Fe.

Cargo Capacity

The XT5 has a much larger cargo volume than the Santa Fe with its rear seat up (30 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 XT5. The Santa Fe doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Servicing Ease

An Oil Life Monitor is standard on the XT5 to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals for oil changes and air filter replacement based on actual driving conditions. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Hyundai doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the Santa Fe.

Ergonomics

The XT5’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Santa Fe does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The XT5’s front and rear power windows all open fully with one touch of the switches and its front windows also automatically close, 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.

The XT5’s standard Keyless 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 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 avoid possible obstacles, the XT5 has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Santa Fe doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The XT5 Premium Luxury/Sport’s standard 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 offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The XT5 has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Santa Fe SEL/XRT/Limited/Calligraphy.

The Cadillac XT5 has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the overhead console. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. Hyundai charges extra for Homelink® on the Santa Fe.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Cadillac XT5 and the Hyundai Santa Fe, based on reliability, safety and performance.

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