Compare the2026 Toyota Highlander HybridVS 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid

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The Highlander Hybrid has standard Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Santa Fe Hybrid doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

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

The Toyota Highlander Hybrid’s rear backup camera has a standard washer for maintaining a clear view under various conditions. In contrast, the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid does not offer a rear camera washer, meaning its effectiveness relies on manual cleaning by the user when necessary.

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

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

	Highlander Hybrid	Santa Fe Hybrid
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	292	460
Leg Forces (l/r)	321/243 lbs.	290/423 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	328	369
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	28.4%	32.5%
Neck Compression	90 lbs.	140 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	545/323 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 Toyota Highlander Hybrid is safer than the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid:

	Highlander Hybrid	Santa Fe Hybrid
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.3 inches	.6 inches
Abdominal Force	79 lbs.	85 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	152 lbs.	264 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	15 inches	16 inches

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

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Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Highlander Hybrid for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Hyundai doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Santa Fe Hybrid.

There are over 45 percent more Toyota dealers than there are Hyundai dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Highlander Hybrid’s warranty.

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A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Highlander Hybrid’s reliability 22 points higher than the Santa Fe Hybrid.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 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 fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 60 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is ranked 25th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota third in overall reliability. Hyundai is ranked 10th.

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The Highlander Hybrid’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 12 more horsepower (243 vs. 231) than the Santa Fe Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

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

	Highlander Hybrid	Santa Fe Hybrid
Zero to 60 MPH	8.4 sec	9.8 sec
Quarter Mile	16.3 sec	17.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	85.6 MPH	82.2 MPH

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On the EPA test cycle the Highlander Hybrid XLE gets better fuel mileage than the Santa Fe Hybrid HTRAC AWD (35 city/35 hwy vs. 35 city/34 hwy).

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The Highlander 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.

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

	Highlander Hybrid	Santa Fe Hybrid
Front Rotors	13.3 inches	12.8 inches
Rear Rotors	13.3 inches	12.8 inches

The Highlander Hybrid’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 Highlander Hybrid stops shorter than the Santa Fe Hybrid:

	Highlander Hybrid	Santa Fe Hybrid
60 to 0 MPH	123 feet	124 feet	Motor Trend

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The Highlander 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.

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For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Highlander Hybrid’s wheelbase is 1.4 inches longer than on the Santa Fe Hybrid (112.2 inches vs. 110.8 inches).

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

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

The Highlander Hybrid has .7 inches more front hip room, 2.1 inches more rear hip room, .3 inches more rear shoulder room, 2.9 inches more third row hip room and 1.5 inches more third row shoulder room than the Santa Fe Hybrid.

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

	Highlander Hybrid	Santa Fe Hybrid
Behind Third Seat	16 cubic feet	14.6 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	48.4 cubic feet	40.5 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	84.3 cubic feet	79.6 cubic feet

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

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The Highlander Hybrid’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Santa Fe Hybrid’s (3500 vs. 2000 pounds).

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The Highlander 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 passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the Highlander 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 Highlander Hybrid’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the Santa Fe Hybrid’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Highlander Hybrid 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 Toyota Highlander Hybrid has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the rear view mirror. 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 Hybrid.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the Santa Fe Hybrid SEL/Limited/Calligraphy offers wireless charging.

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Both are recommended, but Consumer Reports® chose the Toyota Highlander Hybrid as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance.