Toyota Highlander vs Hyundai Santa Fe

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When you’re on the hunt for a highly capable mid-sized SUV for your travels around the Leesburg, The Villages, Apopka, Mount Dora, and Clermont, FL, areas, you’re probably searching for something with advanced performance features that can comfortably fit the whole family. Two models you may be considering are the Toyota Highlander and the Hyundai Santa Fe. But ultimately, which is going to be the right fit for you?

Here at Phillips Toyota, we’re dedicated to helping our drivers every step of the way through their car-buying journey, and we know that starts right here with the research process. To make it as easy as possible for our drivers, we’ve created this handy breakdown of the 2021 Toyota Highlander vs. 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. Now, let’s see how these two stack up against one another.

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2021 Toyota Highlander vs Hyundai Santa Fe

Performance Features & Engine Specs

To get started, we’ll head right under the hood and take a look at what powers these SUVs, the engines. Both vehicles provide you with two options to choose from.

2021 Toyota Highlander	VS.	2021 Hyundai Santa Fe
3.5-liter V6	Standard Engine	Inline 4-cylinder
295 hp	Standard Horsepower	185 hp
263 lb-ft	Standard Torque	178 lb-ft

The 2021 Highlander comes equipped with the standard 3.5-liter V6 engine, which puts out 295 horsepower and 263 lb-ft of torque capability. This engine is paired with the Direct Shift-8AT 8-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission for a smooth and easy to handle ride.

The second engine offered is the fuel-efficient Hybrid 2.5-liter engine, which delivers 186 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque capability. This is paired with the Electronically controlled Continuously Variable Transmission (ECVT) with sequential shift mode.

Over in the Hyundai Santa Fe, the standard Inline 4-cylinder engine only produces 185 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque capability, making it much less powerful than the standard engine found in the Highlander. The available Inline 4-cylinder Turbo engine also falls short, putting out just 235 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque capability.

Interior Cabin Space & Comfort

Now, we’ll head right inside and take a look at just how much room you and your fellow riders will get.

In the Toyota Highlander, you’ll have room for up to eight passengers, while the Hyundai Santa Fe only provides seating for five.

2021 Toyota Highlander	VS.	2021 Hyundai Santa Fe
8 passengers	Seating	5 passengers
141.3 cu. ft. (without moonroof)	Passenger Volume	110.7 cu. ft.
84.3 cu. ft.	Maximum Cargo Volume	71.3 cu. ft.

In the Highlander, when all the seats are upright, you’ll find yourself with 16 cubic feet of storage space back in the trunk, but if you need to access more, simply fold down the second- and third-row seats for up to 84.3 cubic feet of cargo room. You’ll be able to easily load your trunk when all your hands are full thanks to the standard power liftgate.

The Santa Fe only provides a maximum cargo volume of 71.3 cubic feet and doesn’t offer a feature similar to the power liftgate found in the Highlander.

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The Verdict: 2021 Toyota Highlander vs Hyundai Santa Fe

While both these vehicles may be decent choices for your commutes around the Leesburg, The Villages, Apopka, Mount Dora, and Clermont, FL, areas, it’s clear that the Toyota Highlander outperforms the Hyundai Santa Fe in crucial categories like performance features and interior cabin space.

Here at Phillips Toyota, we’re dedicated to helping our drivers find the perfect vehicle for their lifestyle. For more information, or to schedule your next test drive, give us a call or stop by today!

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