Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid vs. Toyota Highlander Hybrid
You love the great outdoors. You feel most alive when you’re rocking in a hammock, sitting by a crackling fire, or hiking a summit. You’ve been trying to lower your carbon footprint by growing vegetation in your backyard, composting, lowering your plastic usage, and thrifting your clothes. The final piece of the puzzle is adding a hybrid vehicle to your life!
The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid and the 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid will help you live the sustainable life you desire. Which one should you take home? Bloomington, Martinsville, and Ellettsville drivers can continue reading this comparison curated by Andy Mohr Hyundai to find out.
TORQUE
HEATED SEATS
FRONT LEGROOM
Think of your favorite outdoor activity. Is it paddling across a lake in a tandem kayak, hiking all the trails at a national park, or fishing with your buddies at your parent’s pond? All those activities need some sort of precision to be successful. Where these hybrids are concerned, you can just sit back and watch them flaunt their expertise.
Both SUVs have a hybrid powertrain that combines the power and efficiency you crave. The Hyundai has a 1.6L turbo engine, while the Toyota has a 2.5L engine, and both are paired with an electric motor. Despite the engine size difference, the Santa Fe Hybrid generates 195 lb-ft of torque compared to the Highlander Hybrid’s 175 lb-ft of torque.
What’s the benefit of more torque? You’ll experience more seamless acceleration, better towing capabilities, and improved expertise on adventurous routes.
One of the main differences between these hybrids is their size. The Highlander Hybrid skews a bit larger than the Santa Fe Hybrid; however, don’t count out the Hyundai just yet. This model’s smaller stature is synonymous with a nimbler performance.
Let’s explore a few key exterior dimensions below:
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Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid
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Toyota Highlander Hybrid
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|---|---|---|
| Length | 188.4 in. | 194.9 in. |
| Width | 74.8 in. | 76 in. |
| Wheelbase | 108.9 in. | 112.2 in. |
The Hyundai’s shorter wheelbase equates to tighter turning and enhanced agility, which will come in handy when you need to make tricky off-road maneuvers. Plus, its shorter length and narrower width make it possible for the Hyundai to squeeze into tighter spaces outside of your favorite park. The Toyota’s hulking size may leave you with fewer options.
You feel at home in nature. Sleeping in a tent for a week? We’ll count you in. Reading a new novel in a hammock? We know where you’ll be for the foreseeable future. Picking fresh fruit from a farmer’s market? Now, that’s comfort food. These hybrid SUVs will leave you just as content.
Inside the Hyundai and the Toyota, you’ll find cloth-trimmed seating, and an 8-way power driver’s seat will be your throne. After a long day of hiking or swimming, you want to be comfortable on the way home, which either model will deliver. However, the Hyundai’s standard driver’s seat comes with 2-way lumbar support, so your tired torso can be strain-free all the way home. This feature is available on the Toyota.
Speaking of soothed muscles, drivers looking to stay cozy on cold commutes or release tension during their drive will appreciate the Hyundai’s standard heated front seats. Highlander Hybrid drivers can also enjoy this feature’s soothing embrace with an upgrade.
These models have creature comforts. Do they also have the dimensions that will make you feel most comfortable? Let’s find out:
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Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid
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Toyota Highlander Hybrid
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|---|---|---|
| Headroom (front/rear) | 41.2/39 in. | 41.2/39.4 in. |
| Legroom (front/rear) | 44.1/40.8 in. | 42/38.7 in. |
Whether you’re tall or you often commute with someone who is, the roomy dimensions in either hybrid will ensure you’re comfortable mile after mile. However, the Santa Fe Hybrid offers more legroom in the first and second rows, making it the optimal choice for tall drivers who want the perfect fit with a smidge more wiggle room.
When you go exploring, you don’t leave empty-handed. You’ll often bring bags full of gear, first aid kits, bug spray, sunscreen—you name it. The Hyundai and the Toyota take the same approach for their drivers. Each hybrid comes with a built-in safety suite so you can venture wildly and interruption-free.
Hyundai SmartSense and Toyota Safety Sense™ 2.5+ are the standard driver-assistance suites on the Santa Fe Hybrid and the Highlander Hybrid. Both are multi-feature systems that boost your confidence and encourage peace of mind. In fact, they have brand-specific versions of these systems in common:
- Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian Detection
- Lane Keeping Assist
- Navigation-based Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go and Curve Control
- High Beam Assist
- Lane Following Assist
Standard Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist on either hybrid make it easy to see what’s going on behind your vehicle, so you’re never taken off guard.
Guess what? The Hyundai is just getting started. This hybrid model offers even more standard safety features, such as:
- Ultrasonic Rear Occupant Alert
- Driver Attention Warning
- Safe Exit Assist
- Highway Driving Assist
Do you know what’s even better? All the features above are unique to the Santa Fe Hybrid! Although the Highlander Hybrid is a reliable vehicle, the Hyundai goes a few steps further to ensure your security.
Are you ready to take the next step in your sustainability journey? If so, getting behind the wheel of the 2023 Santa Fe Hybrid or the 2023 Highlander Hybrid will suffice. However, with its agile performance, roomy interior, and additional safety measures, we believe the Hyundai hybrid will better suit your nature-loving lifestyle.
Visit Andy Mohr Hyundai near Bloomington, Martinsville, and Ellettsville today to take your new car for a test drive!
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