2019 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2019 Toyota Highlander

Crossovers are quickly taking over the marketplace as the industry frontrunners. For as long as anyone can remember, sedans have been the most prevalent and popular models bought and sold, with plenty of other vehicles thrown in to mix things up. But now crossover utility vehicles are actually beginning to take over the market, selling more and better than sedans, so much so that long-time car brands like Chevy are beginning to discontinue them. We thought we’d see how one of our most popular (and recently redesigned) crossovers measure up to one of its biggest competitors by pitting the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2019 Toyota Highlander. It’s rare that two big-time competitors trace their roots back to the same year, but that’s the case here. Both the Highlander and Santa Fe began production in 2000 and were introduced as members of the 2001 model year. That lends them a special kinship other rivalries don’t have.

Advantages of the 2019 Santa Fe

Of course, this kinship doesn’t prevent the Santa Fe from dominating the Highlander in the table above. It is of course important to note that the Santa Fe is a 2-row midsize crossover while the Highlander is a 3-row midsize crossover, which doesn’t help its case. Working our way through the table, it first becomes clear that the two midsize crossovers have nearly identical powertrains with both generating 185 horsepower. The middle of the table turns instead to fuel economy, which is a field in which the Santa Fe dominates. Getting two extra miles to the gallon through the city is nice enough but increasing that advantage to 5 mpg on the highway is even bigger. You’ll certainly save some money at the gas station by driving a Santa Fe. Finally, thanks to its lack of a third row, the Santa Fe is much better equipped to handle cargo, offering a basic cargo area with 22.1 cu. ft. more space than the Highlander. If you’re interested in a 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe of your own, be sure to get in touch with us right away here at Cocoa Hyundai!