Hyundai Santa Fe vs. Hyundai Tucson: A Comprehensive Breakdown
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Like the majority of car makers in the market, Hyundai aims to upgrade its SUV lineup. If you’ve been looking into Hyundai’s midsize SUV stable, you’re probably choosing between the Santa Fe and Tucson.
Hyundai Santa Fe vs. Hyundai Tucson, not an easy choice, is it? Especially when these models are very similar in specs, performance, and pricing.
Lucky for you, we have a head-to-head comparison between the Hyundai Santa Fe vs. Hyundai Tucson, and we’ll highlight the 2022 versions for both vehicles. Which crossover SUV deserves a spot in your garage? Hopefully, this breakdown helps you decide.
Exterior Features
Over the years, Hyundai played it safe by selling high-quality vehicles at reasonable prices. Now, with Hyundai’s reputation as an established brand, it seems they’re more open to taking risks, especially with their designs - the redesigned 2022 Hyundai Tucson is proof.
The 2022 Tucson is likely the brand’s most controversial exterior design. Its daring new design is poised to shake up the otherwise unenthusiastic compact SUV segment. The Tucson’s chiseled surfaces and dynamic lines give it a futuristic look. With the blacked-out grille and badge, it looks straight out of the Mandalorian TV series.
Although the new bold and flamboyant Tucson may not appeal to everyone, you can’t deny its presence.
Meanwhile, the 2022 Santa Fe seems to be a perfected version of Hyundai’s sensible exterior designs. In some parts, the Santa Fe looks generic, but it’s a good-looking SUV. One of the best exterior design elements is the unique alloy wheel design, especially with the XRT model.
All Santa Fe models get LED headlights, high-beam assist, and LED daytime running lights. A panoramic sunroof is also standard for Limited and Calligraphy models. If conventional SUV styling is right up your alley, the Santa Fe is the safer bet.
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Performance and Fuel Economy
The Santa Fe is available in four different engines. The SE and SEL trims are powered by a naturally-aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine capable of cranking out 191 hp. Limited and Calligraphy models have the same motor but coupled with a turbocharger that produces 281 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque. Both engines are paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard FWD or optional AWD.
The hybrid Santa Fe is equipped with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder and a pair of electric motors capable of 226 hp and standard AWD.
On the other hand, the Tucson’s entry-level engine is a naturally-aspirated 2.5-liter engine capable of 187 hp and 178 lb-ft of torque, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission that sends power to the front wheels. All-wheel drive is available for all models.
The hybrid and plug-in hybrid models are powered by a turbocharged 1.6-liter four capable of 227 hp and 261 hp, respectively. All electric motors are paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD.
At the time of this writing, the fuel economy numbers for the Tucson’s PHEV model aren’t available yet. However, the ICE engine has a fuel economy of 26 mpg/city and 33 mpg/hwy. Meanwhile, the Santa Fe’s naturally aspirated FWD model offers a fuel economy of 25 mpg/city and 28 mpg/hwy.
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Interior and Cargo Space
The 2022 Tucson’s interior is described by Hyundai as “Interspace” which is basically marketing speak for all-new and cutting-edge. Some of the highlights of the interior are the 10.25-inch touchscreen display (8-inch on base models), hoodless digital instrument cluster, and touch-sensitive climate control.
While some car manufacturers adopt the minimalist approach to interior design, the Tucson sports a modular interior. Notably, the interior elements are slotted in a box-like manner, fitting together like a puzzle. The Tucson interior looks clean and simplistic but has modern design sensibilities.
The Tucson is a five-seater with 41.4 inches of front legroom and 41.3 inches for the rear. As expected, the hybrid version loses about an inch of rear legroom, which is a pretty good compromise. Due to the increased wheelbase, the Tucson benefits from increased cargo space. The ICE model offers 41.2 cu-ft of space with the second-row seats in place and 80.3 cubes with the rear seats folded.
On the flip side, the 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe offers an upscale interior, even with the base trims. It has a fairly minimalist interior similar to that of the Palisade, with fewer buttons and more functional storage spaces. Top trims come with heated rear seats and ventilated front seats. The Santa Fe’s interior quality can certainly hang with its European rivals.
The Santa Fe is also a five-seater with generous trunk space. Its front legroom of 44.1 inches and rear legroom of 41.7 inches makes for a fairly comfortable cabin - even for tall passengers. With all five seats available, the Santa Fe offers 36.4 cu-ft of cargo capacity and a full 72.1 cubes with the 60⁄40 split configuration.
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Infotainment and Safety Features
For infotainment, the 2022 Santa Fe is equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system standard for SE, SEL, and Blue trims. The SEL Premium (hybrid), Limited, and Calligraphy models are outfitted with a bigger 10.25-inch display with extra goodies like navigation and live traffic updates. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth are standard connectivity features.
As for safety, the IIHS has yet to rate the 2022 Santa Fe. However, since the 2021 model was a Top Safety Pick+, it’s likely 2022 iteration will receive high safety marks as well. For the base SE, you get safety features like Anti-lock Braking System, Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist, Electronic Stability Control, and more. With the Calligraphy trim, advanced safety features like Blind-Spot View Monitor and Surround View Monitor are available.
On the other hand, the base Tucson features an 8-inch infotainment display that supports Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, HD Radio, and a six-speaker audio system. Starting with the Limited trim, you get an upgraded 10.25-inch touchscreen display with live traffic updates and navigation. Moreover, the Limited and N-Line come with an eight-speaker Bose premium audio system.
Safety-wise, it’s the same situation with the Santa Fe. The previous 2021 model has received the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award, so it’s likely the 2022 Tucson will receive that honor as well. For the first time, the Tucson is now equipped with Hyundai’s Highway Drive Assist, which combines the functionality of the Lane Following Assist and Navigation Based Smart Cruise Control. It also includes Forward Collision-avoidance Assist with Junction Turning and High Beam Assist.
Hyundai Santa Fe vs. Hyundai Tucson: Which Crossover is Better?
Let’s cap this Hyundai Santa Fe vs. Hyundai Tucson breakdown with their pricing. The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe starts with $27,200 MSRP, while the Hyundai Tucson is a bit cheaper with $24,950 MSRP.
As you can see, both SUVs have very similar specs and features. The Santa Fe offers more in terms of interior and cargo space as well as performance. However, for the average consumer, the new Tucson offers tremendous value for the cheaper price tag and excellent fuel economy.
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