Hyundai Santa Fe Vs. Competition
Comparing the Hyundai Santa Fe to the Competition | Central Hyundai
When people across Hartford, CT, look at three-row SUVs, they often narrow their choices to a few, including the Toyota Highlander and the Kia Telluride. Still, the Hyundai Santa Fe can compete with both and even comes out ahead in several areas. Central Hyundai explains the details below.
Power Under the Hood
The Hyundai Santa Fe has a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 277 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. This performance exceeds the Toyota Highlander's 2.4-liter turbocharged engine, which produces 265 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. It surpasses the Kia Telluride's 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, rated at 274 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. All Hyundai Santa Fe trims come with the same engine and transmission combination, plus SHIFTRONIC manual-shift paddle shifters and a Drive Mode Select dial on the center console that lets the driver choose among Comfort, Eco, Sport, and Smart modes.
The Toyota Highlander differentiates its all-wheel drive (AWD) systems by trim level: the XLE uses a mechanical system that sends up to half of the available torque to the rear wheels. The XSE, Limited, and Platinum variants have a more capable Dynamic Torque Vectoring system. The Hyundai Santa Fe doesn't use this tiered approach. HTRAC all-wheel drive (AWD) is offered on all trims as an active, on-demand system that adjusts the torque split from 100:0 to as high as 50:50 depending on drive mode; in Snow mode, the range expands further for use on slippery roads. Idle Stop and Go is also standard on the 2.5-liter engine, switching the engine off at red lights to reduce wear over time. This setup ensures power goes to the wheels that need it most when driving on icy roads around Vernon, CT, in January, regardless of the trim.
Cabin Space and Technology Features
In the Hyundai Santa Fe SEL and higher trims, a 12.3-inch curved display is standard, combining the instrument cluster and infotainment screen in a single layout and including onboard navigation and a Wi-Fi hotspot. Toyota, by contrast, charges an extra fee for a larger screen on the Highlander, whose base trim still has an eight-inch touchscreen. The Hyundai Digital Key two Premium lets drivers unlock and start the SUV with their phone or smartwatch by combining NFC, Bluetooth®, and ultra-wideband technology for a more reliable connection than a system based on a single protocol.
All Hyundai Santa Fe trims include Bluelink connected services and over-the-air software updates. In contrast, Kia lists Telluride streaming and data services as an optional extra rather than factory-installed. People living near Middletown, CT, who travel between job sites and pickup their children throughout the day will find the system pairs quickly and requires little from the driver.
Interior Comfort Built for Families
The total interior volume of the Hyundai Santa Fe is 166.6 cubic feet in the gas-powered models, giving cabin passengers enough space to stretch out. Higher trims offer heated and ventilated front seats, and heated second-row seats. Toyota includes that comfort feature only on the Highlander Hybrid Platinum trim, the top-of-the-range model, meaning a family has to buy the most expensive Highlander to get seat warmers in the second row. Winter conditions in Norwich, CT, make this difference clear even before the cabin has a chance to warm up. Both the second row, which has a 60/40 split-folding configuration, and the third row, which folds in a 50/50 manner, fold almost flat, so you don't have to leave a passenger behind when transporting gear for a weekend trip.
Standard Driver-Assist Suite
Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with pedestrian, cyclist, and junction-turning detection, Lane Keeping Assist, blind spot Collision-Avoidance Warning, and Safe Exit Assist are standard on every Hyundai Santa Fe trim, from the SE to the Calligraphy. Unlike some of their competitors, who tend to hold back their most comprehensive driver-assist packages until the higher trims and thus encourage customers to buy more expensive models to obtain similar features, a commuter in New London, Connecticut, who is using the roundabouts close to the waterfront receives the same level of protection regardless of their selected trim.
Ready for Connecticut Terrain
The XRT version of the Hyundai Santa Fe adds an inch of ground clearance. It increases towing capacity to 4,500 pounds, giving the standard Santa Fe a real advantage when launching a boat or driving on a gravel driveway. Toyota doesn't offer a similar option; the Highlander range ends with the road-oriented XSE model and has no rugged or off-road-focused grade.
The Kia Telluride X-Pro achieves the same tough look with all-terrain tires and black trim, but it lacks the Santa Fe's 277-horsepower turbocharged engine described above, so the power benefit remains even off-road. The Santa Fe XRT comes with 18-inch black wheels, Continental all-terrain tires, a black front grille, and black mirrors, which make it stand out from the other models at first sight. In HTRAC's AWD Lock mode, 50 percent of the torque is sent to the front axle and 50 percent to the rear axle to provide extra traction when a Connecticut winter turns a country road into ice.
Visit Central Hyundai
Shoppers in Plainfield, Connecticut, can see the Hyundai Santa Fe in person and compare it feature by feature with the Toyota Highlander or Kia Telluride on the lot. The team at Central Hyundai can review trim levels and financing options, ensuring customers leave with an SUV that fits their routine, not just a set of specifications.
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Central Hyundai
98 Lathrop Road
Plainfield, CT 06374
- Sales: 860-564-8020
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