The Toyota Highlander has lengthy been a go-to for households who need a secure, loyal three-row SUV. Its popularity on my own is frequently sufficient to justify the fee, making it probably the most predictable possible choices within the phase. However in 2026, that predictability comes at a steep price, and now not everyone seems to be getting their cash’s value.
One choice from Hyundai is difficult that components in a large means. It undercuts the Highlander by means of hundreds whilst providing extra chronic, a extra upscale inner, and unusually beneficiant area throughout all 3 rows. As an alternative of feeling like the cheap choice, it pushes into near-luxury territory whilst nonetheless dressed in an out there ticket.
That hole is what makes this comparability laborious to forget about. When a three-row SUV delivers extra efficiency, extra convenience, and extra options for considerably much less cash, it forces a easy query, how a lot is the badge in reality value?
With a view to provide the most recent and correct data conceivable, the knowledge used to collect this text was once sourced from more than a few producer web pages, together with the EPA. This newsletter specializes in evaluating the non-hybrid variations of the Hyundai Santa Fe and Toyota Highlander, with the hybrids being reviewed one after the other.
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Hyundai’s Santa Fe is far inexpensive than a brand new Toyota Highlander
A 3-row discount this is unusually top class
If you are searching for a mid-size SUV that incorporates 3 rows of seats as usual, the Hyundai Santa Fe is without doubt one of the least expensive choices in 2026. It is available in hundreds of bucks inexpensive than its opponents, and you would not in reality have the ability to inform simply from taking a look at it. Whilst the Highlander has at all times been regarded as some of the default choices on this phase, Hyundai is taking a look to disrupt Toyota’s dominance.
2026 Hyundai Santa Fe trims and pricing
|
Fashions |
Beginning MSRP |
|---|---|
|
SEL |
$35,050 |
|
SEL |
$37,590 |
|
XRT |
$42,040 |
|
Restricted |
$44,600 |
|
Calligraphy |
$47,600 |
The 2026 Santa Fe begins simply over the $35,000-mark, which is a great value for a compact SUV, let on my own a mid-size SUV with 3 rows of seats. It additionally appears a lot more top class than its ticket would counsel, each outside and inside. The bounce in value from this Hyundai to the Toyota Highlander is lovely huge, with the Eastern SUV beginning at a whopping $45,870.
A part of the rationale the Highlander is so a lot more dear is that Toyota has gotten rid of the entry-level LE trim. Even then, regardless that, the 2025 Highlander LE nonetheless began over the $40,000 mark. The Santa Fe is over $10,000 extra inexpensive than the Highlander, and as we dive into the specifications all over this text, you can in finding that it if truth be told outperforms the Toyota in numerous key spaces.
Which trim must you get?
For the cost of a base Highlander, it’s good to get a Santa Fe Restricted and nonetheless pocket your self some exchange. Then again, we predict that the SEL comes with the entire options {that a} three-row SUV purchaser would wish. It comprises such things as a power-adjustable motive force’s seat, faux-leather upholstery, heated entrance seats, rear air vents, and dual-zone automated local weather keep an eye on. Except you are searching for inner luxurious or some off-road prowess, that is the trim we predict gives the most productive worth for cash.
This 2026 Eastern SUV looks like a Mercedes-Benz GLB for $10,000 much less
One of the crucial speedy variations is the per thirty days fee.
The Santa Fe is extra tough and simply as environment friendly because the Highlander
Extra grunt for the cash
Whilst numerous different mid-size SUVs nonetheless choose for a standard V-6, each the Santa Fe and the Highlander come supplied with very perky turbocharged four-cylinder engines. Then again, Hyundai has controlled to drag somewhat additional chronic from their turbo-four, that means that the Santa Fe is faster. On best of this, the added chronic does not lead to a much less environment friendly setup.
Hyundai Santa Fe efficiency and potency
- Base Trim Engine
-
2.5L Smartstream I4 ICE
- Base Trim Transmission
-
8-speed automated
- Base Trim Drivetrain
-
Entrance-Wheel Power
- Base Trim Horsepower
-
277 HP @5800 RPM
- Base Trim Torque
-
311 lb.-ft. @ 1700 RPM
- Make
-
Hyundai
- Type
-
Santa Fe
- Phase
-
Midsize SUV
The place the Toyota Highlander extracts 265 horsepower from its 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, the Santa Fe places down 277 horses. Each come supplied with a standard eight-speed automated transmission. Hyundai’s three-row SUV comes usual with front-wheel power, whilst each and every Highlander will get all-wheel power. Hyundai solely fees an additional $1,800 for all-wheel power on each and every style however the XRT, regardless that, which will get it usual.
The Santa Fe is far sooner off the road, getting as much as 60 miles according to hour in 6.3 seconds, whilst the Highlander takes round 7.2 seconds as a substitute. Velocity is not the secret for both of those SUVs, regardless that. Even within the convenience division, regardless that, the Santa Fe feels extra subtle and far quieter at freeway speeds than the Highlander.
Gas financial system
|
Type |
Town |
Freeway |
Mixed |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Santa Fe FWD |
20 MPG |
29 MPG |
24 MPG |
|
Santa Fe AWD |
20 MPG |
28 MPG |
23 MPG |
|
Toyota Highlander AWD |
21 MPG |
28 MPG |
24 MPG |
The variation in potency between the Santa Fe and Highlander is negligible. Taking into account the additional efficiency the Hyundai has on best, you’ll suppose the distance can be better. We additionally respect that you are not in reality punished all that onerous for choosing all-wheel power within the Hyundai, solely dropping a unmarried mile according to gallon, or even then its slightly.
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Hyundai’s Santa Fe is similarly spacious and far nicer inside of
Much less mundane and extra entry-level luxurious
Toyota has at all times worth simplicity and practicality above all else, and that in reality shines via within the inner of the Highlander. It’s not a nasty cabin, however it does really feel somewhat dated and moderately uninteresting. A minimum of that may exchange with the approaching electrical style. Compared, the Santa Fe feels find it irresistible’s on a distinct point. It’s way more trendy and borders at the sumptuous, all whilst providing much more area within the 3rd row than the Highlander.
Inner dimensions and luxury
|
Type |
Hyundai Santa Fe |
Toyota Highlander |
|---|---|---|
|
Entrance row headroom |
41.1 inches |
39.6 inches |
|
Entrance row legroom |
44.4 inches |
42 inches |
|
2nd row headroom |
40.6 inches |
39.4 inches |
|
2nd row legroom |
42.3 inches |
38.7 inches |
|
3rd row headroom |
37.7 inches |
36.1 inches |
|
3rd row legroom |
30 inches |
28 inches |
|
Shipment capability (at the back of 3rd row) |
14.6 cubic toes |
16 cubic toes |
Simply taking a look at those figures side-by-side, you’ll suppose that the Santa Fe was once the dearer SUV. In the case of headroom and legroom, the Hyundai has the benefit in each and every row. It’s value noting, regardless that, that the Highlander can seat 3 within the farthest row, the place the Santa Fe solely has room for 2. Both means, the seats within the way-back are a kid-only affair in each SUVs. The Highlander additionally marginally pulls forward on the subject of shipment area.
Hyundai’s designers had been obviously impressed by means of luxurious automakers like Land Rover after they concept up the cabin of the Santa Fe. Its inner feels plush and swish, despite the fact that you go for probably the most inexpensive trim ranges. Higher trims even include such things as Nappa leather-based upholstery and wooden trim, all whilst costing the similar as a base Highlander. Toyota’s three-row SUV feels decidedly pedestrian when compared, regardless that it does include a tight quantity of usual options.
Infotainment and generation
In the case of tech, it feels just like the Santa Fe edges out the victory. The Highlander XLE and XSE include an eight-inch infotainment machine, with different fashions getting a bigger 12.3-inch unit as a substitute. Each and every Santa Fe, then again, comes with a dual-screen setup, with two 12.3-inch gadgets sharing a unmarried bezel. Hyundai has additionally incorporated quite a lot of bodily buttons, regardless that, so reliance on those massive displays is saved to a minimal.
In the case of different tech options, the Highlander struggles to set itself aside from the budget-oriented Hyundai. Each and every Santa Fe will get wi-fi smartphone mirroring, or even the SEL has a wi-fi smartphone charging pad. Restricted and better trims include a twin charging pad setup for 2 units. Each SUVs include a typical six-speaker sound machine, however Hyundai’s non-compulsory 12-speaker Bose machine outperforms the 11-speaker JBL machine within the Highlander.
Inexpensive, extra spacious, and far nicer at the inside of
There greater than a $10,000 distinction between the Hyundai Santa Fe and the Toyota Highlander. We all know that the Eastern logo calls for a top class on account of their determination to reliability, however it turns into in reality laborious to justify when the distance is that enormous. Its even more difficult when the Hyundai looks like a extra entire car in nearly the entire metrics maximum necessary to a three-row purchaser. It’s sooner off the road, gives more room inside of, and feels leagues forward in the case of inner high quality and design. This begs the query, how a lot are you keen to pay for a Toyota badge?
