How Does The Hyundai Santa Fe Compare To The Honda CR-V?

If you’re planning to buy an SUV in Fort Worth, Texas, you may want to check out the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe at Hiley Hyundai of Fort Worth. With its great blend of performance, fuel efficiency, comfort, and technology, this compact crossover can satisfy the needs and preferences of most drivers. However, it faces stiff competition from the Honda CR-V, which is also a well-rounded vehicle. If you have these two popular SUVs in your shortlist, take a look at this detailed comparison to determine which of them is more suitable for you.

Trim Levels and Prices of the Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe is available in four trim levels: the entry-level SE, SEL, Limited, and the top-spec Calligraphy. The SE has a base recommended retail price of $27,000. The 2021 Honda CR-V also comes in four trims, which are the LX, EX, EX-L, and Touring. It starts at $25,350, making it slightly more affordable than the Hyundai SUV. Both crossovers come in hybrid versions.

Exterior Comparison

In terms of exterior styling, the Hyundai Santa Fe is easily distinguishable from the Honda CR-V. This Hyundai model appears bold and imposing with its almost upright front end, massive honeycomb grille, sculpted hood, and broad wheel arches. It also has a steeply raked windshield and a downward-sloping roof that give it an athletic appeal. Featuring a wide stance, tapered nose, and a pronounced front bumper, the Honda CR-V looks sleeker and sportier than its rival. Smooth body lines and a slanted rear windshield further accentuate its svelte styling.

Engine

If you want a more energetic driving experience, you may be better off choosing the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. This SUV comes standard with a 191-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission. With this combination, it has more than enough power to meet your everyday driving needs. 

However, if you enjoy going for a spirited drive every now and then, consider getting the available 2.5-liter turbo-four that produces 277 horsepower. This engine is mated to an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission for enhanced performance. A properly equipped Santa Fe can tow up to 3,500 pounds, making it one of the most capable compact crossovers. 

The 2021 Honda CR-V, on the other hand, offers a sole 1.5-liter turbo-four engine that delivers 190 horsepower and works with a continuously variable transmission. This SUV has a maximum towing capacity of only 1,500 pounds. 

Handling

With its poised handling, responsive steering, and strong brakes, the Hyundai Santa Fe is engaging to drive. It also comes with a compliant suspension that soaks up rough surfaces well, resulting in a smooth ride. The Honda CR-V isn’t as athletic as the Hyundai, but it’s easy to maneuver and shows good composure in most situations. 

Fuel Economy Comparison

The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe returns 25/28 mpg (city/highway) with its base engine and front-wheel drive, which is respectable for a compact SUV. The rating drops to 22/28 mpg if you opt for the turbocharged engine. Few crossovers deliver better fuel economy than the 2021 Honda CR-V, which achieves 28/34 mpg with front-wheel drive and 27/32 mpg with all-wheel drive. 

Interior

The Hyundai Santa Fe and Honda CR-V are both two-row SUVs that can accommodate up to five people. Also, their cabins are among the roomiest in the compact SUV segment, offering adult-friendly legroom in both rows. However, the Santa Fe has reclining rear seats for extra comfort and relaxation on long journeys. Overall, both of these SUVs have solidly built and well-designed interiors that are aesthetically pleasing, comfortable, and quiet. 

Cargo Capacity

If you regularly go on road trips with your family or need to transport gardening supplies on weekends, you’ll appreciate the Santa Fe’s spacious cargo area. This crossover gives you 36.4 cubic feet of storage space with the rear seats upright and 72.1 cubic feet with those seats folded. The Honda CR-V has a larger cargo capacity than the Hyundai SUV, offering 39.2 cubic feet of space behind the back seats and 75.8 cubic feet behind the front seats.

How The Tech Features Weigh Up

When it comes to infotainment features, the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe has a significant edge over the 2021 Honda CR-V. It comes standard with an 8-inch touch-screen display, four USB ports, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and Bluetooth. If you want a better in-vehicle experience, you can get optional features such as a 10.25-inch touch-screen display with wired smartphone integration, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, navigation, HD radio, wireless device charging, and the Hyundai Blue Link telematics system. 

The Honda CR-V offers only a few standard infotainment features, which include a 5-inch display, a USB port, a four-speaker sound system, and Bluetooth. Available features include a 7-inch touch-screen display, a nine-speaker audio system, additional USB ports, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, a wireless device charger, HD radio, satellite radio, and navigation.

How Does Hyundai Safety Features Contrast?

Both the Hyundai Santa Fe and the Honda CR-V come with an array of advanced driver-assistance systems to help you avoid accidents. However, the CR-V has a slightly longer list of standard safety features than its rival. It comes with automatic emergency braking, forward-collision alert, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, lane-keeping assistance, lane-departure alert, road-departure mitigation, and a rearview camera. For a safer driving experience, the SUV provides available features such as blind-spot detection, rain-sensing windshield wipers, front and rear parking sensors, and rear cross-traffic warning. 

Every model of the Hyundai Santa Fe is fitted with forward-collision alert, forward pre-collision braking, pedestrian monitoring, driver-attention monitoring, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance, and a rearview camera. Additionally, the crossover offers plenty of optional safety features to deliver unparalleled crash-prevention capability. These features include blind-spot detection, a blind-spot camera, highway-driving assistance, safe-exit assistance, lane-following assistance, rain-sensing windshield wipers, automatic high-beam headlamps, rear cross-traffic warning, a surround-view parking camera system, remote smart parking assistance, front and rear parking sensors, and a head-up display.

If you’re interested in buying the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe, consider coming to Hiley Hyundai of Fort Worth for a test drive. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.