2025 Chevrolet Traverse vs 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe

$40,700 · Crossover

$34,800 · Crossover

Comparison Overview

The 2025 Chevrolet Traverse bursts onto the scene focused squarely on muscular presence and hauling capability, boasting 328 hp and 326 lb-ft of torque from its new turbocharged engine. It's a true land yacht at 204.5 inches long, prioritizing sheer passenger volume over nimbleness. Conversely, the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe charms with efficiency and accessible style, hitting a lower starting MSRP of $34,800 compared to the Traverse's $40,700. While the Santa Fe offers a sharper 29 MPG highway versus the Traverse's 27 MPG highway, it concedes a significant 51 horsepower deficit, generating 277 hp. The Traverse provides substantially more space for gear, offering 22.9 cu ft of cargo area behind the third row, while the Santa Fe manages 14.6 cu ft. For buyers needing brute force and maximum interior bulk, the Traverse leads; for budget-conscious drivers seeking better overall fuel economy, the Santa Fe is compelling.

Size Comparison

Performance

Fuel Efficiency

Full Specifications

Our Verdicts

🚗 Best for Commuters

2026 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe wins for commuters due to its superior combined fuel economy of 24 MPG and lower acquisition cost.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2025 Chevrolet Traverse

The 2025 Chevrolet Traverse dominates family hauling with its much larger 22.9 cu ft of cargo capacity compared to 14.6 cu ft in the Santa Fe.

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2025 Chevrolet Traverse

The Traverse delivers a truly stronger performance punch with 328 hp and 326 lb-ft of torque, easily outpacing the Santa Fe's output.

💰 Best Value

2026 Hyundai Santa Fe

The Santa Fe presents better immediate value by undercutting the Traverse's MSRP by $5,900.

Choose the Chevrolet Traverse if...

You require the maximum available power, utilizing the 328 horsepower engine.
You frequently haul large amounts of gear, as the 22.9 cu ft of cargo space is excellent.
You prefer the commanding road presence offered by its generous 204.5-inch length.

Choose the Hyundai Santa Fe if...

Keeping the initial purchase price down is critical, given its $34,800 MSRP.
Prioritizing fuel efficiency matters, as it achieves 29 MPG highway.
You value a more compact footprint in city driving, measuring only 190.2 inches long.

Key Dimensions

Dimension	Chevrolet Traverse	Hyundai Santa Fe
Length	204.5"	190.2"
Width	79.6"	74.8"
Height	69.6"	67.7"
Wheelbase	121.0"	110.8"

Features Comparison

Safety

Feature	Chevrolet	Hyundai
Blind Spot Monitor	✓	✓
Lane Departure Warning	✓	✓
Lane Keeping Assist System	✓	✓
Front Cross Traffic Alert	✓	—
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	✓	✓
Pre-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Post-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Dual Front Side-Mounted Airbags	✓	✓
Front Head Airbags	✓	✓
Rear Head Airbags	✓	✓
Third Row Head Airbags	✓	—
Passenger Airbag Occupant Sensing Deactivation	✓	✓
Electronic Stability Control	✓	✓
Traction Control System	✓	✓
LATCH System	✓	✓
Rear Door Child Safety Locks	✓	✓
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)	4-Wheel	4-Wheel
Front Ventilated Disc Brakes	✓	✓
Rear Ventilated Disc Brakes	✓	—
Brake Assist	✓	✓
Tire Pressure Monitoring System	✓	✓
Automatic Headlights	✓	✓
Headlight Delay-Off	✓	✓
LED Headlights	✓	✓
Daytime Running Lights	✓	✓
Integrated Turn Signal Mirrors	✓	—
Front Headrests	2	2
Front Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Rear Headrests	2	3
Rear Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Anti-Theft Alarm System (Remote)	✓	✓
Engine Immobilizer	✓	✓
Driver Attention Alert	—	✓
Dual Rear Side-Mounted Airbags	—	✓
Rear Solid Disc Brakes	—	✓
Rear Center 3-Point Seatbelt	—	✓

Engine

Feature	Chevrolet	Hyundai
Base Engine Displacement	2.5 L	2.5 L
Number of Cylinders	inline 4	inline 4
Base Engine Type	gas	gas
Horsepower	328 hp @ 5500 rpm	277 hp @ 5800 rpm
Torque	326 lb-ft @ 3500 rpm	311 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm
Number of Valves	16	16
Camshaft Type	Double overhead cam (DOHC)	Double overhead cam (DOHC)
Variable Valve Timing	Variable	Variable
Fuel Injection Type	✓	✓

Drive Train

Feature	Chevrolet	Hyundai
Transmission Type	8-speed shiftable automatic	8-speed shiftable automatic
Drivetrain Type	front wheel drive	front wheel drive
Hill Descent Control	—	✓

Fuel

Feature	Chevrolet	Hyundai
Fuel Type	regular unleaded	regular unleaded
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway)	20/27 MPG	20/29 MPG
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	23 MPG	24 MPG
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	388.0/523.8 mi.	354.0/513.3 mi.
Fuel Tank Capacity	19.4 gal.	17.7 gal.

Comfort & Convenience

Feature	Chevrolet	Hyundai
Push Button Start	✓	✓
Tilt Steering Wheel	✓	—
Audio Controls on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Cruise Control on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Electric Power Steering	✓	✓
Rear View Camera	✓	✓
Rear Parking Sensors	✓	✓
Wireless Charging Pad	✓	—
Adaptive Cruise Control	✓	✓
Front Cupholders	✓	✓
Rear Cupholders	✓	✓
3rd Row Cupholders	✓	✓
Front Door Pockets	✓	✓
Rear Door Pockets	✓	✓
Front Seatback Storage	✓	✓
Leatherette Steering Wheel	✓	—
Heated Steering Wheel	✓	—
Three Zone Climate Control	✓	—
Rear Ventilation Ducts with Fan Control	✓	—
Interior Air Filtration	✓	✓
Sun Sensor	✓	—
Dual Vanity Mirrors	✓	✓
Turn Signal Indicators in Mirrors	✓	—
Tilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel	—	✓
Front Parking Sensors	—	✓
Overhead Console with Storage	—	✓
Leather Steering Wheel	—	✓
Single Zone Climate Control	—	✓
Rear Ventilation Ducts	—	✓
Extended Cabin Heating/Cooling	—	✓

In Car Entertainment

Feature	Chevrolet	Hyundai
Infotainment Display	17.7 in	12.3 in
AM/FM Stereo	✓	✓
Speaker System	6	—
Android Auto (Wireless)	✓	✓
Apple CarPlay (Wireless)	✓	✓
USB Port	✓	✓
Auxiliary Audio Input	✓	—
USB Port with External Media Control	✓	✓
Satellite Radio	✓	✓
Satellite Radio Trial Period	3 months	3 months
Speed Sensitive Volume Control	✓	—

Power Feature

Feature	Chevrolet	Hyundai
One-Touch Power Windows	4	1
Keyless Entry	✓	✓
Heated Mirrors	✓	✓

Frontseats

Feature	Chevrolet	Hyundai
Front Head Room	42.6 in.	41.1 in.
Front Leg Room	44.3 in.	44.4 in.
Front Shoulder Room	62.3 in.	59.5 in.
Front Hip Room	58.7 in.	56.5 in.
Seat Material: Premium Cloth	✓	—
Front Seat Type: Bucket	✓	✓
Driver Seat Power Adjustments	8-way	—
Driver Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Driver Seat Lumbar Support	Power	Power
Passenger Seat Manual Adjustments	4-way	6-way
Driver Seat Heating	Multi-level	—
Passenger Seat Heating	Multi-level	—
Seat Material: Cloth	—	✓
Driver Seat Manual Adjustments	—	6-way
Passenger Seat Height Adjustment	—	✓

Rearseats

Feature	Chevrolet	Hyundai
Rear Head Room	40.0 in.	40.6 in.
Rear Leg Room	41.5 in.	42.3 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	62.2 in.	58.1 in.
Rear Hip Room	58.6 in.	54.9 in.
Folding Rear Seatback	✓	—
Reclining Rear Seats	✓	✓
Folding Center Armrest	✓	✓
Manual Folding Third Row Seat	✓	✓
Split-Folding Rear Seatback	—	✓

Tires and Wheels

Feature	Chevrolet	Hyundai
Wheel Finish	Painted Alloy	Painted Alloy
Wheel Diameter	18 in	—
Tire Type	All Season	All Season
Tire Size	255/65R18	235/60R18
Spare Tire Type	Temporary	Temporary
Spare Tire Location	Underbody Mounted	Underbody Mounted
Wheel Size	—	18 x 7.5 in

Suspension

Feature	Chevrolet	Hyundai
Four-Wheel Independent Suspension	✓	✓
Front Stabilizer Bar	✓	✓
Rear Stabilizer Bar	✓	✓

Warranty

Feature	Chevrolet	Hyundai
Basic Warranty	3 yr./ 36000 mi.	5 yr./ 60000 mi.
Drivetrain Warranty	5 yr./ 60000 mi.	10 yr./ 100000 mi.
Corrosion/Rust Warranty	6 yr./ 100000 mi.	7 yr./ unlimited mi.
Roadside Assistance	5 yr./ 60000 mi.	5 yr./ unlimited mi.
Complimentary Scheduled Maintenance	1 yr./ unlimited mi.	—

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about comparing the 2025 Chevrolet Traverse and 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe.

What is the primary mechanical difference between the 2025 Traverse and the 2026 Santa Fe?

The Traverse utilizes a more powerful engine, generating 328 horsepower, whereas the Santa Fe is equipped with a 277 horsepower unit. Both vehicles utilize an 8-speed shiftable automatic transmission.

How significant is the price gap when comparing these two crossovers?

There is a substantial $5,900 difference in starting MSRP, with the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe positioned at $34,800 against the Traverse's $40,700 entry price.

Which crossover offers better long-distance cruising efficiency?

The 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe is slightly more efficient on the highway, rated at 29 MPG highway compared to the Traverse's 27 MPG highway, contributing to its better overall 24 MPG combined rating.

If I need maximum storage, which vehicle should I choose?

The 2025 Chevrolet Traverse is the clear winner for storage, offering 22.9 cubic feet behind the rear seats, significantly eclipsing the Santa Fe’s 14.6 cubic feet capacity.

Are either of these vehicles requiring premium fuel?

No, both the 2025 Chevrolet Traverse and the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe are designed to operate using regular unleaded fuel.

How do their physical sizes compare on the road?

The Traverse is considerably larger, measuring 204.5 inches in length and 79.6 inches in width, making it noticeably bigger than the 190.2-inch long, 74.8-inch wide Santa Fe.