2025 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2026 Acura RDX

$34,300 · Crossover

$45,100 · Crossover

Comparison Overview

Deciding between a brand-new look and established premium quality often comes down to budget versus inherent features. The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe starts at a very appealing $34,300, significantly undercutting the 2026 Acura RDX's $45,100 price tag—a difference of $10,800 right out of the gate. While the Santa Fe offers slightly more muscle with 277 hp versus the RDX's 272 hp, the RDX sweetens the deal with standard All-Wheel Drive and a slightly better city MPG rating of 21 compared to the Santa Fe's 20 (though the Santa Fe does achieve better highway MPG at 29). Practicality swings heavily in the RDX's favor concerning sheer roominess; its 29.5 cu ft of cargo capacity dwarfs the Santa Fe's 14.6 cu ft, even though the Santa Fe is 2.8 inches longer overall.

Size Comparison

Performance

Fuel Efficiency

Full Specifications

Our Verdicts

🚗 Best for Commuters

2025 Hyundai Santa Fe

The $10,800 lower starting price and ability to run on regular unleaded fuel make the Santa Fe much easier on the wallet every month.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2026 Acura RDX

With nearly double the storage capacity at 29.5 cu ft versus 14.6 cu ft, the RDX offers vastly superior utility for gear and groceries.

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2025 Hyundai Santa Fe

The Santa Fe provides slightly higher torque (311 lb-ft versus 280 lb-ft) and uses a more direct 8-speed transmission setup.

💰 Best Value

2025 Hyundai Santa Fe

The ability to save over $10,000 while still getting 277 horsepower and better highway mileage represents exceptional baseline value.

Choose the Hyundai Santa Fe if...

Your budget maximum is under $35,000.
You prioritize maximizing highway fuel efficiency (29 MPG) on longer trips.
You need the flexibility of regular unleaded fuel to keep running costs low.

Choose the Acura RDX if...

All-Wheel Drive capability is a mandatory safety or performance requirement for you.
You absolutely require substantial cargo space for luggage or bulky items (29.5 cu ft).
You are looking for a vehicle with a more traditional 10-speed shiftable automatic transmission feel.

Key Dimensions

Dimension	Hyundai Santa Fe	Acura RDX
Length	190.2"	187.4"
Width	74.8"	74.8"
Height	67.7"	65.7"
Wheelbase	110.8"	108.3"

Features Comparison

Safety

Feature	Hyundai	Acura
Blind Spot Monitor	✓	✓
Lane Departure Warning	✓	✓
Lane Keeping Assist System	✓	✓
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	✓	✓
Driver Attention Alert	✓	—
Pre-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Post-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Dual Front Side-Mounted Airbags	✓	✓
Dual Rear Side-Mounted Airbags	✓	—
Front Head Airbags	✓	✓
Rear 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 Solid Disc Brakes	✓	✓
Brake Assist	✓	✓
Tire Pressure Monitoring System	✓	✓
Automatic Headlights	✓	✓
Headlight Delay-Off	✓	—
LED Headlights	✓	✓
Daytime Running Lights	✓	✓
Front Headrests	2	2
Front Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Rear Headrests	3	3
Rear Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Rear Center 3-Point Seatbelt	✓	✓
Anti-Theft Alarm System (Remote)	✓	✓
Engine Immobilizer	✓	✓
Integrated Turn Signal Mirrors	—	✓

Engine

Feature	Hyundai	Acura
Base Engine Displacement	2.5 L	2.0 L
Number of Cylinders	inline 4	inline 4
Base Engine Type	gas	gas
Horsepower	277 hp @ 5800 rpm	272 hp @ 6500 rpm
Torque	311 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm	280 lb-ft @ 1600 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	Hyundai	Acura
Transmission Type	8-speed automated manual	10-speed shiftable automatic
Drivetrain Type	front wheel drive	all wheel drive
Hill Descent Control	✓	—
[object Object]	—	✓
[object Object]	—	✓

Fuel

Feature	Hyundai	Acura
Fuel Type	regular unleaded	premium unleaded (recommended)
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway)	20/29 MPG	21/27 MPG
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	24 MPG	23 MPG
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	354.0/513.3 mi.	359.1/461.7 mi.
Fuel Tank Capacity	17.7 gal.	17.1 gal.

Comfort & Convenience

Feature	Hyundai	Acura
Push Button Start	✓	✓
Tilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Audio Controls on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Cruise Control on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Electric Power Steering	✓	✓
Rear View Camera	✓	✓
Front Parking Sensors	✓	—
Rear Parking Sensors	✓	—
Adaptive Cruise Control	✓	✓
Front Cupholders	✓	✓
Rear Cupholders	✓	✓
3rd Row Cupholders	✓	—
Front Door Pockets	✓	✓
Rear Door Pockets	✓	✓
Overhead Console with Storage	✓	✓
Front Seatback Storage	✓	✓
Leather Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Single Zone Climate Control	✓	—
Rear Ventilation Ducts	✓	✓
Interior Air Filtration	✓	✓
Extended Cabin Heating/Cooling	✓	—
Dual Vanity Mirrors	✓	✓
Transmission Controls on Steering Wheel	—	✓
Universal Remote Transmitter	—	✓
Dual Zone Climate Control	—	✓
Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror	—	✓
Turn Signal Indicators in Mirrors	—	✓

In Car Entertainment

Feature	Hyundai	Acura
Infotainment Display	12.3 in	10.2 in
AM/FM Stereo	✓	✓
Android Auto (Wireless)	✓	✓
Apple CarPlay (Wireless)	✓	✓
USB Port	✓	✓
USB Port with External Media Control	✓	✓
Satellite Radio	✓	✓
Satellite Radio Trial Period	3 months	3 months
Speaker System	—	9
Subwoofer Count	—	1
Speed Sensitive Volume Control	—	✓

Power Feature

Feature	Hyundai	Acura
One-Touch Power Windows	1	4
Keyless Entry	✓	✓
Heated Mirrors	✓	✓
Moonroof Type	—	1st Row Power Glass
Reverse Tilt Passenger Mirror	—	✓

Frontseats

Feature	Hyundai	Acura
Front Head Room	41.1 in.	40.0 in.
Front Leg Room	44.4 in.	42.0 in.
Front Shoulder Room	59.5 in.	60.0 in.
Front Hip Room	56.5 in.	55.0 in.
Seat Material: Cloth	✓	—
Front Seat Type: Bucket	✓	✓
Driver Seat Manual Adjustments	6-way	—
Driver Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Driver Seat Lumbar Support	Power	Power
Passenger Seat Manual Adjustments	6-way	—
Passenger Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Seat Material: Leatherette	—	✓
Driver Seat Power Adjustments	—	8-way
Passenger Seat Power Adjustments	—	8-way
Passenger Seat Lumbar Support	—	Power
Driver Seat Heating	—	Multi-level
Passenger Seat Heating	—	Multi-level

Rearseats

Feature	Hyundai	Acura
Rear Head Room	40.6 in.	38.0 in.
Rear Leg Room	42.3 in.	38.0 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	58.1 in.	57.0 in.
Rear Hip Room	54.9 in.	50.0 in.
Split-Folding Rear Seatback	✓	✓
Reclining Rear Seats	✓	—
Folding Center Armrest	✓	✓
Manual Folding Third Row Seat	✓	—

Tires and Wheels

Feature	Hyundai	Acura
Wheel Finish	Painted Alloy	Painted Alloy
Wheel Size	18 x 7.5 in	19 x 8.0 in
Tire Type	All Season	All Season
Tire Size	235/60R18	235/55R19
Spare Tire Type	Temporary	Temporary
Spare Tire Location	Inside Mounted	Inside Mounted

Suspension

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

Warranty

Feature	Hyundai	Acura
Basic Warranty	5 yr./ 60000 mi.	4 yr./ 50000 mi.
Drivetrain Warranty	10 yr./ 100000 mi.	6 yr./ 70000 mi.
Corrosion/Rust Warranty	7 yr./ unlimited mi.	5 yr./ unlimited mi.
Roadside Assistance	5 yr./ unlimited mi.	4 yr./ 50000 mi.
Complimentary Scheduled Maintenance	3 yr./ 36000 mi.	1 yr./ 12000 mi.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about comparing the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe and 2026 Acura RDX.

How much more practical is the Acura RDX's cargo space than the Santa Fe's?

The 2026 Acura RDX offers 29.5 cubic feet of cargo room, which is more than double the 14.6 cubic feet found in the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe, making a significant real-world difference for hauling.

Does the price difference require a trade-off in engine output?

Not substantially; the Hyundai Santa Fe has slightly higher peak power at 277 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque, compared to the Acura RDX's 272 hp and 280 lb-ft.

Which crossover will cost less to run based on fuel requirements?

The Hyundai Santa Fe is designed for regular unleaded fuel, whereas the Acura RDX recommends premium unleaded, adding a predictable ongoing expense for the Acura owner.

Is the Acura RDX smaller than the Hyundai Santa Fe?

Yes, the RDX is physically smaller overall, being about 2.8 inches shorter in length (187.4 inches vs 190.2 inches) and 2 full inches lower in height (65.7 inches vs 67.7 inches).

How does the driving configuration differ between the two models shown?

The base configuration for the Santa Fe uses Front Wheel Drive with an 8-speed automated manual, while the RDX comes standard with All-Wheel Drive paired to a 10-speed shiftable automatic.