2025 Land Rover Discovery Sport vs 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe
Comparison Overview
Deciding between rugged luxury and value-packed modernity is tough when cross-shopping the 2025 Land Rover Discovery Sport and the brand-new 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe. The first thing that jumps out is the staggering $14,100 MSRP gap, with the Santa Fe starting at just $34,800 versus the Land Rover's $48,900. While the Santa Fe pulls ahead in performance with 277 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque compared to the Discovery Sport's 246 hp and 269 lb-ft, the Land Rover offers standard All-Wheel Drive, which might appeal to some buyers immediately. Fuel economy also favors the Hyundai, offering 24 MPG combined versus the Land Rover's 20 MPG combined. Despite the Land Rover being significantly shorter at 180.9 inches compared to the Santa Fe's 190.2 inches, the Discovery Sport paradoxically boasts over double the cargo space at 32.2 cu ft versus 14.6 cu ft, suggesting a packaging mystery worth exploring.
Size Comparison
Performance
Fuel Efficiency
Full Specifications
Our Verdicts
2026 Hyundai Santa Fe
The 2026 Santa Fe wins for commuters due to its superior combined fuel economy of 24 MPG compared to the Discovery Sport's 20 MPG.
2025 Land Rover Discovery Sport
Despite its smaller footprint, the 2025 Discovery Sport provides significantly more usable interior space with 32.2 cu ft of cargo capacity versus the Santa Fe's 14.6 cu ft.
2026 Hyundai Santa Fe
The 2026 Santa Fe appeals more to driving enthusiasts by offering substantially more power with 277 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque.
2026 Hyundai Santa Fe
The 2026 Santa Fe is the clear value champion, priced $14,100 lower than the Land Rover while offering better performance and efficiency.
Choose the Land Rover Discovery Sport if...
- You prioritize standard all-wheel drive capability right out of the box.
- You need maximum cargo utility in a smaller overall vehicle package (32.2 cu ft).
- You prefer the established prestige associated with the Land Rover brand name.
Choose the Hyundai Santa Fe if...
- Sticking to a budget is critical, given the $34,800 MSRP is $14,100 less than Car 1.
- You want better fuel economy, achieving 24 MPG combined instead of 20 MPG.
- You need higher peak power figures, as the Santa Fe delivers 277 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque.
Key Dimensions
| Dimension | Land Rover Discovery Sport | Hyundai Santa Fe |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 180.9" | 190.2" |
| Width | - | 74.8" |
| Height | 67.9" | 67.7" |
| Wheelbase | 107.9" | 110.8" |
Features Comparison
Safety
| Feature | Land Rover | Hyundai |
|---|---|---|
| Blind Spot Monitor | ✓ | ✓ |
| Lane Keeping Assist System | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Cross Traffic Alert | ✓ | ✓ |
| Driver Attention Alert | ✓ | ✓ |
| Post-Collision Safety System | ✓ | ✓ |
| Dual Front 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 | ✓ | ✓ |
| Self-Leveling Headlights | ✓ | — |
| Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Fog 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 | ✓ | ✓ |
| Lane Departure Warning | — | ✓ |
| Pre-Collision Safety System | — | ✓ |
| Dual Rear Side-Mounted Airbags | — | ✓ |
Engine
| Feature | Land Rover | Hyundai |
|---|---|---|
| Base Engine Displacement | 2.0 L | 2.5 L |
| Number of Cylinders | inline 4 | inline 4 |
| Base Engine Type | gas | gas |
| Horsepower | 246 hp @ 5500 rpm | 277 hp @ 5800 rpm |
| Torque | 269 lb-ft @ 1300 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 | Land Rover | Hyundai |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission Type | 9-speed automatic | 8-speed shiftable automatic |
| Drivetrain Type | all wheel drive | front wheel drive |
| Hill Descent Control | ✓ | ✓ |
Fuel
| Feature | Land Rover | Hyundai |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel Type | regular unleaded | regular unleaded |
| EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway) | 19/23 MPG | 20/29 MPG |
| EPA Fuel Economy (Combined) | 20 MPG | 24 MPG |
| EPA Driving Range (City/Highway) | 336.3/407.1 mi. | 354.0/513.3 mi. |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 17.7 gal. | 17.7 gal. |
Comfort & Convenience
| Feature | Land Rover | Hyundai |
|---|---|---|
| Push Button Start | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel | ✓ | ✓ |
| Transmission Controls on Steering Wheel | ✓ | — |
| Cruise Control on Steering Wheel | ✓ | ✓ |
| Audio Controls on Steering Wheel | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Power Steering | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front View Camera | ✓ | — |
| Side View Camera | ✓ | — |
| Rear View Camera | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Parking Sensors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Parking Sensors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wireless Charging Pad | ✓ | — |
| Adaptive Cruise Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Universal Remote Transmitter | ✓ | — |
| Front Cupholders | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Cupholders | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Door Pockets | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Door Pockets | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Seatback Storage | ✓ | ✓ |
| Leather Steering Wheel | ✓ | ✓ |
| Heated Steering Wheel | ✓ | — |
| Dual Zone Climate Control | ✓ | — |
| Rear Ventilation Ducts | ✓ | ✓ |
| Interior Air Filtration | ✓ | ✓ |
| Dual Vanity Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror | ✓ | — |
| 3rd Row Cupholders | — | ✓ |
| Overhead Console with Storage | — | ✓ |
| Single Zone Climate Control | — | ✓ |
| Extended Cabin Heating/Cooling | — | ✓ |
In Car Entertainment
| Feature | Land Rover | Hyundai |
|---|---|---|
| AM/FM Stereo | ✓ | ✓ |
| Meridian Speakers | ✓ | — |
| Stereo Power | 380W | — |
| Speaker System | 10 | — |
| Subwoofer Count | 1 | — |
| Android Auto (Wired) | ✓ | — |
| Apple CarPlay (Wired) | ✓ | — |
| 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 | ✓ | — |
| Antenna Type | Diversity | — |
| Infotainment Display | — | 12.3 in |
| Android Auto (Wireless) | — | ✓ |
| Apple CarPlay (Wireless) | — | ✓ |
Power Feature
| Feature | Land Rover | Hyundai |
|---|---|---|
| One-Touch Power Windows | 4 | 1 |
| Moonroof Type | 1st Row Fixed Glass Extended | — |
| Keyless Entry | ✓ | ✓ |
| Heated Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
Frontseats
| Feature | Land Rover | Hyundai |
|---|---|---|
| Front Head Room | 40.2 in. | 41.1 in. |
| Front Leg Room | 39.1 in. | 44.4 in. |
| Front Shoulder Room | 57.3 in. | 59.5 in. |
| Seat Material: Leather/Sueded Microfiber | ✓ | — |
| Front Seat Type: Bucket | ✓ | ✓ |
| Driver Seat Power Adjustments | 8-way | — |
| Driver Seat Height Adjustment | ✓ | ✓ |
| Driver Seat Lumbar Support | Power | Power |
| Passenger Seat Power Adjustments | 8-way | — |
| Passenger Seat Height Adjustment | ✓ | ✓ |
| Passenger Seat Lumbar Support | Power | — |
| Driver Seat Heating | Multi-level | — |
| Passenger Seat Heating | Multi-level | — |
| Front Hip Room | — | 56.5 in. |
| Seat Material: Cloth | — | ✓ |
| Driver Seat Manual Adjustments | — | 6-way |
| Passenger Seat Manual Adjustments | — | 6-way |
Rearseats
| Feature | Land Rover | Hyundai |
|---|---|---|
| Rear Head Room | 38.7 in. | 40.6 in. |
| Rear Leg Room | 38.1 in. | 42.3 in. |
| Rear Shoulder Room | 55.9 in. | 58.1 in. |
| Split-Folding Rear Seatback | ✓ | ✓ |
| Reclining Rear Seats | ✓ | ✓ |
| Folding Center Armrest | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Hip Room | — | 54.9 in. |
| Manual Folding Third Row Seat | — | ✓ |
Tires and Wheels
| Feature | Land Rover | Hyundai |
|---|---|---|
| Wheel Material | Alloy | — |
| Wheel Diameter | 18 in | — |
| Tire Size | N/A | 235/60R18 |
| Spare Tire Type | Temporary | Temporary |
| Spare Tire Location | Underbody Mounted | Underbody Mounted |
| Wheel Finish | — | Painted Alloy |
| Wheel Size | — | 18 x 7.5 in |
| Tire Type | — | All Season |
Suspension
| Feature | Land Rover | Hyundai |
|---|---|---|
| Four-Wheel Independent Suspension | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Stabilizer Bar | — | ✓ |
| Rear Stabilizer Bar | — | ✓ |
Warranty
| Feature | Land Rover | Hyundai |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Warranty | 4 yr./ 50000 mi. | 5 yr./ 60000 mi. |
| Drivetrain Warranty | 4 yr./ 50000 mi. | 10 yr./ 100000 mi. |
| Corrosion/Rust Warranty | 6 yr./ unlimited mi. | 7 yr./ unlimited mi. |
| Roadside Assistance | 4 yr./ 50000 mi. | 5 yr./ unlimited mi. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about comparing the 2025 Land Rover Discovery Sport and 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe.
Is the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe big enough inside if the cargo numbers seem low?
While the 2026 Santa Fe only lists 14.6 cu ft of cargo capacity, its exterior length of 190.2 inches suggests it should accommodate passengers comfortably. Buyers should note that the Discovery Sport offers more than double that space at 32.2 cu ft, indicating a significant difference in rear layout.
Which vehicle uses cheaper fuel?
Both vehicles are listed as requiring regular unleaded fuel, meaning the initial cost of filling up should be comparable based on octane rating. However, the 2026 Santa Fe saves money overall by achieving 24 MPG combined versus the Land Rover's 20 MPG combined.
Why would I choose the more expensive Land Rover Discovery Sport (Car 1)?
You would choose the Discovery Sport for its standard AWD system and its surprisingly high cargo volume of 32.2 cu ft packed into a shorter 180.9-inch body. It's positioned as a more premium offering compared to the high-value Santa Fe.
How much more powerful is the Hyundai Santa Fe?
The 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe boasts 277 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque, giving it a distinct advantage over the Discovery Sport's 246 hp and 269 lb-ft of torque.
Which crossover is physically larger overall?
The 2026 Santa Fe is the physically larger vehicle, measuring 190.2 inches long and 74.8 inches wide. The Land Rover Discovery Sport is notably shorter at 180.9 inches in length.
Does the standard AWD on the Land Rover matter more than the higher MPG on the Santa Fe?
This depends entirely on your environment; the Discovery Sport's standard AWD is crucial if you frequently face slippery conditions. If you prioritize saving money on routine trips, the Santa Fe’s 24 MPG combined efficiency will be more beneficial over the long run.
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