2025 Subaru Ascent vs 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe

$39,995 · Crossover

$34,800 · Crossover

Comparison Overview

Trying to decide between the rugged reliability of the 2025 Subaru Ascent and the stylish efficiency of the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe? This decision often hinges on how much you prioritize capability versus upfront cost. The Santa Fe undercuts the Ascent significantly, starting at $34,800 compared to the Ascent’s $39,995 MSRP, saving buyers over $5,000 right away. However, the Ascent boasts 260 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque, slightly edging out the Santa Fe’s 277 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque in power delivery balance, while the Santa Fe wins on efficiency with 24 MPG combined versus the Ascent's 22 MPG combined. Furthermore, the Ascent is physically larger, measuring 196.8 inches long, which translates to its slightly superior maximum cargo capacity of 17.8 cu ft versus the Santa Fe's 14.6 cu ft.

Size Comparison

Performance

Fuel Efficiency

Full Specifications

Our Verdicts

🚗 Best for Commuters

2026 Hyundai Santa Fe

The Hyundai Santa Fe wins for commuters due to its slightly better 24 MPG combined fuel economy rating compared to the Ascent's 22 MPG.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2025 Subaru Ascent

The Subaru Ascent is better suited for families needing space, offering 17.8 cubic feet of cargo capacity compared to the Santa Fe's 14.6 cubic feet.

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2026 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2026 Santa Fe appeals more to performance enthusiasts by delivering significantly more torque at 311 lb-ft versus the Ascent's 277 lb-ft.

💰 Best Value

2026 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe clearly wins on initial outlay with an MSRP of $34,800, which is $5,195 less than the Ascent.

Choose the Subaru Ascent if...

You require standard all-wheel drive capability, as the Ascent includes it standard.
Your family needs the absolute maximum hauling potential, featuring 17.8 cu ft of cargo space.
You prefer a larger overall footprint for on-road presence, as the Ascent is 196.8 inches long.

Choose the Hyundai Santa Fe if...

Saving over $5,000 upfront is critical, given the Santa Fe's $34,800 MSRP.
You prioritize marginal fuel efficiency, as the Santa Fe achieves 29 MPG highway.
You want the best torque figure for acceleration, with 311 lb-ft available.

Key Dimensions

Dimension	Subaru Ascent	Hyundai Santa Fe
Length	196.8"	190.2"
Width	76.0"	74.8"
Height	71.6"	67.7"
Wheelbase	113.8"	110.8"

Features Comparison

Safety

Feature	Subaru	Hyundai
Blind Spot Monitor	✓	✓
Lane Departure Warning	✓	✓
Lane Keeping Assist System	✓	✓
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	✓	✓
Pre-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
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 Ventilated Disc Brakes	✓	—
Brake Assist	✓	✓
Tire Pressure Monitoring System	✓	✓
Automatic Headlights	✓	✓
Headlight Delay-Off	✓	✓
LED Headlights	✓	✓
Adaptive Headlights	✓	—
Self-Leveling 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	Subaru	Hyundai
Base Engine Displacement	2.4 L	2.5 L
Number of Cylinders	flat 4	inline 4
Base Engine Type	gas	gas
Horsepower	260 hp @ 5600 rpm	277 hp @ 5800 rpm
Torque	277 lb-ft @ 2000 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	Subaru	Hyundai
Transmission Type	continuously variable-speed automatic	8-speed shiftable automatic
Drivetrain Type	all wheel drive	front wheel drive
Center Differential Type	Limited Slip	—
Hill Descent Control	✓	✓

Fuel

Feature	Subaru	Hyundai
Fuel Type	regular unleaded	regular unleaded
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway)	20/26 MPG	20/29 MPG
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	22 MPG	24 MPG
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	386.0/501.8 mi.	354.0/513.3 mi.
Fuel Tank Capacity	19.3 gal.	17.7 gal.

Comfort & Convenience

Feature	Subaru	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	✓	✓
Rear View Camera	✓	✓
Rear Parking Sensors	✓	✓
Adaptive Cruise Control	✓	✓
Universal Remote Transmitter	✓	—
Front Cupholders	✓	✓
Rear Cupholders	✓	✓
3rd Row Cupholders	✓	✓
Front Door Pockets	✓	✓
Rear Door Pockets	✓	✓
Overhead Console with Storage	✓	✓
Front Seatback Storage	✓	✓
Leather Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Three Zone Climate Control	✓	—
Interior Air Filtration	✓	✓
Dual Vanity Mirrors	✓	✓
Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror	✓	—
Turn Signal Indicators in Mirrors	✓	—
Front Parking Sensors	—	✓
Single Zone Climate Control	—	✓
Rear Ventilation Ducts	—	✓
Extended Cabin Heating/Cooling	—	✓

In Car Entertainment

Feature	Subaru	Hyundai
Infotainment Display	11.6 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 Length	4 months	—
Satellite Radio Trial Period	—	3 months

Power Feature

Feature	Subaru	Hyundai
One-Touch Power Windows	2	1
Keyless Entry	✓	✓
Heated Mirrors	✓	✓

Frontseats

Feature	Subaru	Hyundai
Front Head Room	41.2 in.	41.1 in.
Front Leg Room	42.2 in.	44.4 in.
Front Shoulder Room	61.1 in.	59.5 in.
Front Hip Room	57.8 in.	56.5 in.
Seat Material: Cloth	✓	✓
Front Seat Type: Bucket	✓	✓
Driver Seat Power Adjustments	8-way	—
Driver Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Passenger Seat Manual Adjustments	4-way	6-way
Driver Seat Heating	Multi-level	—
Passenger Seat Heating	Multi-level	—
Driver Seat Manual Adjustments	—	6-way
Driver Seat Lumbar Support	—	Power
Passenger Seat Height Adjustment	—	✓

Rearseats

Feature	Subaru	Hyundai
Rear Head Room	40.0 in.	40.6 in.
Rear Leg Room	38.6 in.	42.3 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	60.3 in.	58.1 in.
Rear Hip Room	57.5 in.	54.9 in.
Split-Folding Rear Seatback	✓	✓
Folding Center Armrest	✓	✓
Manual Folding Third Row Seat	✓	✓
Reclining Rear Seats	—	✓

Tires and Wheels

Feature	Subaru	Hyundai
Wheel Material	Alloy	—
Wheel Size	18 x 7.5 in	18 x 7.5 in
Tire Type	All Season	All Season
Tire Size	245/60R	235/60R18
Spare Tire Type	Temporary	Temporary
Spare Tire Location	Underbody Mounted	Underbody Mounted
Wheel Finish	—	Painted Alloy

Suspension

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

Warranty

Feature	Subaru	Hyundai
Basic Warranty	3 yr./ 36000 mi.	5 yr./ 60000 mi.
Drivetrain Warranty	5 yr./ 60000 mi.	10 yr./ 100000 mi.
Corrosion/Rust Warranty	5 yr./ unlimited mi.	7 yr./ unlimited mi.
Roadside Assistance	3 yr./ 36000 mi.	5 yr./ unlimited mi.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about comparing the 2025 Subaru Ascent and 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe.

Which vehicle is more capable in bad weather, the Ascent or the Santa Fe?

The 2025 Subaru Ascent comes standard with all-wheel drive, giving it an inherent advantage for navigating slippery conditions compared to the front-wheel-drive configuration standard on the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe.

How much longer is the Subaru Ascent than the Hyundai Santa Fe?

The Subaru Ascent is noticeably longer, measuring 196.8 inches from end to end, which is about 6.6 inches longer than the 190.2-inch Hyundai Santa Fe.

Can I use regular unleaded fuel in both crossovers?

Yes, both the 2025 Subaru Ascent and the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe are specified to run on regular unleaded fuel, which keeps ongoing fueling costs predictable.

Is the difference in horsepower meaningful between these two vehicles?

While the Santa Fe has more peak horsepower at 277 hp compared to the Ascent's 260 hp, the Ascent counters with 277 lb-ft of torque versus the Santa Fe's 311 lb-ft; torque often dictates real-world pulling power.

What kind of transmissions do these crossovers use?

The Subaru Ascent uses a continuously variable-speed automatic transmission (CVT), whereas the 2026 Santa Fe employs a traditional 8-speed shiftable automatic transmission.