2025 Toyota Grand Highlander vs 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe

$40,860 · Crossover

$34,800 · Crossover

Comparison Overview

The primary divergence between the 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander and the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe is the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP), with the Santa Fe leading by a substantial $6,060, starting at $34,800 compared to the Highlander's $40,860. Despite the price gap, performance metrics are closely matched; the Santa Fe offers a minor edge in power with 277 hp versus the Highlander's 265 hp, though torque figures are nearly identical at 311 lb-ft and 310 lb-ft, respectively. Fuel economy is a dead heat, both achieving a combined 24 MPG. Dimensionally, the Grand Highlander asserts dominance, measuring 201.4 inches long compared to the Santa Fe's 190.2 inches, resulting in superior utility as shown by its 20.6 cu ft of cargo space against the Santa Fe's 14.6 cu ft. Both base models employ a standard front-wheel-drive setup paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission, utilizing regular unleaded fuel.

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 $6,060 lower starting MSRP, making the daily drive more financially accessible.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2025 Toyota Grand Highlander

The 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander is superior for families because its 201.4-inch length allows for 20.6 cu ft of cargo capacity, substantially more than the Santa Fe's 14.6 cu ft.

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2026 Hyundai Santa Fe

Enthusiasts marginally favor the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe as it posts a peak output of 277 horsepower compared to the 265 horsepower from the Toyota.

💰 Best Value

2026 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe provides better initial value, offering comparable MPG and slightly higher horsepower for a $6,060 reduction in entry price.

Choose the Toyota Grand Highlander if...

You prioritize maximum utility, requiring the 20.6 cu ft of cargo volume provided by the 201.4-inch long chassis.
You prefer the reliability associated with the Toyota brand pedigree over the $6,060 lower price of the competitor.
You want the slightly better highway efficiency rating of 28 MPG versus the Santa Fe's 29 MPG combined with 20 City MPG.

Choose the Hyundai Santa Fe if...

Sticking to a strict budget is paramount, as the $34,800 MSRP saves $6,060 upfront.
Maximizing peak engine output is important, given its 277 hp versus the Highlander's 265 hp.
You prioritize slightly better highway cruising economy, achieving 29 MPG Highway compared to the Highlander's 28 MPG.

Key Dimensions

Dimension	Toyota Grand Highlander	Hyundai Santa Fe
Length	201.4"	190.2"
Width	78.3"	74.8"
Height	70.1"	67.7"
Wheelbase	116.1"	110.8"

Features Comparison

Safety

Feature	Toyota	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	✓	✓
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	✓	✓
LED Headlights	✓	✓
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	✓	✓
Driver Attention Alert	—	✓
Dual Rear Side-Mounted Airbags	—	✓
Rear Solid Disc Brakes	—	✓
Automatic Headlights	—	✓
Headlight Delay-Off	—	✓
Daytime Running Lights	—	✓

Engine

Feature	Toyota	Hyundai
Base Engine Displacement	2.4 L	2.5 L
Number of Cylinders	inline 4	inline 4
Base Engine Type	gas	gas
Horsepower	265 hp @ 6000 rpm	277 hp @ 5800 rpm
Torque	310 lb-ft @ 1700 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	Toyota	Hyundai
Transmission Type	8-speed automatic	8-speed shiftable automatic
Drivetrain Type	front wheel drive	front wheel drive
Hill Descent Control	—	✓

Fuel

Feature	Toyota	Hyundai
Fuel Type	regular unleaded	regular unleaded
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway)	21/28 MPG	20/29 MPG
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	24 MPG	24 MPG
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	373.8/498.4 mi.	354.0/513.3 mi.
Fuel Tank Capacity	17.8 gal.	17.7 gal.

Comfort & Convenience

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

In Car Entertainment

Feature	Toyota	Hyundai
Infotainment Display	12.3 in	12.3 in
AM/FM Stereo	✓	✓
Speaker System	6	—
Android Auto (Wireless)	✓	✓
Apple CarPlay (Wireless)	✓	✓
USB Port	✓	✓
USB Port with External Media Control	✓	✓
Satellite Radio	✓	✓
Satellite Radio Trial Period	3 months	3 months

Power Feature

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

Frontseats

Feature	Toyota	Hyundai
Front Head Room	41.5 in.	41.1 in.
Front Leg Room	41.7 in.	44.4 in.
Front Shoulder Room	60.2 in.	59.5 in.
Front Hip Room	56.5 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 Manual Adjustments	—	6-way
Driver Seat Lumbar Support	—	Power
Passenger Seat Height Adjustment	—	✓

Rearseats

Feature	Toyota	Hyundai
Rear Head Room	40.2 in.	40.6 in.
Rear Leg Room	39.5 in.	42.3 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	58.8 in.	58.1 in.
Rear Hip Room	57.0 in.	54.9 in.
Split-Folding Rear Seatback	✓	✓
Folding Center Armrest	✓	✓
Manual Folding Third Row Seat	✓	✓
Reclining Rear Seats	—	✓

Tires and Wheels

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

Suspension

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

Warranty

Feature	Toyota	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	2 yr./ unlimited mi.	5 yr./ unlimited mi.
Complimentary Scheduled Maintenance	2 yr./ 25000 mi.	—

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about comparing the 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander and 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe.

What is the primary dimensional difference between the 2025 Grand Highlander and the 2026 Santa Fe?

The 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander is significantly longer, measuring 201.4 inches in length compared to the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe's 190.2 inches. This 11.2-inch difference translates directly into a larger cargo area for the Toyota, providing 20.6 cu ft versus 14.6 cu ft.

How do their fuel economy figures compare for mixed driving?

Both base models achieve an identical 24 MPG combined rating. When broken down, the Toyota Grand Highlander shows 21 City/28 Highway MPG, while the Santa Fe is rated at 20 City/29 Highway MPG, suggesting the Santa Fe might be marginally better on sustained highway runs.

Is there a meaningful horsepower advantage between these two base models?

The performance metrics are very close; the 2026 Santa Fe has a slight advantage with 277 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. The 2025 Grand Highlander produces 265 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, making the difference negligible in real-world commuting scenarios.

Which vehicle offers better overall monetary value at the base level?

The 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe offers superior initial value based on the starting MSRP of $34,800, which is $6,060 less than the Grand Highlander's $40,860. This cost saving is achieved while maintaining the same combined 24 MPG rating.

Are both vehicles using the same transmission and fuel type?

Yes, both the 2025 Grand Highlander and the 2026 Santa Fe utilize a standard 8-speed automatic transmission when equipped with their base powertrains. Furthermore, both are designed to run on regular unleaded fuel.

How much taller is the Toyota Grand Highlander compared to the Santa Fe?

The 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander stands at 70.1 inches high, making it 2.4 inches taller than the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe, which measures 67.7 inches in height. This difference contributes to the Highlander's more substantial road presence.