2020 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2020 Toyota Highlander

The 2020 Toyota Highlander presented a somewhat understated exterior design, with subtle changes from its predecessor, such as a more slanted tailgate glass and pronounced body panel creases. The trapezoidal theme was evident in various elements, including the tailgate's license plate cutout and the slimmer headlights. While the Highlander was equipped with projector-beam LED headlights across all trims, the higher trims, Limited and Platinum, boasted prettier LED running lamps and new 20-inch alloy wheels. The interior, however, was where the Highlander truly shone. Toyota focused on quality fit and finish, with silver-painted accents and a multi-layered dash that featured an 8-inch touchscreen. The Limited trim offered a three-tone interior with rich textures and padded surfaces, making it one of the nicest interiors in its class, rivaling even the Kia Telluride.

The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe, on the other hand, embraced a bold and experimental design approach. While its exterior might not appeal to everyone, it certainly stood out with its unique grille shape, stacked lighting elements, and asymmetrical fender stampings. Inside, the Santa Fe exuded character with a dual-cowl dashboard and diamond-textured speaker grilles. The interior offered high-contrast visual appeal, especially in versions with gray or beige colours. Although the materials used couldn't quite match the high-style design, the build quality was exceptional, and the controls operated with refinement. The Santa Fe's interior was both dramatic and functional, providing a comfortable and engaging environment for its occupants.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander was powered by a robust 3.5-litre V6 engine, available in both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) configurations. This engine, shared with the Lexus RX, delivered a smooth and nearly silent performance, producing 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque. The eight-speed automatic transmission efficiently utilized the engine's power, although it required a firm foot for kickdown. Despite its size, the Highlander offered good fuel efficiency, with the FWD model rated at 11.9 L/100 km in the city and 8.3 on the highway. The AWD version had slightly different figures, but both configurations provided a comfortable and isolating driving experience, ideal for long road trips.

In contrast, the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a choice between a standard 185-horsepower 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine and a more powerful turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 235 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. The turbocharged engine provided a significant boost in performance, especially at higher altitudes. The Santa Fe's eight-speed automatic transmission efficiently distributed power to either the front wheels or all four wheels with AWD. Fuel efficiency varied depending on the engine and drivetrain, with the turbocharged AWD model consuming 12.0 L/100 km in the city and 9.2 on the highway. The Santa Fe offered a smooth ride, decent handling, and a quiet highway experience, making it a competent daily driver.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander offered versatile seating for up to eight passengers, with the option of second-row captain's chairs on Platinum trims. The second-row seats provided generous legroom and easy access to the third row, although taller passengers might find it a bit cramped. The Highlander's cargo space was impressive, with 453 litres behind the third row, 1,359 litres behind the second, and 2,378 litres with both rows folded. The interior featured practical storage solutions, including eight cupholders, four bottle holders, and two shelves integrated into the dash. The controls were simple and legible, with an intuitive infotainment interface.

The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe, a two-row SUV, catered to families with thoughtful attention to detail. It featured creative storage spaces and stain-resistant fabric in models with cloth seats. The front seats were power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated, providing comfort for long journeys. The Santa Fe's dual-zone automatic climate control system included a Clean Air ionizer, and the panoramic sunroof added to the sense of space. While the Santa Fe's cargo space was slightly smaller than the Highlander's, it offered large storage compartments under the cargo floor. The hands-free "smart" liftgate was a convenient feature, allowing easy access to the rear without needing to wave a foot under the bumper.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander's infotainment system, despite being new, felt outdated compared to competitors. The maps lacked detail, and the screen resolution was low. The 12.3-inch touchscreen on the Platinum trim was underutilized, with limited usable area. However, the Highlander redeemed itself with a 10-inch head-up display and a 7-inch display in the instrument cluster, providing useful information. The semi-automated driving system was effective, and standard features included adaptive cruise control and automatic high beams. The JBL audio system on higher trims was decent, and the vehicle offered various connectivity options, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe's infotainment system was a standout feature, with a user-friendly design. It included stereo control knobs, main menu shortcut buttons, and a programmable button for customization. Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto were standard across all trims. The Preferred trim added SiriusXM satellite radio and Blue Link connected services with three free years of service. The Ultimate trim featured a larger 8-inch display, navigation, wireless smartphone charging, and a 12-speaker Infinity surround sound system. The head-up display provided valuable information, and the voice recognition system was sophisticated and responsive.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander came equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, a suite of electronic assists and safety features. It included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, parking sensors, and rear emergency braking. The Highlander received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a 2020 Top Safety Pick from the IIHS, thanks to its top ratings in crash tests and emergency braking performance.

The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe was also a strong contender in terms of safety, earning a five-star overall crash-test rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS. It offered a range of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assistance. The Santa Fe's rear-seat reminder system and ultrasonic occupant alert system were notable features, designed to prevent accidental child or pet entrapment. The Luxury trim included a Blind View Monitor, providing live video feeds of blind spots.