2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid vs 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid presented a more affordable option with its EX-L Hybrid trim, priced at $48,909, including destination and other fees. Its exterior featured sporty black 18-inch wheels and blacked-out trim, though the interior remained basic. The Touring Hybrid, priced at $50,909, was the top-tier model, showcasing Canyon River Blue paint. The CR-V's design was conservative, with a technical front resembling an angry robot, but it carried too much visual weight over the front wheels. The rear quarter view was its best angle, with Volvo-like taillights and a tidy design. Inside, the Touring trim offered leather seats with orange contrast stitching and a sophisticated cabin feel, thanks to details like a soft-touch dashboard and metal mesh air vent covers.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe, available in XRT, Luxury, and Ultimate Calligraphy trims, maintained its fifth-generation design without revisions. It was a chunky, boxy three-row SUV with a long wheelbase and pixelated H-shaped LED headlamps. The rear design suffered from mismatched proportions, with taillights positioned too low. Each trim had specific wheels, ranging from 18 to 21 inches. The XRT trim added chrome and black trim, along with black roof rails. Inside, the Santa Fe offered room for seven, except in the Ultimate Calligraphy trim, which featured captain's chairs. The interior had a good fit and finish, though some squeaks and rattles were noted. The HVAC controls included physical dials, but fan speed buttons were less intuitive.

The 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid featured a fourth-generation two-motor hybrid drive system, combining a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with two electric motors, delivering 204 horsepower to all four wheels. The system worked transparently, though it produced a low-speed electric vehicle noise and engine droning on hills. It was rated at 6.4 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving by Natural Resources Canada, but our test vehicle returned 8.7 L/100 km on a mountainous loop. The CR-V Hybrid Touring offered a quiet ride, predictable handling, and impressive grip, though the steering was heavy even in Normal mode.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe came with a 2.5-litre turbocharged engine producing 277 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. All-wheel drive was standard across the lineup. The Santa Fe Hybrid, a separate model, combined a 1.6-litre engine with an electric motor for 231 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque. The Santa Fe felt stable in corners, with firm brakes and responsive steering, though turbo lag and delayed downshifts were noted. The gear selector, located on a stalk, required some getting used to. The XRT trim featured 30-inch all-terrain tires and 21.2 cm of ground clearance, improving off-road geometry but not making it a rugged rock crawler.

The 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid excelled in form and function, offering quality materials, intuitive controls, and comfortable seats. It featured a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat, heated front and rear seats, and a heated steering wheel. The CR-V's back seat was spacious, with a high bottom cushion and adjustable backrest angle. The cargo area offered 1,028 litres of space, expanding to 2,030 litres with the back seat folded down.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe provided ample space, with the most third-row legroom in its class. The second-row seats had an adjustable cushion angle, and both the second and third rows could be folded for increased cargo space. Folding the third row provided 1,148 litres, while folding the second row expanded it to 2,267 litres. The rear opening was wider and taller, making it easier to load items. The Santa Fe could tow up to 2,040 kilograms in the XRT trim.

The 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid came with a 9-inch infotainment display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and wireless smartphone charging. The Touring trim included navigation and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. The voice recognition system was basic, and the walk-away automatic locking feature provided peace of mind.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen and digital gauge cluster, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim offered navigation, a digital rearview mirror, and a head-up display. The Bluelink app provided remote connectivity, and over-the-air updates ensured the latest software.

The 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid included Honda Sensing, with features like forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. It also had blind-spot monitoring and parking sensors. The CR-V earned a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS but received a poor rating in the updated moderate overlap front test.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe offered adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, and forward collision avoidance assist as standard. The top trims included blind spot avoidance and Blind View Monitor. The NHTSA gave it a four-star overall safety rating, while the IIHS rated it "Good" in most categories.