2025 Jeep Wrangler vs 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe presented a bold departure from its predecessors, showcasing a design that was both boxy and elegant. This new aesthetic was a significant shift from the sleek, futuristic look of the Ioniq series, emphasizing storage capacity and premium appeal. The Santa Fe's exterior was enhanced by a sophisticated palette of colours and anodized-finish badging, with the XRT trim adding dark chrome and black cladding. Inside, the Santa Fe offered a luxurious experience, particularly in the XRT and Ultimate Calligraphy trims, with premium materials and thoughtful design elements that combined comfort with elegance.

In contrast, the 2025 Jeep Wrangler maintained its rugged, utilitarian design, rooted in its military heritage. The Sport S hardtop model we encountered was a black-on-black combination, which proved less than ideal in a tropical climate. Despite its uninspired wheel design and all-season tires, the Wrangler's appeal lay in its capability to traverse almost any terrain. The interior was functional, with a focus on durability over luxury, featuring a grey fabric dashboard trim and metallic accents. The Wrangler's design prioritized off-road capability and resilience, making it a popular choice for those seeking adventure.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a range of powertrains, with the hybrid model being the entry-level option in Canada. It featured a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid engine, delivering an estimated 231 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The gas-only models came with a 2.5-litre turbocharged engine, producing 277 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, coupled with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. All-wheel drive was standard across the lineup, and the Santa Fe provided various driving modes, including Normal, Sport, and Snow. The XRT trim added off-road capabilities, with increased ground clearance and robust tires, enhancing its towing capacity to 1,000 kilograms. The Santa Fe's performance was smooth and stable, with some body roll in turns, but overall, it delivered a comfortable driving experience.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler offered a choice between a 3.6-litre V6 engine with a six-speed manual transmission and a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The latter produced 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, offering a marginally better fuel economy of 11.0 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving. The Wrangler's standard four-wheel drive, high ground clearance, and generous approach and departure angles made it a formidable off-road vehicle. However, its on-road performance was less refined, with slow steering and a rough ride. The Wrangler's three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA was a concern, but its off-road prowess remained unmatched.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe's design focused on maximizing cargo space, with a wheelbase and body length increased by five centimetres each. This extra space was dedicated to the cargo area, inspired by the Korean concept of "chabak," making it ideal for car camping and tailgating. The Santa Fe offered a spacious first and second row, with a snug third row typical of midsize SUVs. Depending on the trim, seating options included stain-resistant cloth, synthetic leather, real leather, and quilted Nappa leather. The cargo area provided 413 litres of space, expandable to 2,267 litres with the seats folded, and featured a UV sanitization compartment for small items.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler's high ground clearance and narrow door openings made entry and exit challenging. The front seats were comfortable, with cloth upholstery and optional heated features. The Wrangler accommodated five passengers, though four were more comfortable, with limited rear-seat legroom and storage space. The cargo area offered 897 litres of space, expandable to 2,050 litres with the rear seats folded. Accessing the cargo area required opening the tailgate and lifting the rear window, which could be cumbersome in tight spaces.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe featured a curved panoramic display, integrating digital real estate elegantly without being overwhelming. The touchscreen display was intuitive, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 12-speaker Bose stereo, and multiple USB ports. The BlueLink system provided vehicle access and information, with upgraded features for trims above the base model, including wireless charging and a digital key system.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler's Uconnect 5 infotainment system included a 12.3-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth connectivity, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system was user-friendly, even with the roof panels removed, and offered optional navigation and Jeep Connect services for off-road navigation. The Convenience Group pack added a digital display between the gauges and features like passive entry and remote engine start.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe had not yet been crash-tested by the IIHS or NHTSA, but it came equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features. Standard equipment included adaptive cruise control, forward collision-avoidance assist, blind-spot monitors, and lane-keep assist. Higher trims added features like a 360-degree camera system, parking sensors, and a head-up display. The Santa Fe also introduced driver monitoring, combining infrared cameras and capacitive sensors to ensure driver alertness.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler added side curtain airbags as standard equipment, a significant safety upgrade. Optional safety features included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, with forward collision warning available on higher trims. The Wrangler received a four-star frontal-impact rating and a three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA. The IIHS rated it Good for side-impact protection but Marginal for small overlap frontal-impact tests.