2025 Lexus RX Hybrid vs 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe presented a bold departure from its predecessors, embracing a boxy design that contrasted sharply with the sleek, futuristic aesthetics of the Ioniq series. This new design direction, as explained by Hyundai's design chief SangYup Lee, aimed to combine elegance and premium appeal with optimal storage capacity. The Santa Fe's exterior was enhanced by a sophisticated palette of colours and anodized-finish badging, while the interior offered premium styling with a focus on comfort and luxury, particularly in the XRT and Ultimate Calligraphy trims. Despite some hard materials in less visible areas, the overall impression was one of upscale quality, with features like a cocooning fabric headliner adding a touch of decadence.

In contrast, the 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid, particularly in the RX 500h F Sport Black Line trim, was a $90,000 SUV that, despite its price, did not stand out visually. The RX's design was marked by a large front grille and subtle orange brake calipers, but it lacked the striking appeal of some competitors. The RX lineup offered three hybrid models, each with varying power and efficiency, but the overall aesthetic remained somewhat unremarkable. The interior, however, was contemporary and well-equipped, with quality materials and ambient lighting enhancing the cabin experience. Despite some ergonomic challenges with the controls, the RX Hybrid provided a comfortable and spacious environment for passengers.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe in Canada offered a unique approach by making the hybrid powertrain the entry-level option. The Preferred models 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. Other 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 offered various driving modes, including Normal, Sport, and Snow. The hybrid model boasted impressive fuel economy, consuming 6.8 L/100 km in the city and 6.9 L/100 km on the highway. The XRT trim, with its off-road capabilities, provided additional ground clearance and towing capacity, making it suitable for adventurous outings.

The 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid offered three distinct models, each with its own performance characteristics. The RX 350h was the most efficient, with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder hybrid engine producing 246 horsepower and 233 pound-feet of torque. The RX 450h+ plug-in hybrid delivered 304 horsepower and a 0-100 km/h time of 6.5 seconds, thanks to a larger battery pack and more powerful electric motor. The RX 500h, with a turbocharged 2.4-litre engine and six-speed automatic transmission, offered 366 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque, achieving 0-100 km/h in 6.2 seconds. Despite its power, the RX 500h's fuel economy was less impressive, averaging 13.5 L/100 km during testing. The RX 500h featured advanced suspension and AWD systems, but its driving dynamics were somewhat muted, lacking the communication and engagement expected from a performance-oriented SUV.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe's design focused on maximizing cargo space, with a longer wheelbase and body compared to its predecessor. The spacious cargo area, inspired by the Korean concept of "chabak," was designed for car camping and tailgating, featuring an extra-wide tailgate and ample storage. While the third row was snug, the first and second rows offered generous space and comfort, with options for reclining captain's chairs. The Santa Fe's interior materials ranged from stain-resistant cloth to plush quilted Nappa leather, depending on the trim. The cargo area provided 413 litres of space, expandable to 2,267 litres with the seats folded, and included practical features like roof rails and a UV sanitization compartment.

The 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid, now a two-row SUV, prioritized occupant comfort and cargo space. The RX 500h's front seats, though snugly bolstered, were less comfortable on long drives, and the climate system's fan was notably loud. The rear seats, however, were spacious and comfortable, with optional power-reclining, heated, and ventilated features. The RX offered 838 litres of cargo space, expandable to 1,308 litres with the rear seats folded. While the interior provided practical storage solutions, some areas lacked refinement, such as the unlined rear centre armrest storage. The RX's cargo area included hooks and a small underfloor storage space, but the cargo cover could be cumbersome when loading larger items.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe featured a curved panoramic display that elegantly integrated digital instrumentation and infotainment controls. The touchscreen display was intuitive and responsive, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard across the lineup. The system included a 12-speaker Bose stereo, dynamic voice recognition, and multiple USB ports. Higher trims offered additional features like wireless charging and Hyundai's BlueLink system, which allowed for keyless vehicle access and control via a smartphone app.

The 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid was equipped with advanced technology, including digital key functionality, a camera-based digital rearview mirror, and a hands-free power liftgate. The RX 500h featured a 14-inch touchscreen display with a user-friendly Lexus Interface infotainment system, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and cloud-based navigation. Despite some issues with the steering wheel controls, the system provided a comprehensive suite of connected services, including a digital voice assistant and a premium Mark Levinson audio system.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe came with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision-avoidance assist, blind-spot monitors, and lane-keeping assist. Higher trims added advanced features like a 360-degree camera system, blind-spot view monitor, and remote automatic parking. The Santa Fe also introduced driver monitoring technology, which tracked alertness and could bring the vehicle to a stop in emergencies.

The 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid offered Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, which included forward collision warning, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. The RX also featured Proactive Driving Assist, which used braking and steering inputs to maintain safe distances and avoid obstacles. The RX earned a five-star safety rating from the NHTSA, though the IIHS rated it poorly in some tests. The RX's safety tech included a surround-view camera and Traffic Jam Assist, though some features, like lane-change assist, were less intuitive to use.